Nominees

Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci (R)
Immediately after Gov. William F. Weld's resignation in July 1997 elevated Cellucci from lieutenant governor, he began lobbying for a major tax cut. In his January State of the State speech, he promoted cutting income taxes by $1.2 billion. Cellucci has also said education reform, health care access and domestic violence are among his priorities. He entered politics at the local level during the 1970s and in 1976 won election to the state House, where he served four terms. Cellucci became a state senator in 1984, and won election to two terms as lieutenant governor, in 1990 and 1994. Weld has been a political ally and ardent booster since Cellucci's ascension to the acting governorship.
Campaign Web site
E-mail: mail@cellucci98.org

Scott Harshbarger (D)
As attorney general since 1991, Harshbarger took the lead in fighting the tobacco and gaming industries in Massachusetts. An early candidate in the race, Harshbarger was characterized as the underdog in a potential primary battle against Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II (D). He lagged behind Kennedy in both statewide surveys and fund-raising at first; then his poll numbers inched slowly upward. Harshbarger assumed the Democratic front-runner role when Kennedy dropped out of the race in August.
Campaign Web site
E-mail: scott98@tiac.com

Primary Contenders

Joe Malone (R)
Now in his second term as state treasurer, Malone was one of the first candidates to enter the gubernatorial race when then-Gov. William F. Weld resigned from office. Early on, Massachusetts political consultants vetted the possibility of Cellucci offering Malone a spot on the ticket as his running mate, but Malone said he would not consider the idea. A term-limits supporter, Malone lost badly in the 1988 U.S. Senate race against Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D).
Campaign Web site
E-mail: malone98@aol.com

Patricia McGovern (D)
A liberal former state senator, McGovern has said her campaign priorities were education, child care and health care. She supported the $1.2 billion per year income tax cut that Cellucci champions. EMILY's List and Rep. John Olver (D) endorsed her candidacy.
Campaign Web site
E-mail: mcgovern@mcgovern98.org

Brian Donnelly (D)
Donnelly represented Massachusetts's 11th District in the U.S. House from 1978 to 1992, retiring from Congress when the state's congressional districts were redrawn. Most recently he served as U.S. ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
Campaign Web site
E-mail: donnelly98@donnelly98.org