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Conservative Pastor Qualifies To Challenge Mass. Gov. Baker In GOP Primary

Republican candidate for governor Scott Lively addresses the Massachusetts Republican Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Winslow Townson/AP)
Republican candidate for governor Scott Lively addresses the Massachusetts Republican Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass., Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Winslow Townson/AP)

A conservative challenger to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has qualified for the September primary election.

Scott Lively, a Springfield pastor who strongly supports President Trump, received nearly 28 percent of the vote of the nearly 2,400 delegates to the Republican state convention in Worcester, well over the 15 percent needed to advance to the primary.

Baker, a moderate, won the endorsement of the convention but with just under 70 percent of the vote.

Party officials were hoping to avoid sharp divisions at the convention between delegates loyal to Trump. Baker is seeking a second term and has been popular with independents and even many Democrats.

Delegates were also scheduled to cast votes Saturday for several candidates hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

This article was originally published on April 28, 2018.

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