2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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. The state does not have gubernatorial term limits.
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2026 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
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. The state does not have gubernatorial term limits.
Incumbent Democratic governor Maura Healey and lieutenant governor Kim Driscoll are running for re-election to a second term in office.
Democratic primary
Declared
• Maura Healey, incumbent governor (2023–present)
Declined
• Diana DiZoglio, Massachusetts State Auditor (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Declared
• Kim Driscoll, incumbent lieutenant governor (2023–present)
Republican primary
Declared
• Mike Kennealy, former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development (running with Anne Manning Martin) • Michael Minogue, former CEO of Abiomed • Brian Shortsleeve, former chief administrator and acting general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (running with Shawn Oliver)
Declined
• John Deaton, attorney and nominee for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesSenateelectioninMassachusetts) (running for U.S. Senate) • Peter Durant, state senator from the Worcester and Hampshire district (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Mike Kennealy</th><th>Brian Shortsleeve</th><th>Mike Minogue</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Pulse Decision Science (R)</td><td>February 23–24, 2026</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.9%</td><td>7%</td><td>16%</td><td>29%</td><td>–</td><td>48%</td></tr><tr><td>Suffolk University</td><td>November 19–23, 2025</td><td>93 (LV)</td><td>± 10.2%</td><td>13%</td><td>22%</td><td>6%</td><td>–</td><td>59%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>October 21–29, 2025</td><td>183 (A)</td><td>–</td><td>44%</td><td>13%</td><td>13%</td><td>3%</td><td>27%</td></tr><tr><td>27%</td><td>15%</td><td>15%</td><td>0%</td><td>43%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>September 17–23, 2025</td><td>148 (LV)</td><td>± 8.0%</td><td>22%</td><td>31%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>47%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Declared
• Anne Brensley, Wayland Selectmen member (2023–present) • 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 (/wiki/2024MassachusettsGovernor'sCouncilelection#District5) (running with Mike Kennealy) • Shawn Oliver, New Bedford city councilor and former corrections officer (running with Brian Shortsleeve)
Third parties and independents
Declared
• Andrea James, criminal justice activist • Muhammed Kokonezis-Hanino, (Independent)
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid D</td><td>September 11, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Solid D</td><td>August 28, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe D</td><td>September 4, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Safe D</td><td>September 16, 2025</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Maura Healey (D)</th><th>Mike Kennealy (R)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>February 12–16, 2026</td><td>620 (LV)</td><td>± 3.9%</td><td>55%</td><td>28%</td><td>2%</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>October 21–29, 2025</td><td>800 (A)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>49%</td><td>27%</td><td>7%</td><td>17%</td></tr><tr><td>Advantage, Inc. (R)</td><td>September 23–24, 2025</td><td>750 (LV)</td><td>± 3.6%</td><td>45%</td><td>34%</td><td>–</td><td>21%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>February 14–20, 2025</td><td>700 (A)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>40%</td><td>15%</td><td>6%</td><td>39%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Maura Healey (D)</th><th>Mike Minogue (R)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>February 12–16, 2026</td><td>620 (LV)</td><td>± 3.9%</td><td>56%</td><td>27%</td><td>2%</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>October 21–29, 2025</td><td>800 (A)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>51%</td><td>26%</td><td>7%</td><td>16%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Maura Healey (D)</th><th>Brian Shortsleeve (R)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>February 12–16, 2026</td><td>620 (LV)</td><td>± 3.9%</td><td>58%</td><td>28%</td><td>1%</td><td>13%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>October 21–29, 2025</td><td>800 (A)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>48%</td><td>27%</td><td>7%</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>Advantage, Inc. (R)</td><td>September 23–24, 2025</td><td>750 (LV)</td><td>± 3.6%</td><td>46%</td><td>31%</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>UMass Amherst/YouGov</td><td>February 14–20, 2025</td><td>700 (A)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>44%</td><td>12%</td><td>6%</td><td>38%</td></tr></tbody></table>