2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Maura Healey
Democratic



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The 2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Massachusetts. The primary election will take place on September 1, 2026.[1] The state does not have gubernatorial term limits.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Maura Healey and Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll are running for election to a second term in office.

Democratic primary

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Potential
Declined

Endorsements

Maura Healey
Organizations

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Publicly expressed interest
Declined

Endorsements

Mike Kennealy
State legislators
Brian Shortsleeve
Executive branch officials
State legislators
Local officials
Declined to endorse
Statewide officials

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Mike
Kennealy 		Brian
Shortsleeve 		Mike
Minogue 		Other Undecided
Suffolk University[22][A] November 19–23, 2025 93 (LV) ± 10.2% 13% 22% 6% – 59%
UMass Amherst/YouGov[23][B] October 21–29, 2025 183 (A) – 44%[b] 13% 13% 3%[c] 27%
27% 15% 15% 0%[d] 43%
University of New Hampshire[24] September 17–23, 2025 148 (LV) ± 8.0% 22% 31% – – 47%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared
  • Anne Brensley, Wayland Selectmen member (2023–present)[25]

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Connor Gray, rapper (Independent)[26]

Declined

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[27] Solid D September 11, 2025
Inside Elections[28] Solid D August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[29] Safe D September 4, 2025
Race to the WH[30] Safe D September 16, 2025

Polling

Maura Healey vs. Brian Shortsleeve

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		Brian
Shortsleeve (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[23][B] October 21–29, 2025 800 (A) ± 4.1% 48% 27% 7%[e] 18%
Advantage, Inc. (R)[31][C] September 23–24, 2025 750 (LV) ± 3.6% 46% 31% – 23%
UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][B] February 14–20, 2025 700 (A) ± 4.8% 44% 12% 6%[f] 38%

Maura Healey vs. Mike Kennealy

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		Mike
Kennealy (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[23][B] October 21–29, 2025 800 (A) ± 4.1% 49% 27% 7%[e] 17%
Advantage, Inc. (R)[31][C] September 23–24, 2025 750 (LV) ± 3.6% 45% 34% – 21%
UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][B] February 14–20, 2025 700 (A) ± 4.8% 40% 15% 6%[f] 39%

Maura Healey vs. Mike Minogue

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		Mike
Minogue (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[23][B] October 21–29, 2025 800 (A) ± 4.1% 51% 26% 7%[e] 16%
Hypothetical polling

Maura Healey vs. Peter Durant

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		Peter
Durant (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][B] February 14–20, 2025 700 (A) ± 4.8% 41% 14% 6%[f] 39%

Maura Healey vs. Lewis Evangelidis

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		Lewis
Evangelidis (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][B] February 14–20, 2025 700 (A) ± 4.8% 44% 14% 6%[f] 36%

Maura Healey vs. John Deaton

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Maura
Healey (D) 		John
Deaton (R) 		Other Undecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][B] February 14–20, 2025 700 (A) ± 4.8% 45% 25% 4%[g] 26%

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ With voters who lean towards a given candidate
  3. ^ "Would not vote" with 3%
  4. ^ "Would not vote" with 0%
  5. ^ a b c "Would not vote" with 7%
  6. ^ a b c d "Would not vote" with 6%
  7. ^ "Would not vote" with 4%

Partisan clients

  1. ^ Poll sponsored by The Boston Globe
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Poll sponsored by WCVB
  3. ^ a b Poll sponsored by the Fiscal Alliance Foundation

References

  1. ^ Shook, Ashley (September 22, 2025). "Massachusetts legislature approves 2026 primary election date". WWLP. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (February 7, 2025). "Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey says she plans to run for reelection in 2026". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on February 8, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  3. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (August 29, 2025). "Alan Leventhal, former ambassador to Denmark, considering running for governor in 2026". Boston Herald. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Van Buskirk, Chris (January 2, 2025). "Mike Kennealy, former cabinet secretary for Charlie Baker, 'seriously considering' running for governor in 2026". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  5. ^ "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Endorses 53 Candidates in 2025 Races, Mike Simmons (IL-09), James Osyf (VA-02), and Everton Blair for U.S. House". victoryfund.org. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "Jewish Dems Endorsed Candidates". Jewish Democratic Council of America. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "Healey says she plans to run for reelection". WBUR. February 7, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (April 7, 2025). "Mike Kennealy, former Baker cabinet secretary, launches Republican run for governor". Boston Herald. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "Businessman and GOP donor Michael Minogue jumps into Mass. governor's race". WBUR-FM. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (May 12, 2025). "Former MBTA chief administrator Brian Shortsleeve launches Republican run for governor". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  11. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (May 25, 2025). "Pols & Politics: Bruce Tarr is a 'never say never' to running for governor in 2026". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  12. ^ Garrity, Kelly (January 13, 2025). "Republicans ready themselves for 2026". Politico. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 13, 2025. 'John will not be a candidate for Governor this cycle'...Jim Conroy, a spokesperson for Deaton, said in a statement.
  13. ^ Klein, Asher (November 11, 2025). "Republican John Deaton announces second straight U.S. Senate run". NBC10 Boston. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (May 11, 2025). "Peter Durant, Spencer Republican, decides against running for governor in 2026". Boston Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Dunn-Boston, Tim (November 25, 2025). "Kennealy wins first State House endorsement in bid for governor". The Killeen Daily Herald. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Mass. lawmakers hope early endorsements of GOP candidates for governor drum up support". WBUR. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025. A spokesman for the former governor said he "has no plans to endorse in the GOP gubernatorial primary at this time."
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Pols & politics: GOP gubernatorial endorsements galore". MSN. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  18. ^ Stout, Matt (June 12, 2025). "Two former Charlie Baker appointees are vying to be governor. Those from Baker-world are starting to pick sides". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  19. ^ a b Dunn, Tim (November 13, 2025). "Durant endorses Shortsleeve in Republican race for Massachusetts governor". Boston Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  20. ^ Garrity, Kelly (December 10, 2025). "Still in the game". Politico. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  21. ^ Van Buskirk, Chris (March 4, 2025). "Andrea James, advocate for the incarcerated, files paperwork to run for governor in 2026". Boston Herald. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Massachusetts Polls - Suffolk University Political Research Center - Suffolk University". Suffolk University. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d Tenser, Phil (November 5, 2025). "UMass Amherst/WCVB poll examines how GOP challengers fare against Mass. Gov. Maura Healey". WCVB. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  24. ^ McKinley, Sean P.; Azem, Zachary S.; Smith, Andrew E.; Keirns, Tracy (September 29, 2025). "Bay Staters Believe Healey Deserves Re-Election, Oppose Immigration Crackdown in Boston". University of New Hampshire. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  25. ^ Young, Colin A. (September 17, 2025). "Republican Anne Brensley brings select board, CEO experience to lieutenant governor race". Cape Cod Times. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  26. ^ Markos, Mary (April 21, 2025). "Meet a 19-year-old who's trying to run for governor in Mass". NBC10 Boston. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  27. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  28. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  29. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  30. ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Fiscal Alliance Foundation - 750 Likely Voters" (PDF). Fiscal Alliance Foundation. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  32. ^ a b c d e "Toplines: University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB - February 2025 Massachusetts Poll" (PDF). 270toWin. February 24, 2025.
Official campaign websites
Official lieutenant gubernatorial campaign websites
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