Keller @ Large: Mass. GOP Chair Kirsten Hughes Talks 2016
BOSTON (CBS) -- In Massachusetts, all nine congressional seats and all 200 legislative seats are up for reelection this November, as they are every two years.
Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Kirsten Hughes said information is still being gathered about how many of those seats the Mass. GOP will be contesting--but that there is new excitement and hope for the party.
"Charlie Baker and Karyn Polito really laid a great groundwork in 2014 for making gains not only in the House and Senate, but also showing folks statewide that it was possible to win as a Republican," said Hughes.
Hughes sat down with WBZ political analyst Jon Keller to discuss the party's plans for 2016. Keller asked Hughes about the tension in her party between social conservatives and the Baker wing of the party which was much more focused on fiscal issues.
"I'm happy to say I lead the entire Republican Party here in Massachusetts, whether you call yourself a conservative or a moderate or a Baker Republican," said Hughes. "Those folks within our party are united about electing Republicans at every level of the ticket here in Massachusetts.
Hughes said those in her party may disagree, but that they are intent on preserving a two-party balance system in the Commonwealth.
Keller also brought up Donald Trump, who is the leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, asking Hughes if she would vote for him should he become the party's nominee.
More: Keller @ Large: Meet The New Trump
"I am resolute in my resolve to make sure that we do not have Hillary Clinton as our next president, and so I am supporting our party's nominee," Hughes said. "But it's too early to tell."
She said Trump was speaking to many voters' dissatisfaction with the political parties as they currently exist.
"You have a right to dislike someone's personality," Hughes said of Trump, "But I think he's speaking to something that a lot of voters, Democrats and Republicans alike, really feel about the stagnation in Washington."
Hughes and Keller also spoke about charter school cap and how her party would like to see it addressed.
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
