Republican nominee Gabriel Gomez has been heavily outspent as he heads into Tuesday’s Massachusetts Senate special election against Democratic Rep. Ed Markey, but the political newcomer says there’s no hard feelings that GOP allies haven’t come to his aid.
While some of Gomez’s consultants have been openly frustrated that national groups haven’t spent on his behalf in the Bay State contest – especially when the party could highlight a young, moderate Latino candidate – Gomez said on Election Day on The Daily Rundown that while the national party has been supportive, he’s run his own race.
“They are not speaking for me,” Gomez said. “I said we’d win with or without D.C.”
The former Navy SEAL has consistently trailed Markey, a 37-year congressional veteran, in recent public polling, with the Democrat’s lead ranging from 20 points to high-single digits in the race to succeed now-Secretary of State John Kerry.
Having been burned before with a surprising 2010 upset by Republican Scott Brown, Democrats have spent heavily on Markey’s behalf to avoid another embarrassment. Through last week, Markey and Democratic groups, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Senate Majority PAC, have combined to spend $5.2 million, while Gomez and a new PAC on his behalf, Americans for Progressive Action, have spent $3 million.
Still, Gomez said he’s remained in the game despite Markey having “literally thrown the kitchen sink at me” with the barrage of spending and Democratic heavy hitters, including President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and former President Bill Clinton, coming to campaign on his behalf.
Gomez, the son of Colombian immigrants, has campaigned as a moderate Republicans, highlighting where he differs with his party, noting he would vote for immigration reform and to expand background checks for gun purchases.
“I want to make it a ‘Gang of Nine,’” said Gomez, noting he’d join the bipartisan group in the Senate working on reform. “Hopefully Senator [Elizabeth] Warren will join me and make it a Gang of Ten.”
While Markey has argued repeatedly that Gomez would be just another GOP vote, noting his opposition to banning assault weapons, Gomez says his bipartisan message will break through with voters on Tuesday, even as record low turnout is expected.
“The message is they know how broken D.C. is, the cynicism, fiscal mismanagement, hyper partisanship. They know I’m my own person,” said Gomez. “They know I’m going to put people before politics and put down D.C.’s way of doing thing. The old way is not the right way to do things.”
Jessica Taylor