Where is Geoff Diehl when you need him?

Who?

Geoff Diehl, the conservative Republican candidate for governor who progressive Democrat Maura Healey handily defeated in the 2022 gubernatorial election.

As a matter of fact, it was a beating. It was so bad that Diehl, a Trump supporter, deserved a profile in courage award for even showing up.

In that race Healey, then attorney general, got 1,584,403 votes, or 63.7%, to Diehl’s 859,343 votes, or 34.5%.

In 2018, Diehl, a former state representative from Whitman, ran against Sen. Elizabeth Warren and was beaten by about the same margin.

So why bring him up?

Because he is the only Republican around with any statewide stature—diminished as it is—to talk to about Healey and a one-party state that is totally controlled by the Democrats, top to bottom.

And the way things are spiraling out of control under Healey’s leadership– from illegal immigration, hospital closings, legislative failures and the crashing windfarm turbines—there is a lot to talk about.

“All in all, Massachusetts is in tough shape, and there seems to be no vision from the corner (governor’s) office on Beacon Hill,” Diehl, one of few Republicans around with political and State House experience, said.

Diehl took issue with Healey ‘s “nothing I can do” statement about the closing of Carney Hospital and the Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer. “She’s the governor. There’s plenty she can do,” Diehl said.

“Unfortunately, it feels like there are few Republicans in office in Massachusetts who are willing to risk their seat to stand up to radical, progressive efforts to undermine American ideals and the economy,” he said.

Republican leaders have disappeared.

Even moderate Republican businessman Chris Doherty, who ran unsuccessfully against Diehl in the 2022 primary, has left the state.

And forget former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, an honorary Democrat, who Healey succeeded when Baker declined to run for a third term.

By not supporting Diehl, Baker practically endorsed Healey anyway.  So now president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Baker is not talking.

All statewide offices at the State House are occupied by Democrats who also control both branches of the Legislature.

Healey is lucky, though. While there is squabbling among the three Democrat leaders of state government– Healey, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano—neither legislative leader has criticized the governor.

Spilka, the Iron Lady of the Senate, and Mariano leave Healey alone, but go after each other as they did during the dying days of the current legislative session.

All of which means that Healey, outside of a lover’s quarrel with the Boston Globe over immigration, is hardly held accountable for anything, and is getting a free ride.

In the past, there would by now have been a Republican or two making noises about running against Healey in 2026, if she is still around and not a member of President Kamala Harris’ cabinet.

But there are no Republicans around to threaten Healey, and Diehl has little interest in running again.

So, if Healey is going to be challenged or even unseated in the next election, the challenge most likely will come in a primary from a fellow Democrat.

Who might that challenger be?

It just might be Democrat Dianna DiZoglio, the feisty state auditor who is making more waves on Beacon Hill in the name of transparency and accountability that anyone else, including Healey.

DiZoglio has gained respect and popularity (outside the State House, of course) for pushing her upcoming ballot question authorizing her to audit the Legislature.

Now she has launched, among other probes, an audit to scrutinize Healey’s less than transparent spending on the state’s maxed out immigrant shelter system that is costing taxpayers over $1billion a year.

Not that she’s running for governor, mind you, but just doing her job. Yeah.

Peter Lucas is a veteran political reporter. Email him at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com

Geoff Diehl speaks during a campaign event during his run against Gov. Maura Healey. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald, File)