BY KRISTEN BRISSETTE
Barnstable Broadside
SANDWICH, Mass., SEPT. 28, 2026 – Gene Parini has announced his candidacy for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party entering the race with a message focused on stronger leadership, greater unity, and a renewed commitment to the grassroots members who form the foundation of the Republican Party across the Commonwealth. Speaking Monday evening to a room filled with Republican activists and supporters at The Local Restaurant in Sandwich, Parini, who serves as chair of the Sandwich Republican Town Committee, formally announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Massachusetts Republican Party.
Parini told guests that he called them together because they are the people “fighting for change,” and said he would soon be asking for their help. He acknowledged that being a Republican in Massachusetts has never been easy, pointing to the state’s heavily unenrolled electorate and Democratic voter base. Massachusetts recognizes unenrolled voters as those who choose “no party,” and those voters may choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot in a primary.
Despite the political challenges, Parini said Republicans across the Cape and throughout Massachusetts continue to fight for the issues they believe are important. He cited Republican efforts to recruit candidates, challenge Democratic policies, address illegal immigration, oppose offshore wind development, protect Second Amendment rights, and oppose abortion policies that Republicans believe go too far. “We are fighting every step of the way,” he said.
Parini also reflected on the disappointment Republicans experienced following the 2022 midterm elections when expectations of a national “red wave” did not materialize. He said Republicans licked their wounds, continued supporting candidates, and remained engaged. He pointed to the subsequent Republican victories at the federal level as evidence, in his view, that sustained organization and activism can produce results.
The focus now, Parini said, must turn toward building a stronger Massachusetts Republican Party. He questioned what he described as a lack of significant accomplishments from the Massachusetts Republican Party in recent years and criticized what he characterized as insufficient support for Republican candidates and local committees.
Parini’s central argument is that the party needs a full-time chair who is focused every day on building the organization, recruiting candidates, and strengthening the grassroots. He said the MassGOP must also engage more directly with Republican Town Committees and Ward Committees, which he described as the grassroots foundation of the party. Rather than simply communicating with local committees, he said the state party should collaborate with them, bring them into the process, and make them feel that their voices matter.
Fundraising, candidate support, and technology were also central to Parini’s proposed agenda.
He said the MassGOP should have a full-time fundraising effort, provide greater assistance to candidates collecting nomination papers and signatures, and develop website and technology resources that local town and city committees can use to strengthen their operations.
Parini also called for the party to endorse President Donald Trump, and said the MassGOP needs a complete rebranding. “People roll their eyes when they hear MassGOP,” he said, arguing that
the organization needs to rebuild its public image and demonstrate a more energetic, modern, and effective approach. “I pledge to do this every day as a full-time chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party,” Parini said.
Looking toward the 2026 election, Parini said Republicans have an opportunity to compete for the governorship and other statewide and local offices. His message to the activists in the room was that the party’s future will depend on organization, candidate recruitment, fundraising, communication and—above all—continued grassroots involvement.
