After a nominating convention marred by long lines, hiccups in vote tallying, and a delay so long that one candidate opened bar tabs for attendees, the Massachusetts Republican party endorsed Mike Minogue as their candidate for governor.
The day stretched hours past schedule, to the point where a good number of delegates — more than 150 — left the arena, tired and frustrated, in between the contested elections for lieutenant governor and governor Saturday.
Once votes were tallied, Minogue, a former medical device company CEO and political outsider who has poured $12.5 million of his own money into his campaign, ended the day with a decisive 70 percent of the votes cast by party delegates, cruising his way to the party’s endorsement
Mike Kennealy, a former economic development secretary, was knocked off the Sept. 1 ballot after failing to secure 15 percent of the votes. Former MBTA general manager Brian Shortsleeve barely cleared the threshold with 15.5 percent.
Party chair Amy Carnevale told reporters last week that more than 4,000 delegates had qualified to attend the convention. Just under 1,800 ultimately cast votes for their choice of governor.
“Let’s get through this convention, and let’s get through it with respect,” state Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr said after a series of boos.
Republicans endorsed Anne Brensley, a Wayland selectwoman who ran her own campaign for lieutenant governor but was backed by Minogue, with 56 percent of the vote.
The party on Saturday also nominated several Republicans who ran unopposed Saturday, including John Deatonfor US Senate, Elizabeth Dionne for state treasurer, and Mike Walsh for attorney general.