2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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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.
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November 3, 2026
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Incumbent Democratic governor Maura Healey and lieutenant governor Kim Driscoll are running for re-election to a second term in office.
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Maura Healey, incumbent governor of Massachusetts (2023–present)[2]
Declined
- Diana DiZoglio, state auditor of Massachusetts (2023–present)[3] (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Maura Healey
- Statewide officials
- Paul DePalo, governor's councillor from the 7th district (2021–present)[4]
- State legislators
- Robyn Kennedy, state senator from the 1st Worcester district (2023–present)[4]
- Michael O. Moore, state senator from the 2nd Worcester district (2009–present)[4]
- Dan Donahue, state representative from the 16th Worcester district (2013–present)[4]
- Mary Keefe, state representative from the 15th Worcester district (2013–present)[4]
- David LeBoeuf, state representative from the 17th Worcester district (2019–present)[4]
- John J. Mahoney, state representative from the 13th Worcester district (2011–present)[4]
- Jim O'Day, state representative from the 14th Worcester district (2007–present)[4]
- Patricia Duffy, state representative from the 5th Hampden district (2021–present)[5]
- Brian Ashe, state representative from the 2nd Hampden district (2009–present)[5]
- Local officials
- Joshua Garcia, mayor of Holyoke (2021–present)[5]
- Joseph O'Brien, former mayor of Worcester (2010–2012)[6]
- Joseph Petty, mayor of Worcester (2012–present)[6]
- Organizations
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Declared
- Kim Driscoll, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present)[11]
Endorsements
Kim Driscoll
- Statewide officials
- Paul DePalo, governor's councillor from the 7th district (2021–present)[4]
- State legislators
- Robyn Kennedy, state senator from the 1st Worcester district (2023–present)[4]
- Michael O. Moore, state senator from the 2nd Worcester district (2009–present)[4]
- Dan Donahue, state representative from the 16th Worcester district (2013–present)[4]
- Mary Keefe, state representative from the 15th Worcester district (2013–present)[4]
- David LeBoeuf, state representative from the 17th Worcester district (2019–present)[4]
- John J. Mahoney, state representative from the 13th Worcester district (2011–present)[4]
- Jim O'Day, state representative from the 14th Worcester district (2007–present)[4]
- Local officials
- Joshua Garcia, mayor of Holyoke (2021–present)[5]
- Joseph O'Brien, former mayor of Worcester (2010–2012)[6]
- Joseph Petty, mayor of Worcester (2012–present)[6]
Polling
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Maura Healey |
Diana DiZoglio |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk University[12][A] | April 9–13, 2026 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 63% | 11% | 1%[b] | 25% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Kim Driscoll |
Maura Healey |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk University[12][A] | April 9–13, 2026 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 10% | 66% | 2%[c] | 22% |
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
Declared
- Michael Minogue, former CEO of Abiomed[13]
- Brian Shortsleeve, former chief administrator and acting general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority[14] (running with Shawn Oliver)[15]
Eliminated at convention
Declined
- John Deaton, attorney and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024[18] (running for U.S. Senate)[19]
- Peter Durant, state senator from the Worcester and Hampshire district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[20]
Endorsements
Michael Minogue
- Party officials
- Jim Lyons, former chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party (2019–2023) and former state representative from the 18th Essex district (2011–2019)[21]
- Political parties
Mike Kennealy (eliminated at convention)
- State legislators
- Hannah Kane, state representative from the 11th Worcester district (2015–present)[22]
- Kimberly Ferguson, state representative from the 1st Worcester district (2011–present)[23]
- F. Jay Barrows, former state representative from the 1st Bristol district (2007–2025)[24]
Brian Shortsleeve
- Executive branch officials
- Scott Brown, former ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (2017–2020)[25]
- U.S. senators
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas (2015–present)[26]
- State legislators
- Nicholas Boldyga, state representative from the 3rd Hampden district (2011–present)[27]
- Peter Durant, state senator from the Worcester and Hampshire district (2023–present)[27]
- Paul Frost, state representative from the 7th Worcester district (1997–present)[28]
- Marc Lombardo, state representative from the 22nd Middlesex district (2011–present)[29]
- Jeff Perry, former state representative from the 5th Barnstable district (2003–2011)[24]
- Ginny Coppola, former state representative from the 1st Bristol district (2006–2007)[24]
