FROM OUR PRINTED JUNE 1, 2026 EDITION (IF YOU MISS THE PRINTED EDITION, YOU MISS A LOT…we put a few articles up here online….)
Despite the debacle at the MassGOP Convention on Saturday, April 25, at the DCU Center in Worcester, it should be noted that every candidate did a fantastic job working the room and speaking.
Congratulations to all the Republican candidates (U.S. Senate, state treasurer, attorney general, lieutenant governor, and governor) who attended the convention. It is sometimes hard to realize the sacrifices candidates make when running for office. Running for office takes a substantial amount of time while investing a substantial amount of your own personal funds to run. It was wonderful to see the candidates’ families, including young children, working the convention room, meeting people, handing out swag, and drumming up support.
Every candidate gave a heartfelt speech about their lives, about the adversity they faced in life, as well as the reasons why they are running for office. As Republicans, we are fortunate to have a fine group of candidates running for office, and Massachusetts residents will be well represented by our Republican candidates. Congratulations to U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton, state treasurer candidate Elizabeth Dionne, attorney general candidate Mike Walsh, lieutenant governor candidate Anne Brensley, and gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue for securing the MassGOP-endorsed candidate designations.
The featured speakers District Attorney Timothy Cruz, Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym, Toby Leary, Mayor Shaunna O’Connell, Howie Carr (via Zoom), and Mike Urban also did a fantastic job. Their messages resonated well with delegates and guests.
As for the convention, it is painful to describe the complete disaster it was, especially as we need to focus and to support our candidates who are giving it their all to fight for and to save Massachusetts. Republicans and delegates should have left that convention feeling uplifted, upbeat, and feeling like winners. Instead, many felt embarrassed and demoralized hoping that the Democrats would not find out how disorganized every facet of this convention was. The disaster at this convention made every Republican look bad. The Democrats will hold their convention on May 29 and 30 at the same location: the DCU Center in Worcester. The fee per delegate is $85.00 versus our $150.00 fee, and it is likely that their convention will go smoothly.
We thank U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton for hosting the Welcome Event Friday evening, April 24, where delegates took advantage of complimentary beverages, had the chance to socialize, and pick up their credentials so that we would not have to stand in line Saturday morning. The credentials are needed to gain entry into the DCU Convention Center. Because of the disorganization by the MassGOP, it took many people close to two hours in line to obtain their credentials. Their system for obtaining delegate credentials was antiquated and disorganized.
The MassGOP sent several notices threatening delegates that if they were not in the DCU Convention Center by 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, they would not be allowed in, so when we saw the line of delegates outside the convention center at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning, we all thought that there was no way every delegate would make it in by 10:00 a.m. There was still a long line of delegates at the register line after 10:00 a.m., so it’s likely that the MassGOP extended the timeframe.
The convention program started at 9:00 a.m. with the call to order, the invocation, the “Pledge of Allegiance,” the National Anthem, and the chair’s address, all to a nearly empty convention hall!
Carly Tefft did an astonishing job leading us in the National Anthem to a nearly empty convention center.
MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale provided the welcome address, again, to a nearly empty convention center. From that point on, we did not see Amy Carnevale; she did not “work the room” and did not provide any other updates or messages to the delegates.
State Senator and Minority Leader Bruce Tarr was elected Convention Co-Chair along with State Representative David Muradian. It was difficult to see Senator Tarr on the convention stage representing Republicans as he often votes and sides with Democrats.
Candidates for U.S. senator, state treasurer and attorney general became the MassGOP-endorsed candidates by acclimation as those races were not contested. After the lieutenant gubernatorial candidates gave their speeches, it was time for delegates to vote for their preferred candidate. A short time after voting started, Convention Co-Chair Bruce Tarr warned that voting must be completed within the next fifteen minutes. There were a lot of “boos,” as everyone felt that voting could not be completed by that time. Then fifteen minutes later, Co-Chair Bruce Tarr stopped the voting; however, there were still large districts that did not complete the voting with delegates still in line. Tarr kept to his deadline by stopping the voting to large “boos” and shouts. It got so loud and contentious that we thought security would need to step up control.
Tallying the votes for the lieutenant gubernatorial candidates took a few hours with many delegates getting restless. Candidates for governor were sending texts for delegates to please stay engaged and stick it out to the end. The Minogue campaign began offering free pizzas and beverages to keep delegates from giving up and going home as it was already close to 4:30 p.m. In the end, this was a 12-hour convention from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Although the MassGOP expected more than 3,000 delegates to attend, Co-Chair Bruce Tarr provided the total count of 2,300 registered delegates as of late morning. Many of us were surprised at the low number of delegates in attendance.
Finally, the MassGOP provided the tally showing Anne Brensley becoming the endorsed lieutenant gubernatorial candidate with 56% of the vote with 1,100 votes.
After the gubernatorial candidates gave their speeches (for a cost of $50,000 each), it was time to vote. Again, disorganization with the tallying taking a very long time. More texts came from the gubernatorial candidates asking delegates to stay to the end which I believe was after 7:00 p.m. by this point. Finally, the votes were announced showing Mike Minogue receiving over 70% of the vote and becoming the MassGOP-endorsed candidate for governor. Minogue and his family then appeared on stage to thank delegates; however, Mike lost his voice, so his young son finished the speech!
Throughout the 12-hour convention, there was no mention of the grassroots efforts conducted by the Republican town and ward committees. Town and ward committees are a vital part of the grassroots efforts for electing, supporting, and fundraising for local, state, and federal candidates, so let’s hope future conventions will speak to the important role that they have.
In order to have a successful Republican Party in Massachusetts, it must be led by someone who will give it full-time attention, not part-time attention. The chair must work full-time raising funds, engaging Republican town committees throughout the state, and ensuring that no local, state, or federal office goes unchallenged. The convention debacle was embarrassing to every Republican in Massachusetts, and it is time for new leadership at the Massachusetts Republican Party.
The Massachusetts Republican Party will not survive under this current model. ♦
