Torkildsen Not Seeking Reelection

Massachusetts GOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen will not be seeking reelection, according to a press release from the Massachusetts Republican Party.

The Honorable Peter Torkildsen, Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, issued the following statement today:

MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen said, “Today, I informed members of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee that I will not be a candidate for re-election in January when my term as Chairman concludes. I greatly appreciate the many members of the State Committee who called during the past week to let me know of their support for my running again. After thinking about it for the past week, I decided I could not commit to serving for the full two year term, and therefore it would be best to announce my intentions early, and allow others considering a candidacy to step forward.”

“During the past two years, we did accomplish some significant steps. First, every Republican last week was re-elected. Second, during the past two years, we raised over $1.5 million, even though this was the first cycle in 16 years where we did not have the benefit of the Governor’s office being occupied by a Republican. And third, we conducted over 50 campaign schools, where we taught candidates and their volunteers the basics of running a campaign, raising money, using technology, and conducting voter identification and Election Day operations.”

“I am optimistic that our Party will regain the Governor’s office and increase seats in the legislature in 2010, as long as we put recriminations behind us, and recruit, train and support our best possible candidates. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, and I look forward to continuing to work to build two-party competition in Massachusetts,” concluded Torkildsen.

MassGOP Chairman Peter Torkildsen has a long record of public service. He served as a State Representative from January 1985 to December of 1990. He went on to serve two terms in the United States Congress as a Representative of the 6th Congressional District from January of 1993 to January of 1997. He has been the Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party since January of 2007.

PolitckerMA.com is reporting that Daniel Winslow, veteran Republican strategist, is not interested in the chairmanship position.

Some Republican circles were speculating that Winslow, who was Mitt Romney’s chief legal counsel when he was governor, might run for the post if current chairman Peter Torkildsen did not seek re-election. But even with Torkildsen’s announcement on Wednesday that he is stepping down, Winslow told PolitickerMA.com that he isn’t interested.

“While I would relish the challenge of reinventing the Republican Party in Massachusetts, I am confident that our rising stars will step up to the task,” Winslow said. “For now, my focus is on my clients and in problem solving in public policy areas. I hope that my ideas, advice and energy can support two-party government in other ways.”

Aaron Margolis is a life long resident of the Bay State, and works at an architectural firm north of Boston. Aaron has a Master of Architecture Degree from Boston Architectural College and is currently in the process of becoming of a Registered Architect.