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James J. Lyons Jr.

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Jim Lyons
Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party
In office
January 17, 2019 – January 31, 2023
Preceded byKirsten Hughes
Succeeded byAmy Carnevale
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 18th Essex district
In office
January 5, 2011[1] – January 2, 2019
Preceded byBarbara L'Italien
Succeeded byTram Nguyen
Personal details
BornArlington, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (1970s-1980s)
Republican
SpouseBernadette Tortelli
Children2
EducationBrandeis University (BA)

James J. Lyons Jr. is an American politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 18th Essex district from 2011 to 2019, and as chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 2019 to 2023.

Early life

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James J. Lyons Jr. was born in Arlington, Massachusetts.[2] He graduated from Arlington Catholic High School in 1971, and Brandeis University with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1975. He married Bernadette Tortelli, with whom he had two children.[3][4][5]

Career

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Early politics

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Lyons served as a town meeting member in Arlington, Massachusetts.[4][6] He was one of three people elected to the Arlington School Committee in the 1977 election.[7]

In 1978, Lyons ran against incumbent state senator Samuel Rotondi in the Democratic primary for the 4th Middlesex district, but was defeated.[4][8] He ran again while Rotondi ran for lieutenant governor in the 1982 election. Lyons lost the Democratic primary to Dick Kraus despite a recount.[9][10][11][12]

State representative

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On November 2, 2010, Lyons upset incumbent representative Barbara L'Italien. He was sworn in on January 5, 2011.[13] Lyons's legislative priorities often focused on anti-abortion issues, fighting the Opioid epidemic, and advocating for local aid. He derailed a bill that would have added a gender-neutral option to Massachusetts driver's licenses, forced the state to reveal that it gave out $1.8 billion in public assistance to undocumented immigrants, and led an unsuccessful effort in the state legislature to remove Salem Superior Court Judge Timothy Feeley from the bench.[14][15][16][17] Lyons was defeated by Democratic nominee Tram Nguyen in the 2018 election.

Lyons supported Ted Cruz during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and served as Cruz's Massachusetts campaign chair.[18] Vincent DeVito, Donald Trump's Massachusetts campaign chair, claimed that Lyons told Massachusetts delegates to ignore paperwork as an attempt to stop Trump's nomination.[19]

During Lyons' tenure in the state house he served on the Joint Committee on Housing and was the ranking Republican member of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business and Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.[5] In May 2014, Lyons and Marc Lombardo challenged Bradley Jones Jr.'s position as Minority Leader, but 21 of the 29 member Republican caucus supported Jones. Lyons and Lombardo abstained from the vote.[20] None of the legislation he authored was passed by the legislature.[19]

State party chairman

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Kirsten Hughes, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, declined to seek another term. Lyons announced his intention to run for chair on December 19, 2018, after Geoff Diehl, a political ally, declined to seek the position.[21] Diehl's endorsement of Brent Andersen, the party's treasurer, for the position resulted in criticism from more conservative members, including Lyons.[22][23] Lyons defeated Andersen, who was supported by Governor Charlie Baker, by a vote of 47 to 30 on January 17, 2019.[24][25] He was reelected as chair on January 3, 2021, by a vote of 39 to 36 against Shawn Dooley.[26] Lyons lost reelection as the party's chair to Amy Carnevale by a vote of 37 to 34 on January 30, 2023.[27]

During Lyons' tenure the party lost nine seats in the state legislature[28] and saw it reach its lowest share of registered voters since 1948.[29] Karen Spilka mockingly proposed Jim Lyons Day for "his unparalleled contribution, helping us drive all the Republicans out of the State House".[30]

Discrimination

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In 2021, over two dozen Asian-American Republicans stated that Lyons was selectively enforcing procedural rules to prevent them from participating in the election of two state party committee members in order for his candidates to win.[31] Donnie Palmer, a candidate in the 2021 Boston City Council election, was endorsed by Lyons and the Massachusetts Republican Party spent $3,697 on ads for him. State committee member Jaclyn Corriveau, the only Asian-American and non-white member, told Lyons about anti-Asian statements made by Palmer, but was ignored. Palmer later harassed Corriveau. Baker called for Lyons to resign as chair, but he refused and stated that Baker was "abandoning the principles of the Republican Party".[32][33][34]