- Daniel K. Webster, former state representative from the 6th Plymouth district (2003–2013)[24]
- William Crocker Jr., former state representative from the 2nd Barnstable district (2017–2021)[24]
- Local officials
- Shaunna O'Connell, mayor of Taunton (2020–present) and former state representative from the 3rd Bristol district (2011–2020)[24]
Declined to endorse
- Statewide officials
- Charlie Baker, former governor of Massachusetts (2015–2023)[23]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Mike Kennealy |
Brian Shortsleeve |
Mike Minogue |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse Decision Science (R)[30][B] | February 23–24, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 7% | 16% | 29% | – | 48% |
| Suffolk University[31][A] | November 19–23, 2025 | 93 (LV) | ± 10.2% | 13% | 22% | 6% | – | 59% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][C] | October 21–29, 2025 | 183 (A) | – | 44%[d] | 13% | 13% | 3%[e] | 27% |
| 27% | 15% | 15% | 0%[f] | 43% | ||||
| University of New Hampshire[33] | September 17–23, 2025 | 148 (LV) | ± 8.0% | 22% | 31% | – | – | 47% |
Results
Convention
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Michael Minogue | 1,262 | 70.4% | |
| Republican | Brian Shortsleeve | 278 | 15.5% | |
| Republican | Mike Kennealy | 253 | 14.1% | |
| Total votes | 1,793 | 100.0% | ||
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.[34]
Candidates
Declared
- Anne Manning Martin, deputy superintendent of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, Peabody city councilor, nominee for Essex County sheriff in 2016, and candidate for Governor's Council in 2024 (previously ran with Mike Kennealy)[16]
- Shawn Oliver, New Bedford city councilor and former corrections officer (running with Brian Shortsleeve)[15]
Disqualified
Endorsements
Anne Brensley (disqualified)
Anne Manning Martin
- Individuals
- Mike Kennealy, gubernatorial candidate[16]
Shawn Oliver
- Individuals
- Brian Shortsleeve, gubernatorial candidate[15]
Results
Convention
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Anne Brensley | 1,100 | 56.1% | |
| Republican | Anne Manning-Martin | 536 | 27.3% | |
| Republican | Shawn Oliver | 325 | 16.6% | |
| Total votes | 1,961 | 100.0% | ||
Third parties and independents
Candidates
Declared
- Andrea James, criminal justice activist[38]
- Muhammed Kokonezis-Hanino, (Independent)[39]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[40] | Solid D | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections[41] | Solid D | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[42] | Safe D | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[43] | Safe D | September 16, 2025 |
Polling
Maura Healey vs. Mike Kennealy
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Maura Healey (D) |
Mike Kennealy (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[44] | April 16–20, 2026 | 597 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 53% | 32% | 3%[g] | 13% |
| University of New Hampshire[45] | February 12–16, 2026 | 620 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 55% | 28% | 2%[h] | 15% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][C] | October 21–29, 2025 | 800 (A) | ± 4.1% | 49% | 27% | 7%[i] | 17% |
| Advantage, Inc. (R)[46][D] | September 23–24, 2025 | 750 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 45% | 34% | – | 21% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[47][C] | February 14–20, 2025 | 700 (A) | ± 4.8% | 40% | 15% | 6%[j] | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[44] | April 16–20, 2026 | 599 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 52% | 32% | – | 15% |
| University of New Hampshire[45] | February 12–16, 2026 | 620 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 56% | 27% | 2%[h] | 15% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][C] | October 21–29, 2025 | 800 (A) | ± 4.1% | 51% | 26% | 7%[i] | 16% |
Maura Healey vs. Brian Shortsleeve
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Maura Healey (D) |
Brian Shortsleeve (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire[44] | April 16–20, 2026 | 603 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 51% | 29% | 3%[g] | 17% |
| University of New Hampshire[45] | February 12–16, 2026 | 620 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 58% | 28% | 1%[k] | 13% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[32][C] | October 21–29, 2025 | 800 (A) | ± 4.1% | 48% | 27% | 7%[i] | 18% |
| Advantage, Inc. (R)[46][D] | September 23–24, 2025 | 750 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 46% | 31% | – | 23% |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov[47][C] | February 14–20, 2025 | 700 (A) | ± 4.8% | 44% | 12% | 6%[j] | 38% |
Hypothetical polling
Maura Healey vs. Peter Durant
Maura Healey vs. Lewis Evangelidis
Maura Healey vs. John Deaton
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - "Refused" with 1%; "Another Democrat" with 0%
- "Refused" with 2%; "Another Democrat" with 0%
- With voters who lean towards a given candidate
- "Would not vote" with 3%
- "Would not vote" with 0%
- "Another candidate" with 3%
- "Another candidate" with 2%
- "Would not vote" with 7%
- "Would not vote" with 6%
- "Another candidate" with 1%
- "Would not vote" with 4%
Partisan clients