Massachusetts: Openly Gay GOP State Sen. Richard Tisei To Run For Lt. Governor

Moderate GOP candidate for governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker has named openly gay state Sen. Richard Tisei as his running mate.

“Richard has years of experience fighting for the taxpayer on Beacon Hill and I’m thrilled to have him on the team,” Baker said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site. The Web page contained on CharlieBaker2010.com included a photo of Tisei and an image of Baker-Tisei 2010 bumper sticker. Baker and the Senate minority leader will take on convenience store magnate Christy Mihos in the Republican primary. The winner is set to face off against state Treasurer Timothy Cahill and incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick in a three-way contest in 2010.

At the age of 22, Tisei became the youngest Republican ever elected to the Massachusetts House.