Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez has won his party's nomination, and will face off against Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who handily beat far-right primary challenger Scott Lively on Tuesday.
Gonzalez, a former Gov. Deval Patrick budget chief, topped environmentalist Bob Massie in a campaign in which both candidates talked up their progressive credentials and vision but struggled for name recognition, even among Democrats.
Gonzalez now faces an uphill climb against Baker, a popular incumbent, even in Democratic-leaning Massachusetts. A WBUR poll conducted in May showed Baker handily beating Gonzalez in a hypothetical head-to-head competition.