Baker: ‘I Don’t Want to Get Involved’ in Presidential Politics
BOSTON — The 2020 presidential election is 14 months away, and Republican Governor Charlie Baker is under fire from the state Democratic party for not taking a more firm stance on President Donald Trump.
Asked by WGBH's Jon Mathieu if he planned to issue endorsements in the upcoming campaign season, Baker said he is focused instead on issues facing Massachusetts such as health care, transportation and education.
Mathieu then asked if Baker was "comfortable with the idea of a second Trump term," to which Baker replied, "Like I said, I don't want to get involved."
"Presidential politics are going to be really important to the people of Massachusetts and the people of the country," Baker said in an interview that aired Monday morning. "But the assignment on that one is on them. My job is to do the best I possibly can to make sure people have the quality of life and the opportunity to make a living and a high quality community to live in here in Massachusetts. That's going to be my focus."
Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Gus Bickford slammed the answer, calling Baker's remarks "outrageous" in a statement.
"Trump is a racist who is pushing a nationalist agenda from the White House, but Charlie Baker doesn't want to get involved," Bickford said. "Trump attacks women and wants to defund Planned Parenthood, but Charlie Baker doesn’t want to get involved. Trump is attacking the transgender community, stripping people of basic protections, but Charlie Baker doesn’t want to get involved. Trump is ripping children from their families and putting them in cages, but Charlie Baker doesn’t want to get involved."
During the 2016 election cycle, Baker initially endorsed former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the Republican primary and then said he left blank the presidential field on his general election ballot.