MassGOP warns against voting for Republican committee candidate

A Republican State Committee candidate drew fresh rebuke from the MassGOP on Tuesday over blatantly antisemitic and transphobic social media postings she apparently made over the weekend, marking at least the second time the party had to address the candidates’ extreme leanings.

Lori Kauffman, of Dorchester, will appear on the March 5 ballot for Republican voters in the state’s First Suffolk District. However, the party she hopes to help steer apparently doesn’t want anything to do with her.

“Ms. Kauffman’s reprehensible rhetoric has no place within the Republican Party or in the broader American political dialogue. The MassGOP unequivocally denounces her vile language and has taken every measure within its capacity to disassociate from Ms. Kauffman,” the party said in a release.

“Also, Lori Kauffman was banned from attending any party events,” a MassGOP spokesperson told the Herald.

The MassGOP is further distancing itself from Kaufman after a Twitter account apparently belonging to her was used to tell followers that, once elected, she would use her position as a starting point to make some rather drastic changes.

“Don’t forget I’ll likely get voted into office on March 5. Long term goals are to ban same sex marriage (never should have been legalized) and trans will be illegal. Yes, illegal. I will also exile all Jews,” she wrote on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Don’t forget I’ll likely get voted into office on March 5. Long term goals are to ban same sex marriage (never should have been legalized) and trans will be illegal. Yes illegal.

I will also exile all Jews.#Lori24

— Lori Kauffman (@LoriKauffman13) February 25, 2024

If you wonder whether the post is a one off and out of character for Kauffman, apparently it is not. Days earlier she told another Twitter user that she is proud of her antisemitism.

No I wear that title proudly https://t.co/CEj3xWxt9s

— Lori Kauffman (@LoriKauffman13) February 19, 2024

A second social media account also apparently run by Kauffman goes even further, including open calls of support for Hitler, Nazism, and denial of the holocaust.

The MassGOP doesn’t condone that sort of language, according to its own social media postings, and this isn’t even the first time they’ve had to deal with Kauffman’s “bigotry.”

“Ms. Kauffman’s hateful rhetoric was addressed via a resolution by the Massachusetts Republican State Committee on December 15, 2023. Committee Member Marty Lamb introduced the resolution and it passed unanimously. The MassGOP has NO tolerance for discrimination,” they wrote on Twitter.

Ms. Kauffman’s hateful rhetoric was addressed via a resolution by the Massachusetts Republican State Committee on December 15, 2023. Committee Member Marty Lamb introduced the resolution and it passed unanimously. The MassGOP has NO tolerance for discrimination.#mapoli #MassGOP pic.twitter.com/nVLOrxxV9O

— MassGOP (@massgop) February 27, 2024

Noting a rise in antisemitic incidents both internationally and domestically, in December the party passed a resolution that declared the MassGOP “strongly condemns the prejudice and antisemitic statements made by Lori Kauffman.”

“Recognizing that such repugnant views are directly against the values of the Republican Party, the committee takes a decisive stand against hatred and bigotry,” their resolution read, in part.

The party took a further step away from the candidate on Tuesday, issuing a call for voters in the First Suffolk District to reject Kauffman and her stated ideals.

“It’s important to note that State Committee positions are subject to public election, and as such, the MassGOP lacks authority to prevent Ms. Kauffman from pursuing candidacy. We urge the residents of the First Suffolk District to vote against this candidate,” they wrote.

Kauffman did not return a request for comment left at the number affiliated with the Dorchester address listed on her candidate filings.

Voters in each district can select one man and one woman to represent party constituents before the state party committee during the March 5 election.

Also on the ballot for First Suffolk District MassGOP Committeewoman is Elizabeth Hinds-Ferrick, a doctorally educated assistant director at the state Department of Transitional Assistance. Running for Committeeman are Daniel Kelly and Timothy Smyth.

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