In June 2021, Lyons ignited a media firestorm when he defended anti-gay remarks made by a member of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, who said she was "sickened" to learn that a gay Republican congressional candidate had adopted children with his husband.[35]

Former party chairs Darrell Crate, Brian Cresta, Kerry Healey, Jean Inman, Jeanne Kangas, Jennifer Nassour, and Peter G. Torkildsen signed a letter calling for his resignation. Every member of the Republican caucus in the state house except for Lombardo for him to criticize Martell or resign.[36][37][38] 16 donors threatened to stop supporting the party if Lyons remained as chair and offered to raise $1 million if he was removed.[39]

In response, Lyons criticized them as a "woke mob" with a "cancel culture mentality."[40] As the controversy continued to embroil Lyons, national Republicans distanced themselves from the MassGOP, with Congressman Dan Crenshaw and Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis canceling several previously planned fundraisers for the state party.[41][42] By September, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer had backed out of a heavily promoted party fundraiser "due to a conflict" with no new date having been announced.[43]

Intraparty disputes

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A conservative, Lyons did not have the support of the moderate state party establishment led by Baker, who once endorsed him for state representative. Lyons also did not have the support of DeVito, who had endorsed Andersen in a public letter sent to supporters of Trump on May 31, 2016.[14][44][45] Lyons was in attendance of Trump's announcement of his 2024 presidential campaign.[46]

Lyons unsuccessfully attempted to remove Baker and other elected officials' voting power in the party.[47] Lyons spent $1,800, $800 of which were party funds, to investigate Republican committee members, Lindsay Valanzola and Matthew Sisk, who opposed him.[48]

Finances

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Baker and Lyons had a dispute over the party's donor list held by Salesforce in 2019, but Lyons regained access after threatening a lawsuit against Salesforce. The Massachusetts Victory Committee, which raised $11 million since its foundation in 2013, was disbanded in 2019, and its finance chairman, John Cook, stated that the state party was on path for its "worst year of fund-raising since 2009".[49][45][50] In 2020, Lyons requested the Internal Revenue Service, FBI, Federal Election Commission, Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and U.S. District Attorney Andrew Lelling to investigate Cook misusing $1 million in party funds. Andersen stated that Lyons' claims were "motivated solely" by "personal political interest".[51]

Lyons sued Pat Crowley, the party's treasurer, in 2022 after Crowley froze the party's bank account as a budget was not passed by a quorum,[52] but Carnevale dropped the lawsuit after taking office. Lyons and twenty-one members of the state committee members filed a revive the lawsuit against Crowley.[53]

Ryan Fattman, Stephanie Fattman, and Lyons were investigated by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance in 2021. The OCPF reported that they did violate campaign finance laws.[54] Crowley accused Lyons of having communicated with Antoine Nader, chair of the Mass Freedom Independent Expenditure PAC, during the 2022 gubernatorial election in violating of state laws prohibiting the coordination of independent expenditure PACs with candidates or political parties. Emails between Lyons and Nader were obtained by The Boston Globe.[55][56]

Political positions

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Lyons is anti-abortion and unsuccessful sought an abortion referendum in the 2010s. He opposes transgender rights and petitioned for a referendum to repeal transgender rights legislation.[57][58][59][60] He opposed the Massachusetts Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative.[61]

Lyons and Diehl proposed legislation to require people seeking welfare benefits to present a Social Security number or green card.[62] He supported an eight-year term limit for speaker.[63] He opposed ending Massachusetts's flat-tax on income.[64]

Lyons supported Trump's claims about fraud in the 2020 presidential election.[65] He wanted to hold a referendum on requiring voter identification.[66] He filed a lawsuit against Massachusetts's universal no-fault mail-in voting, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled against him.[67][68]

In 2019, Lyons was given a 97% rating by the NRA Political Victory Fund,[69] with an A− rating and endorsement in 2014[70]

