(NewsNation) — Trump-backed candidate Geoff Diehl has been projected by Decision Desk HQ to be the Republican nominee in the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, beating out GOP primary challenger Chris Doughty.
The majority of Republicans in the Commonwealth chose Diehl on Tuesday as the Republican they believe has the greatest chance of keeping the governor’s office in the hands of the GOP. Republican Governor Charlie Baker has chosen not to seek a third term in office.
Diehl, a favorite among state Republican Party delegates, has had ties to Trump dating back to at least 2016. That’s when he was the Massachusetts co-chair for Trump’s presidential campaign.
In the general election, Diehl will face off against Attorney General Maura Healey. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for governor.
If Healey is victorious in November, she would become the first woman and first openly gay person to serve as the governor of Massachusetts.
The position of secretary of the commonwealth is also undergoing a primary.
Tanisha Sullivan, president of the Boston branch of the NAACP and a lawyer, is the Democratic candidate for the position. Sullivan is facing incumbent Democratic Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin.
If elected, Sullivan would be the first Black person to serve in that position in Massachusetts. Either Sullivan or Galvin will face Republican Rayla Campbell in November.
Two Democrats are fighting for the state’s top law enforcement office: State attorney general.
Boston City Councilor Andrea Campbell is running for the spot. She is challenging workers’ rights attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan in the Democratic primary.
If elected, Campbell would be the first Black woman to hold the office in Massachusetts. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Jay McMahon, a trial attorney.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.