WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - The Latest on the Massachusetts Republican convention (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Three Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate have qualified for the September primary ballot in Massachusetts.
State Rep. Geoff Diehl received the endorsement of GOP delegates at the state party convention in Worcester on Saturday, with 55 percent of the vote.
Beth Lindstrom, who served in the cabinet of former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, and businessman John Kingston both received more than 15 percent of the vote, the threshold needed to qualify.
The winner of the primary will take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker received nearly 70 percent of the vote of delegates, but conservative Springfield pastor Scott Lively surprised many observers by garnering nearly 28 percent of the vote and qualifying to run in the primary against the incumbent governor.
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3:35 p.m.
A conservative challenger to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has qualified for the September primary election.
Scott Lively, a Springfield pastor who strongly supports President Donald Trump, received nearly 28 percent of the vote of the nearly 2,400 delegates to the Republican state convention in Worcester, well over the 15 percent needed to advance to the primary.
Baker, a moderate, won the endorsement of the convention but with just under 70 percent of the vote.
Party officials were hoping to avoid sharp divisions at the convention between delegates loyal to President Donald Trump. Baker is seeking a second term and has been popular with independents and even many Democrats.
Delegates were also scheduled to cast votes Saturday for governor and several candidates hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
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1 p.m.
Delegates to the Republican state convention in Worcester are meeting to vote among candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices.
Candidates must receive votes from at least 15 percent of the more than 2,200 delegates on Saturday to advance to the September primary.
Party officials were hoping to avoid sharp divisions at the convention between delegates loyal to President Donald Trump, and others - such as Gov. Charlie Baker - who have distanced themselves from Trump.
Scott Lively, a pro-Trump, conservative pastor from Springfield, is challenging Baker.
The delegates endorsed Bourne attorney Jay McMahon for attorney general but his opponent, Dan Shores, also qualified for the September primary.
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10:30 a.m.
Delegates to the Republican state convention in Worcester are meeting to endorse candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices.
Candidates must receive votes from at least 15 percent of the delegates on Saturday to advance to the primary election in September.
Some of the more than 2,000 delegates see potential for sharp disagreements at the convention between those in the party loyal to President Donald Trump, and others - such as Gov. Charlie Baker - who have distanced themselves from Trump.
Scott Lively, a pro-Trump, conservative pastor from Springfield, hopes to win enough delegates to challenge Baker in the primary.
Up to five Republicans vying to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November are expected to have their names placed into nomination at the convention.
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11:20 p.m. (Friday)
More than 2,000 delegates are gathering for the Republican state convention in Worcester, where they will endorse candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices.
Candidates must receive votes from at least 15 percent of the delegates on Saturday to advance to the primary election in September.
Some delegates see the potential for sharp disagreements at the convention between those in the party loyal to President Donald Trump, and others - such as Gov. Charlie Baker - who have distanced themselves from Trump.
Scott Lively, a conservative pastor from Springfield, hopes to win enough delegates to challenge Baker in the primary.
Up to five Republicans vying to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November are expected to have their names placed into nomination at the convention.
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