Diehl and Healey face off in their final debate

In their second and final debate Thursday night, the two major candidates for governor of Massachusetts picked up where they left off last week. In a debate sponsored by WBUR, WCVB and the Boston Globe, Democrat Maura Healey and Republican Geoff Diehl sparred over the economy, abortion rights and Donald Trump.

As she did a week ago, Healey quickly tried to tie Diehl to the former president. Asked if they would accept the results of the Nov. 8 election, Healey said she would, and then attacked Diehl for pushing Trump's "big lie" that he won in 2020.

"Those are really dangerous statements in these times," Healey said. "Those are the kind of statements that incited the violence — the attack — on the United States Capitol that resulted in injury and death to police officers."

For his part, Diehl said he would also accept the results of the November election. But as a supporter of the former president, Diehl has pushed Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was rigged. And Thursday night, he said it is appropriate to continue to raise questions about possible irregularities.

"It's OK to say that things like mail-in balloting may have been handled badly," Diehl asserted, while acknowledging that Joe Biden "was certified and became our president."

As he did a week ago, Diehl, a fiscal and social conservative, attacked Healey for being aligned with Biden on policies that he says have produced "high taxes, soaring gas prices, more government control and less individual freedom.”

Healey pushed back and said her top priorities are to make housing and child care more affordable, as well as to push for tax cuts and money from Washington to help with rising energy costs. Healey also pledged to protect abortion rights in Massachusetts and attacked Diehl as out of step with most voters on the issue.

"My opponent celebrated when Roe was overturned," Healey said, adding that Diehl favors defunding Planned Parenthood and jailing doctors who provide abortion care.

For his part, Diehl said he would respect the Roe Act — the Massachusetts law that protects abortion rights — if he is elected governor and accused Healey of trying to scare voters.

"There is no way I'm changing that law," Diehl declared, even though he personally opposes abortion and voiced concerns with parts of the law in the past.

Thursday night's debate was Diehl's last and best opportunity to gain ground on Healey in an election in which she's heavily favored. Democrats outnumber Republicans in Massachusetts by a wide margin. And a recent Boston Globe-Suffolk University poll found Diehl trailing by 23 points.

Voters are already casting ballots by mail, and early voting in Massachusetts begins Saturday.