- Well, what is Baker republicanism as you put it?

What's Charlie Baker's political philosophy if we can define it?

- Yeah, it is kinda hard to peg down, but as he puts it, it is cooperative government, you know, he doesn't have much choice here in Massachusetts, especially when you're really the only Republican in the room most of the time when you're trying to govern.

But deep down the guy believes that the way the government is framed, the way the political systems in America work, are to cooperate between interests in-between parties.

And actually here's what Baker had to say last week when I asked him about his style of republicanism.

- [Baker] We have a point of view about the importance of economic development, about the importance of community building, about the importance of being fiscally responsible and disciplined, but fundamentally whether you're a Republican, or a Democrat, or an independent, or whatever you might be this is a team sport.

And if you can't come at it as a team sport you're gonna have a very hard time being successful.

- I guess the question is, does he wanna export that brand to the national stage, and then I guess separately with the national stage, want it, but I sort of asked you that already.

- Exactly, that is kinda the question.

And in this post-Trump era who really knows?

Who knows what flavor of republicanism is gonna win out, if any, you know, as they try to reshape the party over the next few years, but we can look at two of Baker's predecessors in the corner office, two former Massachusets governors, who have really done something like that since leaving Beacon Hill.

So of course, Mitt Romney's found success as something of an unconventional conservative representing the very unconventional yet still very conservative state of Utah in the United States Senate.

This is like a new chapter for Romney.

And of course he's used that platform to advocate for civility, and even some bipartisanship, throughout the last few Trump years.

And then of course there's Bill Weld, that's Baker's own mentor, He took that message of social liberalism, fiscal conservatism, around the national stage, and got his clock cleaned by president Trump in the 2020 primary, 1.3% in Iowa, only 9% in neighboring New Hampshire.

So Republican voters nationally certainly don't want that it doesn't bode well for Baker's style either.