News Election results: Maura Healey defeats Geoff Diehl to become next Governor of Massachusetts

Attorney General Maura Healey (D) defeated former State Rep. Geoff Diehl (R) in the General Election yesterday to become the first elected female governor in Massachusetts and the first openly lesbian governor in the nation. Healey and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll have also become the nation’s first female governor and lieutenant governor tandem.

Healey received over 63% of the votes in her race, securing Democratic control of the Legislature after Gov. Charlie Baker declined to seek a third term.

In addition to Healey, the winners of other significant midterm races were:

  • Andrea Campbell (D), who defeated James McMahon (R) to become the next Attorney General
  • Diana DiZoglio (D), who defeated Anthony Amore (R) to become the next Auditor
  • William Galvin (D), who defeated Rayla Campbell (R) to remain Secretary of State
  • Deborah Goldberg (D), who defeated Cristina Crawford (Lib) to remain Treasurer

Massachusetts voters also approved Ballot Questions 1, 2 and 4 – regarding the adoption of a “Millionaire’s Tax,” the alteration of Dental Insurance regulations and the recently passed immigrant driver’s license law, respectively – but rejected Ballot Question 3, which would have expanded the cap on alcohol licenses individual companies could have owned.

By passing Question 1, voters ensured that the state will impose a new 4% tax on a person’s income over $1 million, in addition to a flat tax of 5%.

The passage of Question 2 means new regulations will be introduced for dental insurance companies, requiring them to spend at least 83 cents of every dollar received in premiums on patient care or quality improvements, rather than administrative expense.

And by passing Question 4, voters upheld the law passed in June that grants undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain driver’s licenses.The law will go into effect next July.

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