You think Massachusetts Republicans are any better? Think again. The party apparatus will actively primary any conservative with the temerity to run and they're careful to blackball any conservative who shows an interest in becoming part of the state party apparatus.
40 years ago, the local Dems were at least anti-abortion (though too many to preserve their status within the party were sucked left), but the state GOP was only too happy with it. Northeast (a/k/a Rockefeller) Republicans have been social liberal probably since shortly after Coolidge was governor.
You’re absolutely right! Many Republicans these days are nothing more than closet Democrats.