Around New England

Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito Endorse Matt Muratore For Massachusetts Senate

September 19, 2024

Former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito recently made an endorsement in the Plymouth and Barnstable state senate race.

The duo endorsed state representative Matt Muratore (R-Plymouth) in his race against state representative Dylan Fernandes (D-Woods Hole).

“We can’t think of a better candidate for State Senate than our friend Rep. Matt Muratore. Matt has the public and private sector experience that makes him ready to work in the State Senate on day one,” Baker and Polito said in a joint statement released by the Muratore campaign. “Whether it’s advocating for local aid for schools, bridges, and roads; working to end the migrant shelter crisis; or providing superb constituent services, Matt was one of our favorite legislators to work with during our time in office — and a successful one, at that! We enthusiastically endorse his candidacy to bring his public service to the next level. He’ll bring an important, balanced voice to the State Senate, and he’ll deliver for his district just as he always has.”

Muratore praised Baker for being among the most popular governors in America during his eight-year tenure on Beacon Hill (2015 to 2023). He also praised Baker for working across the aisle with Democrats and said that the state misses that bipartisanship now.

“I’m very honored to have the support of Gov. Baker and Lt. Governor Polito,” Muratore said in the written statement. “I look forward to bringing their same brand of competent, bipartisan, and balanced leadership with me to the State Senate. While national politics can seem so negative and divisive, our campaign will continue to focus on the issues that matter in our communities. It’s time that we come together and work for the betterment of all 8 communities in the Plymouth & Barnstable district.”

Massachusetts Republican Party chairman Amy Carnevale said, in a separate press release, that the migrant issue is why voters should back the moderate Republican. 

“Rep. Dylan Fernandes’ is dead wrong and dangerous when it comes to tackling the migrant crisis. His track record reflects his values:  he wants unfettered flows of migrants to Massachusetts; he wants to house them on our military bases; and he wants your tax dollars to fund it all,” Carnevale said in a MassGOP press release. “The Plymouth & Barnstable district has a clear choice:  Matt Muratore is a common-sense candidate who’s ready to bring balance to Beacon Hill. Dylan Fernandes is a far left career politician. When faced with the migrant crisis, Matt Muratore supports a Massachusetts residency requirement for emergency housing; Fernandes voted against a residency requirement. Matt Muratore supports putting veterans’ housing needs first; Fernandes voted against our veterans’ needs. Matt Muratore opposed the $1.5 billion blank check to Gov. Healey that has perpetuated the migrant crisis; Fernandes voted for it.” 

Other endorsements Muratore has include:  the State Police Association of Massachusetts; the Retired State, County, and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts (Mass Retirees); and the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, according to his release.

Muratore defeated Bourne School Committee member Kari Macrae in a tightly-contested primary; he got 50.1 percent of the vote, and she got 49.8 percent.

The Plymouth and Barnstable District that Muratore is running to represent includes: Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton in Plymouth County; and Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich on Cape Cod (Barnstable County).

Currently, four of the 40 Massachusetts Senate members are Republicans, and the rest are Democrats.

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