Can a Democrat unseat a popular GOP governor?

Even in a blue state, and amid signs that liberal Democratic enthusiasm is surging nationwide, Jay Gonzalez likely faces a steep climb in his bid to unseat Massachusetts' popular Republican governor in November. Gonzalez handily won the Democratic nomination, but now must quickly figure out a way to channel into his campaign the energy and thirst for change that powered Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley's primary election upset of longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano.

Tough climb seen for Dems against GOP Massachusetts governor

As he signed into law new protections for insurance coverage for women's birth control in Massachusetts, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker stood shoulder to shoulder with about three dozen supporters of the bill, nearly all of them Democrats, in the Statehouse library. Speaker after speaker, including the head of Planned Parenthood in Massachusetts, thanked and praised Baker for backing the legislation and reproductive rights for women in general.