Lucas: Danvers mom to to run for lieutenant governor alongside Geoff Diehl

Boston Herald ^ | March 20, 2022 | Peter Lucas

[T Ruth]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl’s “running mate” will be a 33-year-old working mother from Danvers.

She is fellow conservative Leah Allen, a former state representative from Peabody who served briefly in the House with Diehl before giving up her seat to become a registered nurse..

She was just 24 when she was first elected in a district dominated by Democrats in a 2013 special election..

The mother of a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old, Allen is planning to bring a working mom’s perspective and experience to the campaign as well as to the governor’s office..

She will also bring her experience and views on health care, particularly in the area of mandated COVID-19 vaccinations, which she opposed while pregnant..

She now faces the looming possibility of losing her nursing position at a North Shore hospital because of her anti-vax stand, even though she treated COVID patients during the pandemic..

Diehl, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, is also a strong opponent of government COVID-19 mandated vaccinations..

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While candidates running for governor and lieutenant governor are elected as a team in the November election, they run individually in the September primary. However, it has become politically fashionable for candidates to team up in the primary and run as a unit, even though voters vote for them separately. The concept helps with messaging, fundraising and organization.

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Of the four candidates, Diehl is the only one with statewide campaign experience. He was defeated for the U.S. Senate by Democrat Elizabeth Warren in 2018. He is considered the front-runner in this primary.

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[Renfrew]

“Diehl is the only one with statewide campaign experience. He was defeated for the U.S. Senate by Democrat Elizabeth Warren in 2018”

That is one backhanded compliment.