The 2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Massachusetts. Democratic incumbent Maura Healey is seeking a second term. She faces Republican Michael Minogue in the general election. It is one of 39 gubernatorial elections occurring nationwide in 2026, and one of 18 in which the incumbent governor is seeking another term.
Primary elections took place on September 1, 2026, where incumbent governor Maura Healey won the Democratic nomination running unopposed, and Mike Minogue won the Republican nomination against Brian Shortsleeve.
In the run-up to the general election, Republican candidate Mike Minogue spent $6.1 million in September 2026 on his election bid, making it the most expensive gubernatorial race in Massachusetts history. Minogue outspent the 2006 Republican nominee and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, who spent $4.4 million in the run-up to the general election versus Deval Patrick.
Background and policy issues The 2026 gubernatorial race is taking place in the midst of the second Trump presidency. Major themes in the general election center around affordability and the cost of living in Massachusetts.
Immigration and ICE During her first term, Healey had been a vocal critic of the Trump administrations actions relating to immigration and ICE agents, and signed the Protect Act in August 2026 which aimed to provide limitations on ICE arrests in courthouses, schools, child care programs, nursing homes, and non-public areas of healthcare facilities, among others.
Mike Minogue campaigned in support of the Trump administration's actions relating to immigration enforcement, pointing to a reduction in fentanyl overdoses in the wake of increased arrests and deportations. He supports the deportation of illegal immigrants residing in the United States, but reiterated the focus should be on illegal immigrants who are violent criminals. "Nobody should be afraid to leave their home, go to school or the hospital. I’m going to make sure that that doesn’t happen".
Energy costs Going into the fall of 2026, home heating oil prices were approximately 70% more expensive in Massachusetts compared to the previous winter, with approximately 20% of homes in the state using fuel oil as a method of home heat.
On October 5, 2026, Healey signed an executive order to declare a "state of energy emergency" heading into winter months to alleviate increased home heating costs, which she attributed to the Iran war. "I’m looking at ways to provide relief to people right now. Trump’s got to end this war. Trump’s got to end this war. That’s got to be job one right now”. The executive order aimed to provide home heating assistance for approximately 50,000 middle-class homes using oil to heat and increase the benefit that had been in place for 150,000 low-income homes, as well as the state paying SMART charges, which incentivizes solar adoption.
In the run-up to the general election, Minogue called for a statewide emergency relating to home heating costs, as well as repealing state climate taxes. “I’ll cut energy bills by a third by eliminating climate taxes that have nothing to do with how much energy you actually use. I’ll abolish the unfunded, unenforceable Net Zero mandate".
Democratic primary Governor Candidates Nominee Maura Healey, incumbent governor (2023–present)
Declined Diana DiZoglio, Massachusetts state auditor (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Results
Lieutenant governor Candidates Nominee Kim Driscoll, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present)
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey DianaDiZoglio Other UndecidedSuffolk UniversityApril 9–13, 2026500 (RV)± 4.4%63%11%1%25%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KimDriscoll MauraHealey Other UndecidedSuffolk UniversityApril 9–13, 2026500 (RV)± 4.4%10%66%2%22%
Results
Republican primary Governor Candidates Nominee Michael Minogue, former CEO of Abiomed
Eliminated in primary Brian Shortsleeve, former chief administrator and acting general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (running with Shawn Oliver)
Eliminated at convention Mike Kennealy, former Massachusetts secretary of housing and economic development (ran with Anne Manning Martin, endorsed Minogue after convention)
Declined John Deaton, attorney and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024 (running for U.S. Senate) Peter Durant, state senator from the Worcester and Hampshire district (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeKennealy BrianShortsleeve MikeMinogue Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026201 (LV)± 6.9%–11%55%9%25%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026209 (RV)± 8.7%–26%53%4%18%–24%49%4%24%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026176 (LV)± 7.4%–15%46%–39%Suffolk UniversityMay 26–29, 2026465 (LV)± 4.5%–13%45%1%40% April 25, 2026 Kennealy eliminated at Republican conventionPulse Decision Science (R)February 23–24, 2026500 (LV)± 4.9%7%16%29%–48%Suffolk UniversityNovember 19–23, 202593 (LV)± 10.2%13%22%6%–59%UMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025183 (A)–44%13%13%3%27%27%15%15%0%43%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–23, 2025148 (LV)± 8.0%22%31%––47%
Convention
Results
Lieutenant governor Anne Brensley did not officially become the running mate to a candidate for governor. However, she was supported by gubernatorial candidate Michael Minogue.
