fb-pixel Skip to main content

Gay GOP group cheers Baker with invite; top Mass. labor group endorses Gonzalez

Charlie Baker. CJ GUNTHER/EPA/Shutterstock

Governor Charlie Baker, a longtime supporter of gay marriage who in 2010 chose an openly gay state senator as his running mate, will be the keynote speaker at an October dinner put on by a pro-LGBTQ-equality conservative group.

The Log Cabin Republicans event in Washington, D.C., will feature Baker and another moderate Republican facing reelection in a Democratic state, Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland.

“Governor Baker looks forward to joining the Log Cabin Republicans to share his proud record of bipartisan leadership and support for the LGBT community,” said Terry MacCormack, a Baker spokesman.

He pointed to Baker “signing an amicus brief in favor of nationwide marriage equality, boosting opportunities for LGBT-owned businesses working with state government,” and signing a law that allows people to use the restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity and protects transgender people from discrimination in public accommodations, such as hotels and bars.

Meanwhile, the state’s largest labor organization, which is strongly aligned with the Democratic Party, announced Tuesday it is endorsing Jay Gonzalez, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who will face Baker in the Nov. 6 election.

Advertisement



The executive board of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO voted unanimously to give the Needham Democrat the nod, according to a news release from Gonzalez.

“The hardworking people of this Commonwealth deserve a governor who will stand up for them,” Gonzalez said.

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO president, Steven A. Tolman, praised Gonzalez as a champion for working people and said in a statement: “We don’t need another term of Governor Baker’s tired tactics, supporting big business and privatizing government at the expense of the public good.”

Also Tuesday, state campaign finance data showed Gonzalez and Baker spending down their war chests in the first half of the month, which included the Sept. 4 primary election. Both were victorious.

Advertisement



From Sept. 1 through 15, Baker raised $136,000 and spent $1.3 million, ending with $5.2 million in the bank.

Gonzalez over the two-week period raised $47,000 and spent $67,000. On Saturday, he had $168,000 in the bank.


Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com.