After losses on Mass. ballot questions, big challenges for Baker
After living a politically charmed life for the past two years, Governor Charlie Baker now faces his first serious turbulence, having been dealt a setback by voters who rejected two contentious ballot campaigns on which he staked considerable political capital.
As the dust settles from Tuesday’s balloting, Baker must watch the teachers unions, his bitter enemies in his failed fight to expand charter schools, take a victory lap.
And having played a leading role in opposition to legalizing pot, he must also contend with a new marijuana industry that could bring huge pot-growing farms and commercial outlets that market weed-laced candy bars, sodas, and brownies.
Baker, among the most popular governors in America, is facing a stark new political reality: There are limits to his ability to use that popularity to convince voters to back him on controversial policy issues — or, on charter schools, to create a positive legacy that could define his governorship.
Read the complete story at BostonGlobe.com.
Don’t have a Globe subscription? Boston.com readers get a 2-week free trial.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com