GOP candidate for governor names hoped-for running mate

BOSTON (AP) — Republican candidate for governor Chris Doughty has endorsed a candidate for lieutenant governor with the hope of running as a ticket in the November election.

Doughty said in an email Tuesday that he was thrilled Kate Campanale has agreed to campaign with him.

Campanale is a former state representative who represented Leicester and a portion of Worcester.

“Kate will bring experience, energy, and her legendary work ethic to our ticket,” Doughty said.

In recent decades — going back to former Gov. Willaim Weld, who ran with Paul Cellucci as a ticket — Republican candidates for governor have tried to run unofficially as a ticket with a candidate for lieutenant governor early in the campaign, even though each run separately in the primary election, and only officially team up as a ticket in the general election.

Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor have typically run separate primary races, only teaming up as a ticket in the general election.

There are two Democratic candidates for governor — Attorney General Maura Healey and state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz.

Other Republican candidates for governor include former GOP state representative Geoff Diehl and Shiva Ayyadurai, who in 2020 lost a Republican primary bid for the U.S. Senate.

Republican incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito both opted not to run for reelection.