Massachusetts Elects First Openly Gay Person in US History Into Attorney General's Office: Maura Healey, Actvists Celebrate
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Democrat Maura Healey was elected attorney general in Massachusetts, making history as the first openly gay attorney general in the United States, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
The Charlestown resident finalized her prompt upsurge in state politics, continuing the secession of democratic representation that began with former House Speaker Robert Quinn, who held office in 1969, according to the Lowell Sun Online.
Healey won a competitive primary against Republican John Miller on Tuesday by a vote of 63 percent to 37 percent with 87 percent of the votes counted, WBUR reports.
According to Boston Globe, Healey has replaced Martha Coakley, whom she served seven years under.
WCVB, an ABC affiliate in Boston, reports that on Sept. 9, Healey defeated former state Sen. Warren Tolman (D) in the primary election to become the Democratic nominee for Attorney General by 126,420 votes, in a margin of 62.4 percent to 37.6 percent.
EMILY's List, a progressive PAC that endorsed pro-choice Democratic women, helped Healey's triumph against Tolman during the primary election and celebrated her historic victory, according to Huffington Post.
"Tonight, voters in Massachusetts decisively chose to elect progressive champion Maura Healey Attorney General," Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, told the website. "Maura has spent years fighting to expand rights and freedoms for women and families in Massachusetts. And now with the help of the EMILY's List community -- three million members strong -- she can take that leadership to the next level."
Shriock continued by calling Healey "one of the staunchest advocates for equality we have in this country."
"As the nation's first openly gay attorney general, she is an inspirational trailblazer and will fight to guarantee civil rights and legal equality for all people of Massachusetts," Chad Griffin, Human Rights Campaign president, said.
On Nov. 4, a post on her Facebook fan page "Maura Healey for Attorney General" shows a photo of Healey with her family members voting the morning of the election.
"I voted with my nieces in Charlestown this morning! Please go vote today - the polls close at 8:00PM!" Healey wrote.
On her Twitter account, where she is followed by over 5,000 followers, Healey posted a photo just before winning the ballot.
"As Attorney General I'm going to be your lawyer. I'm going to be your advocate. #MaPoli," the caption said.
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