2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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←  2022 November 3, 20262030 →
 
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Maura Healey
Democratic



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

Contents

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Maura Healey
Organizations

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared

Republican primary

Governor

Candidates

Declared
Publicly expressed interest
Declined

Endorsements

Brian Shortsleeve
Executive officials
State legislators

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [a] 		Margin
of error		Mike
Kennealy		Brian
Shortsleeve		OthersUndecided
UNH [14] September 17–23, 2025148 (LV)± 8.0%22%31%–47%

Lieutenant governor

Candidates

Declared
  • Anne Brensley, Wayland Select Board member (2023–present) [15]

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Connor Gray, rapper (Independent) [16]

Declined

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [17] Solid DSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [18] Solid DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [19] Safe DSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [20] Safe DSeptember 16, 2025

Polling

Maura Healey vs. Brian Shortsleeve

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Maura
Healey (D)		Brian
Shortsleeve (R)		OtherUndecided
Fiscal Alliance [21] September 23-24, 2025750 (LV)± 3.6%46%31%–23%
UMass Amherst/YouGov [22] [A] February 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%44%12%6% [b] 38%

Maura Healey vs. Mike Kennealy

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Maura
Healey (D)		Mike
Kennealy (R)		OtherUndecided
Fiscal Alliance [23] September 23-24, 2025750 (LV)± 3.6%45%34%–21%
UMass Amherst/YouGov [22] [A] February 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%40%15%6% [b] 39%
Hypothetical polling

Maura Healey vs. Peter Durant

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Maura
Healey (D)		Peter
Durant (R)		OtherUndecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov [22] [A] February 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%41%14%6% [b] 39%

Maura Healey vs. Lewis Evangelidis

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Maura
Healey (D)		Lewis
Evangelidis (R)		OtherUndecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov [22] [A] February 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%44%14%6% [b] 36%

Maura Healey vs. John Deaton

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Maura
Healey (D)		John
Deaton (R)		OtherUndecided
UMass Amherst/YouGov [22] [A] February 14–20, 2025700 (A)± 4.8%45%25%4% [c] 26%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Would not vote" with 6%
  3. ↑ "Would not vote" with 4%

Partisan clients

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Poll sponsored by WCVB

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. 1 2 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.
  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. 1 2 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. ↑ "Healey says she plans to run for reelection". WBUR . February 7, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ Van Buskirk, Chris (April 7, 2025). "Mike Kennealy, former Baker cabinet secretary, launches Republican run for governor". Boston Herald . Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Businessman and GOP donor Michael Minogue jumps into Mass. governor's race". WBUR-FM . October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ Van Buskirk, Chris (May 12, 2025). "Former MBTA chief administrator Brian Shortsleeve launches Republican run for governor". Boston Herald . Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ Van Buskirk, Chris (May 11, 2025). "Peter Durant, Spencer Republican, decides against running for governor in 2026". Boston Herald . Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ "BAY STATERS BELIEVE HEALEY DESERVES RE-ELECTION, OPPOSE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN BOSTON". University of New Hampshire . September 29, 2025. Retrieved September 29, 2025.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Fiscal Alliance Foundation - 750 Likely Voters" (PDF). NationBuilder. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "Toplines: University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB - February 2025 Massachusetts Poll" (PDF). 270toWin. February 24, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Fiscal Alliance Foundation - 750 Likely Voters" (PDF). NationBuilder. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
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