State

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The governor is Massachusetts's chief executive: proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes laws and appoints judges; the lieutenant governor runs on the same ticket.

The ballot prints each ticket by surname only ("Healey and Driscoll"). Full names of the Democratic and Republican tickets are as listed in the Secretary's official 2026 state primary results (PD43+); the independent ticket's full names are from Andrea James's campaign site and Ballotpedia (no official listing of the full names was found).

Candidates Compare by issue

Michael Roger Minogue

Republican

Running mate: Shawn Oliver

The gist

Proposes outside audit of the Legislature and state budget
Pledges to cut state-mandated utility fees on day one
Proposes canceling the state's Net Zero mandate
Opposes enforcing the MBTA Communities Act
Proposes a gas tax holiday above $4 per gallon
Supports expanding charter, technical and vocational schools
Proposes ending sanctuary state policies and cashless bail

More about Michael

View sources (1)

Proposes outside audit of the Legislature and state budget
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Audit the state legislature and the entire state budget with an outside auditor”
Pledges to cut state-mandated utility fees on day one
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Cut state-mandated energy utility fees on day one, which represent a third of utility bills”
Proposes canceling the state's Net Zero mandate
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Cancel the unfunded, unachievable Net Zero mandate, which would cost taxpayers over $300 billion.”
Opposes enforcing the MBTA Communities Act
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Eliminate the enforcement of the MBTA Communities Act and provide legal support to cities and towns that do not accept the terms”
Proposes a gas tax holiday above $4 per gallon
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Enact a gas tax holiday when gas prices reach over four dollars per gallon”
Supports expanding charter, technical and vocational schools
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Expand charter, tech, vocational schools across the Commonwealth.”
Proposes ending sanctuary state policies and cashless bail
Blueprint for a Better Future
Campaign website · Mike Minogue for Governor · minogueforma.com
“Mike will prioritize removing violent criminals and drug dealers and end sanctuary state policies. … Appoint a strong parole board that prioritizes and protects the safety of our people and eliminates cashless bail.”

Andrea James

Independent

Running mate: Kayla Kittredge

The gist

Supports Medicare for All in Massachusetts
Supports a $25 living wage
Supports rent stabilization
Proposes making UMass free for all
Opposes building a new women's prison
Proposes ending state cooperation with ICE

More about Andrea

View sources (1)

Supports Medicare for All in Massachusetts
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“Medicare for All in Massachusetts”
Supports a $25 living wage
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“$25 Living Wage”
Supports rent stabilization
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“Affordable Housing & Rent Stabilization”
Proposes making UMass free for all
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“Make UMass Free For All”
Opposes building a new women's prison
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“No New Women’s Prison”
Proposes ending state cooperation with ICE
Platform
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Andrea James for Governor · ajforma.com
“End State Cooperation with ICE & Protect Immigrant Families”

Maura Healey

DemocraticIncumbent

Running mate: Kimberley Driscoll

The gist

Supports building 100,000 new homes to lower housing costs
Secured caps on health care deductibles and co-pays
Opposed utility rate increases; proposes energy affordability agenda
Secured free school meals and cost-free community college
Secured the first state tax cut in 20 years

More about Maura

View sources (1)

Supports building 100,000 new homes to lower housing costs
Accomplishments
Campaign website · Healey-Driscoll Committee · maurahealey.com
“She eliminated renters’ fees and is building 100,000 new homes to lower the cost of housing”
Secured caps on health care deductibles and co-pays
Accomplishments
Campaign website · Healey-Driscoll Committee · maurahealey.com
“She is the first Governor to cap health care deductibles and co-pays”
Opposed utility rate increases; proposes energy affordability agenda
Accomplishments
Campaign website · Healey-Driscoll Committee · maurahealey.com
“Opposed utility rate increases and launched an Energy Affordability Agenda that will take $13 billion off your energy bills”
Secured free school meals and cost-free community college
Accomplishments
Campaign website · Healey-Driscoll Committee · maurahealey.com
“Doubled funding for our schools, made meals free, and made community college cost-free for everyone”
Secured the first state tax cut in 20 years
Accomplishments
Campaign website · Healey-Driscoll Committee · maurahealey.com
“Cut taxes for the first time in more than 20 years, providing savings for families, seniors, and small businesses”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 10 issues covered in this race.