It’s been one of the evening’s closest races, but Republican Charlie Baker is projected to be the next Governor of Massachussetts by both Fox News and ABC. The Democratic candidate Martha Coakley, who acquired the nickname “Chokely” after she lost to Scott Brown in the 2010 Massachussetts special Senatorial election, didn’t seem to perfom much better this time around and her campaign was beset by gaffes. Despite Baker being up more than 25,000 votes, Coakley has yet to concede.
As it stands now, Republican gubernatorial candiates have far exceeded expectations having secured elections in blue states Illinois, Maryland, and Massachusetts, and at this hour, possibly Connecticut. Further, embattled GOP gubernatorial incumbents such as Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Sam Brownback in Kansas have been reelected.
As it happens, the chair of the Republican Governor’s Association is another surprisingly sucessful blue state governor, Chris Christie. His success tonight may bolster his chances as a 2016 presidential candidate.