References

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  1. ^ "New 18th rep vows to cut budget, taxes". The Boston Globe. November 7, 2010. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "About Jim". James F. Lyons Jr. Archived from the original on November 11, 2018.
  3. ^ "Candidates For State Senate Speak Out". The Winchester Star. August 19, 1982. p. 18.
  4. ^ a b c "James Lyons a candidate for 4th Middlesex seat". The Winchester Star. May 11, 1978. p. 4B.
  5. ^ a b "Representative James J. Lyons, Jr". Massachusetts House of Representatives. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020.
  6. ^ Arlington 1972, p. 19.
  7. ^ "Arlington". The Boston Globe. March 7, 1977. p. 27. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1978 State Senate Democratic Primary 4th Middlesex District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  9. ^ "Of 79 contests in Legislature, 25 are for seats left vacant". The Boston Globe. September 12, 1982. p. 62. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Arlington's James Lyons Jr. Announces Senate Candidacy". The Winchester Star. January 14, 1982. p. 6.
  11. ^ "Kraus, Lyons Demand District Wide Recount In Senate Race". The Winchester Star. September 23, 1982. p. 10.
  12. ^ "1982 State Senate Democratic Primary 4th Middlesex District". Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Laidler, John (2010-11-07). "New 18th rep vows to cut budget, taxes". Boston.com. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  14. ^ a b Cotter, Sean Philip (January 17, 2019). "Conservative ex-state Rep. Jim Lyons wins Mass GOP chair". Boston Herald.
  15. ^ "Lyons, other pols push for judge's removal". www.lowellsun.com. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  16. ^ Reporter, Christian M. Wade Statehouse (30 July 2018). "Lawmakers renew effort to impeach judge". Salem News. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  17. ^ "Bill to oust Salem judge over immigrant drug dealer's sentencing dies in House". Boston Herald. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2018-12-12.
  18. ^ "Cruz outlines presidential agenda". The Daily Item. October 3, 2015. p. A2. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "As the Massachusetts GOP battles for relevance, its leader doubles down". The Boston Globe. May 30, 2021. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023.
  20. ^ "A Republican in a sea of Democrats". The Boston Globe. August 8, 2014. p. D4. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "GOP chair contest getting more fractious". The Recorder. December 20, 2018. p. A4. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Biehl's decision leaves GOP colleagues shocked". The Boston Globe. December 23, 2018. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Biehl's decision leaves GOP colleagues shocked continued". The Boston Globe. December 23, 2018. p. B2. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Ex-lawmaker Lyons elected chairman of state GOP". Associated Press. January 18, 2019. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mass. GOP choice for chairman sends message to Baker". The Boston Globe. January 20, 2019. p. B5. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Lyons reelected as state GOP leader". The Boston Globe. January 4, 2021. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "Mass. Republican Party elects new leader, rejecting chairman Jim Lyons's bid for third term". The Boston Globe. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  28. ^ "Mass. Republican Party elects new leader, rejecting chairman Jim Lyons's bid for third term". WBUR-FM. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  29. ^ "Mass. Republican Party looks to overcome Trump-Baker divide". The Boston Globe. October 5, 2020. p. B4. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Trading jabs and jokes at the annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast". The Boston Globe. March 20, 2023. p. B4. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Asian American Republicans accuse state GOP of pursuing discriminatory scheme to disenfranchise them in party elections". The Boston Globe. April 30, 2021. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023.
  32. ^ "MassGOP chair knew of candidate's anti-Asian remarks but said nothing, committeewoman says". Boston.com. October 14, 2021. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023.
  33. ^ "Governor Baker calls on Mass. GOP chairman Jim Lyons to resign". The Boston Globe. October 15, 2021. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023.
  34. ^ "Gov. Baker: GOP chair should resign after support for anti-Asian candidate for City Council". Dorchester Reporter. October 15, 2021. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023.
  35. ^ "Mass. GOP chairman refuses to condemn official who made anti-gay remarks, says party must resist 'cancel culture' - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  36. ^ "Ex-GOP leaders call on chairman Lyons to resign". The Boston Globe. June 11, 2021. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Read: In letter, 7 former MassGOP leaders call for resignation of Chairman Jim Lyons". Boston.com. June 11, 2021. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023.
  38. ^ "Nearly all Mass. House Republicans call for GOP chairman to act against anti-gay remarks — or resign". Boston.com. June 7, 2021. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023.
