Marty Walsh For Governor? Ex-Mayor Reportedly Considering Bid

Boston MA

03 December, 2021

10:43 AM

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BOSTON — He's almost definitely thinking about. Labor Secretary and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said Friday morning on CNN he "hasn't thought much" about returning to Massachusetts to run for governor. But in the wake of Charlie Baker's announcement he will not be seeking a third term, reports are surfacing that Walsh is considering throwing his considerable hat in the ring. Politico cited allies close to Walsh in reporting this week the Democrat is looking at a gubernatorial bid. Walsh deflected questions about a potential run on Bloomberg Radio, saying he still has "a lot of work to do here at the Department of Labor." Walsh is sitting on a $5.1 million war chest, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Politico also reported Dan Koh, Walsh's chief of staff, is considering a run for lieutenant governor, which could result in a Walsh-Koh ticket. Three Democrats — State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, former State Sen. Ben Downing and Harvard professor Danielle Allen — have already entered the race. But Dems are awaiting Attorney General Maura Healey's decision whether to run. Healey could instantly become the favorite, and provide stiff competition to a Walsh bid. Walsh left Boston for Washington D.C. in March, becoming President Biden's labor secretary. He was criticized in the following weeks and months for leaving a scandal involving the police commissioner for Acting Mayor Kim Janey to deal with, an issue that dogged her short tenure at City Hall.