Massachusetts Republican Gabriel Gomez Runs From Romney's Ghost

On June 25, Massachusetts will hold a special election to fill the Senate seat John Kerry gave up to become secretary of state. The last special election in Massachusetts, in 2010, produced a spectacular upset that nearly derailed President Obama’s agenda when the Republican, Scott Brown, beat the Democratic favorite. Republicans are hoping to repeat the trick with newcomer Gabriel Gomez, who’s taking on Democratic Representative Ed Markey. Gomez bears the unlikely distinction of at once representing everything the GOP needs—and exactly what it’s trying to leave behind.

The upside: “I’m a green Republican,” says Gomez, a 47-year-old father of four. “I believe in climate change, and I believe that humans have had something to do with climate change.” He also favors gay marriage, pay equity for women, and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Oh, and Gomez is himself the son of Colombian immigrants and fluent in Spanish. He’s also a former Navy Seal. In short, he embodies most of what the GOP’s post-election autopsies say is key to broadening its appeal.