A state senator with his eyes on higher office has opted against a state auditor's run and instead endorsed one of his colleagues who is already in the race to succeed Auditor Suzanne Bump.
Saying the timing of a race "simply does not work in light of my prevailing legislative commitments," Sen. Marc Pacheco of Taunton announced Thursday morning that he will not run for auditor and instead backed Sen. Diana DiZoglio of Methuen, who is competing with fellow Democrat Chris Dempsey for the statewide post.
Pacheco said he received "tremendous support" as he contemplated the race over the past few months but "concluded that the effort needed to proceed with the type of statewide campaign I could be proud of would detract too greatly from the critical work that remains to be achieved in the legislature — both on behalf of the district I represent, and on the critical matters of labor, climate, and clean energy policy."
He thanked "current and former colleagues, labor leaders, advocates, and voters" who he said had been "waiting on my decision," and then pivoted to DiZoglio, a former state representative who has been willing to clash with party leaders in both branches in pursuit of her policy goals.
"Diana DiZoglio is someone who is dedicated to establishing transparency, ensuring accountability, eliminating bureaucratic waste, ending fraud, and exposing those who abuse our hard-earned tax dollars," Pacheco said. "As her colleague in the Massachusetts Senate, I have witnessed first-hand her willingness to speak truth to power, stand up for the needs of her constituents, and take the hard votes that protect working families each-and-every time."
The dean of the Senate, Pacheco, 68, has served in the Legislature since 1989. He did not say if he will seek re-election.
Sen. Adam Hinds of Pittsfield announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor Wednesday. Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz is in the 2022 race for governor. And other senators are believed to be weighing options for next year while Treasurer Deb Goldberg, Secretary of State William Galvin and Attorney General Maura Healey decide their next steps.
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