Skip to main content
The Full Record
Menu

Governor of Massachusetts

Statewide — all of Massachusetts

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

  • Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is running for a second term.[1]
  • In the September 1, 2026 primary, Healey was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Michael Minogue, a former biotech executive, won the Republican nomination with 75.6% of the vote to Brian Shortsleeve's 24.1%.[1][2]
  • Andrea James, an unenrolled (independent) candidate, is also on the ballot with running mate Kayla Kittredge.[1][7]
  • Minogue's running mate, New Bedford city councilor Shawn Oliver, was arrested after a crash on Dartmouth Street in New Bedford late on Saturday, October 17, 2026. New Bedford police charged him with operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and a marked-lanes violation, according to The New Bedford Light; these are charges, not findings. Oliver announced on October 18 that he was suspending his campaign, saying "This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters." Minogue asked him to suspend his campaign. The deadline to withdraw passed in September, so Oliver's name remains on the ballot beside Minogue's.[12][13][7]

On the ballot · 3 candidates

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Maura Healey
    Supports[4][8]

    Signed legislation (H.5595) in August 2026 removing the existing restrictions on abortions at or beyond 24 weeks and leaving the decision to the physician's professional judgment.

  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Maura Healey
    Supports[3][9]

    Signed a 2024 law that tightened oversight of unserialized 'ghost guns,' expanded the state's red-flag law, barred non-law-enforcement firearm possession at schools, polling places and government buildings, and set penalties for modification devices such as Glock switches.

  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    —

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    Supports[2]

    Says he would keep Massachusetts from becoming a 'sanctuary state' and crack down on undocumented immigrants.

  • Andrea James
    Opposes[14]

    Her platform calls for ending state cooperation with ICE and protecting immigrant families.

Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    Supports[14]

    Her platform lists affordable housing and rent stabilization under what Massachusetts can afford.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Maura Healey
    Supports[5][6]

    Signed the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, which authorizes state financing for production and preservation of housing for low- and moderate-income residents and requires cities and towns to permit housing as of right on certain state-conveyed surplus land, and says 100,000 homes are coming online because of it.

  • Mike Minogue
    Mixed[11][10][2]

    He would end enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act's multifamily zoning requirement, which he calls an unfunded mandate, while proposing to let cities and towns keep more of their tax dollars if they expedite single-family home permitting.

  • Andrea James
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    Supports[14]

    Her platform lists Medicare for All in Massachusetts.

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    Opposes[10]

    His blueprint says he would cancel the state's net-zero emissions mandate and instead focus on energy innovation to lower energy costs.

  • Andrea James
    Supports[14]

    Her platform lists a rapid transition to 100% clean energy.

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    Supports[11]

    Proposed expanding charter, technical and vocational schools statewide.

  • Andrea James
    —

Raise the minimum wage

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    In their own words[14]
    “$25 Living Wage”

    Listed on her platform page under 'Massachusetts Can Afford'

Universal, publicly funded child care

  • Maura Healey
    —
  • Mike Minogue
    —
  • Andrea James
    Supports[14]

    Her platform lists universal child care.

Research notes & limits

Running mates are noted in each candidate's ballotNote rather than as separate entries. Ballotpedia was not reachable (it blocks automated requests), so the slate was confirmed from Wikipedia and a WHDH report of October 18 (the Secretary of the Commonwealth's candidate list, the WhereDoIVoteMA ballot pages and the elections-division pages return an Incapsula block from this machine, and the ElectionStats site only has results through the primary), The Green Papers (all three tickets, no others) that names the three tickets on the printed ballot (Healey/Driscoll, Minogue/Oliver, James/Kittredge). Gubernatorial candidates with no public footprint or who did not qualify are not included. Healey's record lists three signed bills; the Chapter 135 and 150 pages are the official session laws, and the gun-law description comes from AP coverage. No record items are listed for Minogue, described by the Boston.com primary report as a political newcomer. Andrea James's positions and priorities come from her campaign website's home and platform pages, which list headings rather than full policy papers. Oliver's arrest and charges come from The New Bedford Light and Boston.com, both fetched directly.

Sources · 27

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election · Wikipedia Reference
  2. 2.Minogue defeats GOP rival Shortsleeve, setting up clash with Healey · Boston.com · 2026-09-01 News report
  3. 3.Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-07-25 Official record
  4. 4.Signing expanded abortion law, Gov. Healey cites stories of 'anguish and heartache' · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-08-11 News report
  5. 5.Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 (Affordable Homes Act) · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-08-06 Official record
  6. 6.In first Healey-Minogue debate, lots of talk of affordability, the governor's record and Trump's impact · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-10-08 News report
  7. 7.Despite suspension of campaign, Oliver's name will appear on election ballot · WHDH 7News · 2026-10-18 News report
  8. 8.Bill H.5595 · Massachusetts General Court Official record
  9. 9.Healey signs bill cracking down on hard-to-trace ghost guns · Boston.com / Associated Press · 2024-07-25 News report
  10. 10.Minogue's blueprint promises audits, tax cuts and a net-zero emissions repeal · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-09-11 News report
  11. 11.GOP's Minogue rolls out his pitch for governor ahead of the general · GBH News · 2026-09-10 News report
  12. 12.Shawn Oliver arrested on OUI charge, suspends campaign for Lt. governor · The New Bedford Light · 2026-10-18 News report
  13. 13.Lt. governor candidate Shawn Oliver suspends campaign after being arrested for allegedly drunk driving · Boston.com · 2026-10-18 News report
  14. 14.Andrea James for Governor - platform · Andrea James for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  15. 15.Andrea James for Massachusetts Governor · Andrea James for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  16. 16.Maura Healey · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  17. 17.Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-07-25 Official record
  18. 18.Signing expanded abortion law, Gov. Healey cites stories of 'anguish and heartache' · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-08-11 News report
  19. 19.Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 (Affordable Homes Act) · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-08-06 Official record
  20. 20.Maura Healey · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
  21. 21.2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  22. 22.Minogue defeats GOP rival Shortsleeve, setting up clash with Healey · Boston.com · 2026-09-01 News report
  23. 23.Minogue's blueprint promises audits, tax cuts and a net-zero emissions repeal · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-09-11 News report
  24. 24.GOP's Minogue rolls out his pitch for governor ahead of the general · GBH News · 2026-09-10 News report
  25. 25.Minogue launches Republican Massachusetts governor bid · Fox News · 2025-10-01 News report
  26. 26.Criminal justice advocate Andrea James plans independent gubernatorial run · WBUR · 2026-01-05 News report
  27. 27.Gubernatorial candidate Andrea James visits Greenfield · Greenfield Recorder · 2026-05-19 News report