Rep. Brad Jones, a North Studying Republican, handily received reelection to the highest conservative submit within the Home Wednesday after dealing with a longshot bid from Rep. Marc Lombardo, a Billerica Republican who has criticized Jones’ management.
Lombardo’s candidacy represented one of many first public challenges Jones has confronted since 2009 and the opening of a small rift within the 25-member Home Republican Caucus. However Jones cruised again to the minority chief’s workplace on a 19-5-1 vote the place one lawmaker voted for a 3rd candidate.
“(The vote) also says that despite the extraordinary efforts of outside extreme groups and parties, that they lost again,” Jones informed reporters shortly after the vote. “I’m happy to have a conversation about Marc, about his vision, about how he wants to participate going forward, and have a conversation with every single one of the members.”
In saying his run for the highest Home Republican submit, Lomardbo mentioned conservatives within the chamber wanted to mount a stronger problem to the Democratic Social gathering, which holds a super-majority in each legislative branches on Beacon Hill.
Lombardo launched a three-point plan to “rebuild our party” that touched on management improvement, holding Democrats “accountable,” and growing transparency within the Legislature.
Lombardo mentioned Wednesday’s vote was not a loss however the begin of a “conversation within the caucus and with the voters of the commonwealth about how they want the Republican Party of Massachusetts to operate, how they want the House caucus to operate.”
“They don’t want us operating as a uni-party. They don’t want us letting bills go through 95 at a time on the last night of session with nobody in the building. They want transparency. They want a strong Republican voice. And we haven’t had that,” he informed reporters.
Lombardo has lashed out towards Jones and accused the North Studying Republican of wielding legislative stipends to consolidate energy.
“I can tell you unequivocally the conversations I had, many of them who voted for Brad Jones are not happy with the way things are and just need to find the courage to actually vote the way that they really feel,” he mentioned.
Jones has known as Lombardo’s remarks “divisive rhetoric and meaningless noise generated by outside special interests, extremist groups and others leading up to today’s vote.”
“As we begin a new legislative session, I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead the House Republican Caucus over the next two years and will continue to work alongside my colleagues to advocate for responsible policies that are in the best interests of our cities and towns and the state’s taxpayers,” he mentioned in an announcement.