Candidates Nominee Shawn Oliver, New Bedford city councilor and former corrections officer (ran with Brian Shortsleeve)
Disqualified Anne Brensley, former Wayland Selectmen member (2023–2026) (running for secretary of state) Anne Manning Martin, Peabody city councilor and nominee for the 5th Governor's Council district in 2024 (ran a write-in campaign, previously ran with Mike Kennealy)
Endorsements
Convention
Results
Third parties and independents Candidates Declared Andrea James, criminal justice nonprofit executive (Independent) Running mate: Kayla Kittredge (Independent)
Did not qualify Muhammed Kokonezis-Hanino (Independent)
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 11, 2025Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdatedMauraHealey (D)MikeMinogue (R)Other/UndecidedMarginRace to the WHthrough September 22, 2026September 29, 202653.7%34.0%12.3%Healey +19.7%Silver Bulletinthrough September 22, 2026September 29, 202655.1%34.0%10.9%Healey +21.1%RealClearPoliticsMay 26 – September 21, 2026September 24, 202654.3%34.0%11.7%Healey +20.3%270toWinSeptember 24–29, 2026September 29, 202654.0%35.0%11.0%Healey +19.0%Average54.3%34.3%11.4%Healey +20.0%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) MikeMinogue (R) Other UndecidedMassINC Polling GroupSeptember 14–22, 2026800 (LV)± 4.0%51%30%7%12%54%32%9%6%University of New HampshireSeptember 17–21, 2026564 (LV)±4.1%54%38%1%7%University of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026881 (LV)± 2.2%54%30%2%14%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026800 (RV)± 4.4%53%33%2%12%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026623 (LV)± 3.8%51%32%1%16%Suffolk UniversityJune 8–12, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%56%31%1%11%Polity Research ConsultingApril 19 – May 7, 2026608 (RV)± 4.0%58%31%–11%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026599 (LV)± 4.0%52%32%–15%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026620 (LV)± 3.9%56%27%2%15%UMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025800 (A)± 4.1%51%26%7%16%
Maura Healey vs. Brian Shortsleeve Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) BrianShortsleeve (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireAugust 20–24, 2026881 (LV)± 2.2%55%28%3%14%UMass Amherst/YouGovAugust 5–12, 2026800 (RV)± 4.4%51%32%3%14%University of New HampshireJune 18–23, 2026623 (LV)± 3.8%50%32%3%15%Suffolk UniversityJune 8–12, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%56%29%2%13%Polity Research ConsultingApril 19 – May 7, 2026608 (RV)± 4.0%59%30%–11%University of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026603 (LV)± 4.0%51%29%3%17%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026620 (LV)± 3.9%58%28%1%13%UMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025800 (A)± 4.1%48%27%7%18%Advantage, Inc. (R)September 23–24, 2025750 (LV)± 3.6%46%31%–23%UMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%44%12%6%38%
Maura Healey vs. John Deaton Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) JohnDeaton (R) Other UndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%45%25%4%26%
Maura Healey vs. Peter Durant Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) PeterDurant (R) Other UndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%41%14%6%39%
Maura Healey vs. Lewis Evangelidis Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) LewisEvangelidis (R) Other UndecidedUMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%44%14%6%36%
Maura Healey vs. Mike Kennealy Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MauraHealey (D) MikeKennealy (R) Other UndecidedUniversity of New HampshireApril 16–20, 2026597 (LV)± 4.0%53%32%3%13%University of New HampshireFebruary 12–16, 2026620 (LV)± 3.9%55%28%2%15%UMass Amherst/YouGovOctober 21–29, 2025800 (A)± 4.1%49%27%7%17%Advantage, Inc. (R)September 23–24, 2025750 (LV)± 3.6%45%34%–21%UMass Amherst/YouGovFebruary 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%40%15%6%39%
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Maura Healey (D) Andrea James (I) Mike Minogue (R) Brian Shortsleeve (R)
Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites Kim Driscoll (D) Shawn Oliver (R)