CAMBRIDGE, Mass. | October 5, 2026

They ran against each other and topped rival party tickets. They know how Massachusetts politics work – and how it can often fall short. Today, former Governor Charlie Baker joins former Governor Deval Patrick in endorsing Question 3, the All-Party Primaries ballot initiative.

Baker is joined by a new endorsement from former Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. They join a growing coalition that already includes former Governor Patrick, former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, former State Treasurer and MassDems Chair Steve Grossman, former MassGOP Chair Jennifer Nassour and former U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III.

Former rivals, now on the same side

  • Governor Charlie Baker (R) and Governor Deval Patrick (D): opponents in the 2010 race for governor
  • Lt. Governor Tim Murray (D), Patrick’s 2006 running mate, and Lt. Governor Kerry Healey (R/I/Forward), the 2006 Republican nominee for governor: opponents in the 2006 race for governor
  • Steve Grossman (D) and Jennifer Nassour (R): former chairs of the MassDems and MassGOP state parties, respectively

What they’re saying

“The opportunity to hold public office is a tremendous privilege, but even greater than that honor is the profound responsibility it carries to serve the community that elected you, regardless of party politics,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “As governor, I worked hard to listen to different points of view because that’s the only way for leaders to find the best ideas and reach common ground to get important stuff done. Massachusetts is at its best when we put good ideas and good government ahead of politics, because the real work begins after campaigns end. All-party primaries will give voters more choice and our elected officials will have to reach across the aisle to voters from other parties if they want to be successful. That’s why I believe Question 3 will return the focus to what matters most: delivering meaningful results for the people of our Commonwealth.”

“Politics nowadays is less about ‘red’ versus ‘blue’ than about insiders versus outsiders,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Elections ought to be a competition of ideas, experience and character than about who has the better structural advantage. All-party primaries can enable more good people to compete, and encourage more office holders to deliver results once elected.”

This is yet another major show of support for Question 3, one month ahead of the November election. The good-government reform is designed to make Massachusetts elections more competitive, open the door for fresh voices, incentivize elected officials to deliver results and make politicians actually listen to the people they serve – not political insiders.

How an all-party primary works

In an All-Party Primary (sometimes called a “top-two” primary) every voter sees the same ballot, no matter their party, with every qualified candidate included. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the November general election. In 2022, about one in five registered voters turned out for the primary. About one in two voted in November. The result: politicians have to earn your vote instead of assuming it.

This is not a new idea for Massachusetts. Many cities and towns already elect their mayors and municipal officials this way. Question 3 would extend this familiar system to legislative, statewide and federal congressional primary races. It would also end convention gatekeeping: party conventions would no longer decide which qualified federal candidates make the ballot, but could instead be used for important endorsements and organizing.

Top-two primaries have been shown to increase voter turnout and competition in other states that have also implemented the reform, like California and Washington, and legislators in top-two states are younger and more representative by race and gender of their populations.

Why it matters

Right now, most Massachusetts elections are over before the general election in November. Since 2014, 52% of all races in Massachusetts have featured no opposition – one candidate who wins by default because there’s no other person to vote for. When politicians never face a serious challenger, they stop listening, they stop acting with urgency and they stop delivering results.

A growing coalition

Other endorsers include the NAACP New England Area Conference, the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, the Western Mass Building Trades, the Massachusetts Forward Party, the Election Reformers Network, Partners in Democracy, Veterans for All Voters, Indivisible Fitchburg, Worcester Indivisible, Central MA Citizens Climate Lobby, Brookfield Fights Fear, UltraViolet Action and the Holden Democratic Town Committee.

Individual endorsers include State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, NAACP New England Area Conference President Tanisha Sullivan, Northampton activist and organizer Arlene Kirsch, Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition President and CEO Celia Johnston Blue, Somerville climate activist and organizer Bob Massie, Rank the Vote Founder Nathan Lockwood, and mayors, legislators and municipal officials across the Commonwealth. See the full list of endorsers.

About the Coalition for Healthy Democracy

The Coalition for Healthy Democracy was founded by Danielle Allen, a democracy advocate and public policy scholar who believes that our democracy should work for everyone. Every voter deserves a real say – no matter their party, no matter their zip code.

Danielle’s journey of democracy renovation began at the Spring of Hope Church in Springfield. Community members there shared that primary races with a single incumbent and no challengers left them wondering why they should even show up to vote in the primary. Voting for the lone default winners of uncompetitive races, they said, wasn’t a great use of their time. Danielle and the broad coalition behind Question 3 are working to help fix that by giving every voter in Massachusetts a meaningful voice.

Ready to help? Take action for Question 3, or read what Question 3 does.

Media contact: press@coalitionforhealthydemocracy.org