Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis stated he’s not ruling out a run for governor in 2026 after a corporation circulated a petition calling on the longtime legislation enforcement official and former state lawmaker to leap into the race.
In a cellphone name with the Herald Saturday, the Holden Republican stated Massachusetts is “on the wrong track right now” and there must be a change inside the manager workplace on the State Home. However he cautioned that he has not made up his thoughts on a possible gubernatorial bid.
“At 63 years old, I’m at a point now where I have to decide what would I like to do with the rest of my life. Is four years on Beacon Hill something I want to do with my life?” he stated. “That’s precisely what I’m thinking about right now as anybody would in life.”
Evangelidis has been floated amongst Republican circles as a possible candidate to tackle Gov. Maura Healey ought to she resolve to run for a second time period. A bunch dubbed “Citizens for Lew” is making an attempt to speed up the method by looking for signatures to a petition asking Evangelidis to run.
In an e mail despatched Tuesday, “Citizens for Lew” Director James Nell stated Massachusetts wants a governor who will “fight for the values that matter to us: fiscal responsibility, public safety, individual freedoms, and parental rights in education.”
Nell stated Healey has “dragged” Massachusetts additional into progressive politics.
“Sheriff Lew Evangelidis is the leader our state desperately needs. With his proven track record of supporting law enforcement, cutting through bureaucratic inefficiency, and standing firm on conservative principles, Lew is the right choice to bring balance, accountability, and common sense back to Beacon Hill,” the e-mail stated, based on a duplicate obtained by the Herald.
The e-mail stated “Citizens for Lew” is just not affiliated with Evangelidis or the Worcester County Sheriff’s Division however is an impartial group “committed to advocating for strong, principled conservative leadership in our state.”
Nell didn’t instantly reply to an emailed inquiry from the Herald.
Evangelidis instructed the Herald he had “nothing to do with the group” however acknowledged that he has been floated as a possible gubernatorial candidate subsequent yr.
“I know there’s a few names out there, mine also. I haven’t made up my mind yet but I certainly think what people are seeing right now makes them think we’re on the wrong track. I hear that from a lot of people, including a lot of Democrats,” Evangelidis stated.
The Worcester County sheriff stated he’s contemplating whether or not he can “make a difference” and if the job of governor matches “into where I am in my life right now.” He additionally stated he needs to see how the sector of Republican candidates develops over the subsequent few months.
However he made clear that he doesn’t suppose Massachusetts is in a “good place right” and he has been “very vocal” concerning the risks imposed by “open borders” and the state’s right-to-shelter legislation, a decades-old statute that has come beneath fireplace over the previous yr and a half.
“We’ve had a surge in illegal activity happening around here and I just think it’s a horrible situation that should not have happened and I feel like we need to get out of this. And I don’t know if Gov. Healey has it in her to do it,” he stated. “I think we might have to look for who’s going to be the next governor to straighten things out because this problem isn’t going away.”
Evangelidis had greater than $192,000 in his marketing campaign account, based on marketing campaign finance information final up to date Jan. 3. Over the previous three months, he has raised greater than $45,000 and spent upwards of $11,700, state information exhibits.
Evangelidis received reelection in November to a different six-year time period as Worcester County sheriff, beating out Democratic challenger David Fontaine with almost 59% of the vote, based on election information from the Secretary of State’s Workplace.
Evangelidis introduced in $36,603 in November, together with $1,000 from Mike Kennealy, a former secretary beneath Gov. Charlie Baker who has stated he’s “seriously considering” operating for governor in 2026 as a Republican.
At a Massachusetts Republican Social gathering State Committee assembly Saturday, Kennealy didn’t supply a timeline for when he would decide a few gubernatorial bid after the Herald first reported his pondering.
“I’m seriously considering it. That’s about all I have to say today,” he stated.
