Republican mega-donor Michael Minogue confirmed that he’s contemplating operating for governor of Massachusetts after months of hypothesis over whether or not the enterprise government and fight veteran was weighing a marketing campaign forward of the 2026 elections.
In a press release to the Herald Thursday, Minogue pitched himself as “an outsider to this process” however stated he’s debating operating to be the state’s subsequent chief government. Gov. Maura Healey, a first-term Democrat from Arlington, stated earlier this yr that she plans to run for reelection.
“Right now, I’m focused on listening, learning, and meeting with people across the commonwealth as I consider a run for governor,” Minogue informed the Herald in a quick message.
Minogue is the previous head of the medical know-how firm Abiomed and served in Operation Desert Storm as an infantry platoon chief. He additionally has a protracted historical past of donating to nationwide conservative causes and candidates, based on federal marketing campaign finance data.
In simply the final yr, he contributed tons of of hundreds of {dollars} to the Republican Nationwide Committee and a fundraising committee related to President Donald Trump, federal filings present.
The South Hamilton resident and West Level graduate has additionally been making the rounds at native Republican city committee conferences alongside different potential Republican candidates and Mike Kennealy, who formally declared a marketing campaign for governor final month.
In his message to the Herald, Minogue stated he’s “not a politician.”
“For the past two decades, I’ve led Abiomed as chairman, president, and CEO, creating jobs and lifesaving heart pumps developed and manufactured here in Danvers,” he stated.
Abiomed agreed in March 2018 to pay $3.1 million to resolve kickback allegations that included allegedly buying “lavish” meals for physicians with the intention to persuade them into utilizing the corporate’s line of coronary heart pumps, based on federal prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors accused the corporate of “buying meals for (physicians) at some of the country’s most expensive restaurants, including Menton in Boston, Nobu in Los Angeles, Spago in Beverly Hills, and Eleven Madison Park in New York City.”
An organization spokesperson stated on the time of the settlement that Abiomed was “putting the matter behind us to focus on our heart recovery mission and to continue investing in innovation, education, and clinical support to ensure we help improve patient outcomes.”
The corporate additionally recalled one among its coronary heart pumps final yr after stories of 129 individuals struggling “serious injuries,” together with 49 stories of individuals dying, based on the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration.
Minogue’s potential gubernatorial intentions have been largely unclear amid rumors that he was debating a run. He did communicate to MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale about operating for governor of Massachusetts, the Herald beforehand reported.
Different potential Republican candidates for governor embody Brian Shortsleeve, a former MBTA government and enterprise capitalist, and Sen. Peter Durant, a Republican state lawmaker from Spencer.
This can be a growing story…
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