Liberal Republicans

[hcallega]

New England in general, but the issue there is that most states are plurality independent. I go to school in Massachusetts, and most people there are liberal Democrats. But the Republican tradition still exists among a small portion of voters. Many have moved on to other states, or have died. Here's a list of some prominent Bay State Republicans who are or were at the very least liberal by Republican standards.

Silvio Conte: 1st District (Western Mass) Representative from 1959-1991. Known for his anti-pork views and amicable relations with most members of Congress.

Edward Brooke: African-American Senator from 1967-1979. He was a major social liberal, leading the fight against the Hyde Ammednment in the Senate. Defeated in 1978 by Paul Tsongas, he was actually to the left of the eventual 1992 Presidential Candidate on many issues.

Scott Brown: Let's see, pro-choice, pro-labor, pro-gay rights, pro-dodd-frank. Not a liberal in the overall sense, but a liberal among the GOP ranks.

Mitt Romney (Pre-2006): Just like his dad, a liberal Republican on most issues. Definitely a pro-business, pro-growth conservative, but liberal on most everything else. Watch his 1994 Senate debate with Ted Kennedy for some laughs.

William Weld: Governor from 1991 to 1997, and a Senate candidate in 1996. Endorsed Obama and is now an Independent I believe. Pretty indicative of Massachusetts Republicans: pro-reform, pro-growth, socially liberal. More of a reaction to the big city machine politics that dominated Northeastern Democratic Party politics prior to the 1970s.