Wrentham Rep to Offer State of the State Rebuttal

The state Republican Party will turn to a second-term state lawmaker who represents towns along the Rhode Island border to deliver its official response to Gov. Maura Healey's annual address.

Rep. Marcus Vaughn of Wrentham announced on social media he had been "selected to deliver the Republican rebuttal" to Healey's State of the Commonwealth speech, which is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 16. A MassGOP official also confirmed the news.

The event will offer a chance in the spotlight to Vaughn, one of the newer lawmakers on Beacon Hill, where Republicans hold no statewide offices and have long operated with a superminority status in both chambers.

Vaughn was first elected in 2022 after defeating Democrat Kevin Kalkut, 50.8 percent to 49.1 percent, for the district representing Plainville, Wrentham, Norfolk and parts of Walpole, Medfield and Millis. He secured reelection in November by beating Kalkut again, this time by 57.4 percent to 42.6 percent.

Last year, Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer gave the MassGOP rebuttal to Healey's State of the Commonwealth.

Durant, who in 2019 unsuccessfully challenged for MassGOP party chair, has become one of the most visible Republican lawmakers on Beacon Hill. A former representative, he in 2023 flipped a Senate seat long held by Democrat Sen. Anne Gobi.