  39. ^ "In escalating drama for Massachusetts GOP, some donors say they won't give unless the party makes major changes". The Boston Globe. July 12, 2021. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023.
  40. ^ "Charlie Baker, prominent MassGOP members call on Jim Lyons resign as chairman hits back at 'woke mob' lawmakers". 11 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Texas Republican congressman cancels event with MassGOP over internal drama - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  42. ^ "Amid internal battle in Massachusetts GOP, another national Republican figure will skip fund-raising event - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  43. ^ "Will Liz Warren give the presidency another go? 'Joe Biden is running'".
  44. ^ Dwinell, Joe (January 17, 2019). "Jim Lyons wins upset victory as MassGOP chairman". Boston Herald. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  45. ^ a b "State GOP, Baker team feud over donor databases". The Boston Globe. August 9, 2019. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Baker sees future for anti-Trump view". The Boston Globe. November 18, 2022. p. B2. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ "GOP chair lacks votes to change bylaws". The Boston Globe. June 8, 2021. p. B5. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Embattled Mass. GOP chairman spent $1,800 to investigate fellow Republicans, documents show". The Boston Globe. January 20, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  49. ^ "GOP, Baker team in dispute". The Boston Globe. August 9, 2019. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ "A fund-raising effort collapses. The rift between Baker and Mass. GOP grows". The Boston Globe. August 27, 2019. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023.
  51. ^ "State GOP party leader asks federal criminal authorities to investigate possible misuse of more than $1 million in party funds". The Boston Globe. December 13, 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023.
  52. ^ "With Mass. GOP in trouble, Baker pledges to help like-minded candidates". The Boston Globe. February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  53. ^ "Former Mass. Republican Party chair sues his successor and the state GOP itself". The Boston Globe. August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  54. ^ "State officials refer senator, MassGOP chief to prosecutors for potential campaign finance violations". The Boston Globe. April 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  55. ^ "Mass. GOP chairman may have violated campaign finance law, party treasurer alleges, in escalating woes for state Republican Party". The Boston Globe. January 12, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  56. ^ "E-mails appear to show coordination between Mass. GOP chairman and outside PAC, in alleged violation of state law". The Boston Globe. January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  57. ^ "Arlington voters want a governor as angry as they". The Boston Globe. October 18, 1978. p. 58. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "Activists seek ballot question to reopen fight on abortion funds". The Boston Globe. July 17, 2017. p. A6. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "Ousted legislator says 'hate' label 'simply wrong'". The Boston Globe. November 10, 2018. p. A5. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ "The Campaign to Preserve Massachusetts' Trans Protections Was Successful Because It Centered Trans People". Slate. November 7, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  61. ^ "Ballot question offers option on voting: ranked choice". The Boston Globe. August 17, 2020. p. A12. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "House poised to overhaul welfare". The Daily Item. November 6, 2013. p. B7. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "House repeals 8-year limit on serving as speaker of the house". The Recorder. February 2, 2015. p. C3. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Millionaire tax advances". Daily Hampshire Gazette. June 13, 2019. p. A7. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ "Mass. GOP, in bid to drum up funds, pushes debunked fraud claims". The Boston Globe. November 13, 2020. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ "State GOP chair seeks voter ID requirement". Daily Hampshire Gazette. July 7, 2021. p. B3. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ "Baker signs election law". The Recorder. July 1, 2022. p. B4. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ "High court upholds new mail-in voting law". Daily Hampshire Gazette. July 12, 2022. p. A2. Archived from the original on September 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ "MassGOP elects Jim Lyons, former state representative from Andover, as its next chairman". MassLive. January 18, 2019. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023.
  70. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Massachusetts". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Works cited

[edit]
Massachusetts House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 18th Essex district
2011–2019 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
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