The $1M club. Cash piles up in 2026 GOP campaign for Mass. governor
Two of the declared Republican candidates for Massachusetts governor continued to fatten their campaign accounts in September, even as another deep-pocketed hopeful jumped into the race.
The fundraising tallies by Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy, both former Baker administration officials, point the way to a pricey nominating contest as they look to eventually take on Democratic Gov. Maura Healey next year.
Shortsleeve, who oversaw the MBTA for Baker, said he'd raised $952,087 through the end of September. Records posted to the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance showed Shortsleeve had raised $901,049 through the end of September.
Campaigns frequently count donations in transit as part of their total fundraising haul. In a statement, Shortsleeve's campaign acknowledged the difference.
OCPF records showed Shortsleeve starting September with $570,481 in his campaign account. He reported receipts of $72,545.96 and expenditures totaling $90,123.08. He had $552,904 on hand by month's end.
Mike Kennealy, who served as Baker's housing and economic development czar, reported $1.6 million in receipts through the end of September. Part of that tally included loans that Kennealy made to his own campaign.
Kennealy started September with $917,089 in his campaign account, state records showed . He reported receipts of $275,211 and expenditures of $110,183.14. He ended the month with $1.08 million on hand.
Businessman Michael Minogue has entered the 2026 race for the Republican nomination for governor in Massachusetts.Screen Capture
The GOP fundraising picture could be complicated significantly now that Michael Minogue, a medical device executive and Republican donor, has entered the race .
Campaign finance records show that Minogue has donated tens of thousands of dollars to state and national Republicans over the last few years, including the campaigns of former Florida Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
In 2024, Minogue donated $100,000 to President Donald Trump's reelection campaign and supported John Deaton, who tried to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
All three will have to catch Healey, whose most recent report, ending Aug. 31 , showed her with $1.83 million in her campaign account. She reported receipts of $157,404 and expenditures of $80,897. She had $3.8 million on hand at the end of August, records showed.
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