The Massachusetts Democratic Social gathering slammed Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy Monday and instantly linked him to President Donald Trump simply as one other potential conservative candidate made clear he was taking an in depth take a look at working for governor.
The early messaging towards Kennealy, launched the identical day he introduced plans to problem Gov. Maura Healey, provides clear perception into Democrats’ playbook for the 2026 gubernatorial election — tie any conservative opponent to Trump and the “Make America Great Again” motion.
In a video launched to social media, a narrator alleged that Kennealy “helped bankroll Mitch McConnell and national Republican super PACs that stabbed the courts and took away reproductive freedoms.”
“Kennealy will bring Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s agenda to Massachusetts, an agenda of chaos and chainsaws,” the narrator stated whereas dramatic music performed within the background and photographs of Musk and Trump rolled alongside footage of Kennealy.
A marketing campaign advisor for Kennealy’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a Herald inquiry, and Healey’s marketing campaign referred inquiries to an announcement from the Massachusetts Democratic Social gathering the place its chief, Steve Kerrigan, stated a vote for Kennealy is a vote for “Donald Trump’s agenda.”
Federal marketing campaign finance information present Kennealy has donated tens of hundreds since a minimum of 2012 to the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the U.S. Senate and is at the moment chaired by Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Kennealy, a former Baker administration official, could quickly discover himself in competitors for the Republican gubernatorial nomination with one other individual from former Gov. Charlie Baker’s political orbit.
Enterprise capitalist and former MBTA Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve stated he’s “taking a close look at the race.”
“To defeat Maura Healey, Republicans need to nominate someone with a Marine’s determination, a business person’s experience, and an outsider’s perspective,” the retired U.S. Marine Corps captain stated. “So, I am taking a close look at the race because we cannot withstand another six years of disastrous policies and skyrocketing energy bills that made Massachusetts totally unaffordable for working people.”
Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer and native GOP donor Michael Minogue are additionally weighing runs for governor.
However for the second, the Massachusetts Democratic Social gathering has it sights set on Kennealy.
In an e-mail to supporters Monday, the Massachusetts Democratic Social gathering additionally took a shot at Kennealy’s eight years working in former Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration as an assistant secretary after which housing and financial improvement secretary.
“He failed to prevent skyrocketing housing costs and failed to cut taxes for hardworking Bay Staters — while Gov. Healey passed tax cuts in her first year in office,” the e-mail stated, referring to a package deal of tax cuts that have been first drafted by the Baker administration. “Mike Kennealy is unqualified to address the biggest issues facing Massachusetts. In fact, when he announced his candidacy, he never mentioned the single greatest threat to our state — Donald Trump.”
Kennealy didn’t talk about Trump in his several-minute-long marketing campaign launch video or in a press launch despatched Monday morning. However at a February occasion hosted by the Sandwich Republican City Committee, he was requested whether or not he would help Trump.
“I will work with Donald Trump as governor to advance our interests here in Massachusetts. I am not being anti the president, he is the president,” he stated earlier than including that he blanked the highest of the presidential ticket, a response that drew groans from attendees.
Through the 2020 presidential election, Baker stated he blanked the highest of the ticket when Trump was working towards Joe Biden. The previous governor additionally left the poll clean when Trump ran towards Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Healey, the primary girl and brazenly homosexual candidate elected to the Governor’s Workplace, stated earlier this yr that she plans to run for a second time period.
In a radio interview, she stated she is “really proud” of her report up to now.
“I plan to run for reelection because there’s a lot more to do. I love my job. I feel incredibly privileged to be in this position, and I’d love to have the opportunity to continue to work for the great people of this state,” she stated.
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