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
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea James—
Stricter gun laws
- Maura Healey
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea James—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections
- Maura Healey—
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea JamesSupports[14]
Her platform lists affordable housing and rent stabilization under what Massachusetts can afford.
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing
- Maura HealeySupports[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
- Andrea James—
Expand public health coverage
- Maura Healey—
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea JamesSupports[14]
Her platform lists Medicare for All in Massachusetts.
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
- Maura Healey—
- Mike MinogueSupports[11]
Proposed expanding charter, technical and vocational schools statewide.
- Andrea James—
Raise the minimum wage
- Maura Healey—
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea James
Universal, publicly funded child care
- Maura Healey—
- Mike Minogue—
- Andrea JamesSupports[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.
- 1.2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election · Wikipedia Reference
- 2.Minogue defeats GOP rival Shortsleeve, setting up clash with Healey · Boston.com · 2026-09-01 News report
- 3.Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-07-25 Official record
- 4.Signing expanded abortion law, Gov. Healey cites stories of 'anguish and heartache' · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-08-11 News report
- 5.Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 (Affordable Homes Act) · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-08-06 Official record
- 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.Despite suspension of campaign, Oliver's name will appear on election ballot · WHDH 7News · 2026-10-18 News report
- 8.Bill H.5595 · Massachusetts General Court Official record
- 9.Healey signs bill cracking down on hard-to-trace ghost guns · Boston.com / Associated Press · 2024-07-25 News report
- 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.GOP's Minogue rolls out his pitch for governor ahead of the general · GBH News · 2026-09-10 News report
- 12.Shawn Oliver arrested on OUI charge, suspends campaign for Lt. governor · The New Bedford Light · 2026-10-18 News report
- 13.Lt. governor candidate Shawn Oliver suspends campaign after being arrested for allegedly drunk driving · Boston.com · 2026-10-18 News report
- 14.Andrea James for Governor - platform · Andrea James for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 15.Andrea James for Massachusetts Governor · Andrea James for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 16.Maura Healey · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 17.Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-07-25 Official record
- 18.Signing expanded abortion law, Gov. Healey cites stories of 'anguish and heartache' · WBUR / State House News Service · 2026-08-11 News report
- 19.Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024 (Affordable Homes Act) · Massachusetts General Court · 2024-08-06 Official record
- 20.Maura Healey · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 21.2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 22.Minogue defeats GOP rival Shortsleeve, setting up clash with Healey · Boston.com · 2026-09-01 News report
- 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.GOP's Minogue rolls out his pitch for governor ahead of the general · GBH News · 2026-09-10 News report
- 25.Minogue launches Republican Massachusetts governor bid · Fox News · 2025-10-01 News report
- 26.Criminal justice advocate Andrea James plans independent gubernatorial run · WBUR · 2026-01-05 News report
- 27.Gubernatorial candidate Andrea James visits Greenfield · Greenfield Recorder · 2026-05-19 News report