Former state representative Jim Lyons won an upset victory to become chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party on Thursday night.
Lyons, who was the most conservative member of the state Legislature before losing a re-election bid this past November, won the state party committee vote 47-30 over Brent Anderson, the party treasurer, who was widely considered the establishment candidate.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey committed herself on Wednesday to an ambitious new clean energy goal and promised to fight gun violence, reduce barriers to mental health treatment, and support increased funding for education as many Democrats continue to look to her as the future of the party.
Healey, who easily won re-election in November, is widely viewed within the Democratic Party as a likely and formidable candidate for governor in four years, if she doesn't run for federal office sooner.
