Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy obtained a string of contributions in April that surpassed the max quantity a person can donate underneath state legislation, a state of affairs his marketing campaign attributed to donors protecting bank card charges and {couples} giving by means of a single fee.
The surplus donations flowed in in the course of the first weeks of Kennealy’s marketing campaign for governor and ranged from $1,041 to $2,000, in keeping with state knowledge. The 57-year-old from Lexington loaned his marketing campaign $200,000 final month, which helped convey his whole fundraising determine to $311,315, knowledge reveals.
Logan Trupiano, Kennealy’s marketing campaign spokesperson, stated some donors lined bank card charges related to their $1,000 donations, which triggered them to “slightly exceed” the max contribution allowed in a calendar yr to a candidate for elected workplace.
“The Kennealy committee has refunded most of these $41 overages already, and will refund the remainder this week. Additionally, several joint spousal donors made maximum contributions in a single transaction — we are in the process of refunding and reattributing $1,000 in these instances,” Trupiano stated in a press release to the Herald Monday night time.
Massachusetts Democratic Social gathering Chair Steve Kerrigan slammed Kennealy for the over-the-limit donations.
“MAGA Mike Kennealy is showing us once again he is not ready for prime time. OCPF rules are straightforward and clear. If he can’t manage that basic task, how would he run state government?” Kerrigan stated in a press release to the Herald.
Trupiano fired again at Kerrigan.
“Gov. Maura Healey has mismanaged three billion taxpayer dollars on the migrant crisis so far. There isn’t much comparison,” he stated, referring to money the Healey administration has spent on state-run shelters housing native and migrant households.
Jason Tait, a spokesperson for the Workplace of Marketing campaign and Political Finance, stated the company doesn’t touch upon particular candidates, however regulators assessment all studies submitted by political hopefuls that exceed the $1,000 restrict.
The company usually sends an audit letter to candidates who’ve obtained extra contributions to hunt extra info, Tait stated.
If the marketing campaign did obtain an extra donation, the candidate is required to return the quantity over the state restrict, in keeping with the Workplace of Marketing campaign and Political Finance.
The 9 people who donated $2,000 to Kennealy ranged from retirees to insurance coverage executives and CEOs to farmers, in keeping with state information.
One other 40-plus individuals, spanning lecturers, executives, buyers, and lodge homeowners, contributed $1,041.02 to Kennealy, marketing campaign finance knowledge confirmed.
Greater than 20 people donated the authorized, top-dollar quantity of $1,000, together with an lawyer from the agency WilmerHale, a senior lecturer at Harvard College, and a handful of finance executives, in keeping with state knowledge final up to date Monday night time.
Kennealy touted the April donations he pulled in as a “powerful message” and stated they had been greater than any non-incumbent Republican gubernatorial candidate earned of their first month campaigning over the previous 15 years.
“The people of Massachusetts are ready for new leadership. The Healey Administration has failed on affordability, public safety, housing, energy, and managing the migrant crisis,” he stated in a press release final week.
Former Gov. Charlie Baker and Geoff Diehl, a former state lawmaker, are the one two different Republicans who’ve made it to a basic election in Massachusetts over the previous 15 years.
Baker ran within the 2010, 2014, and 2018 statewide elections, and Diehl competed within the 2022 election.
Within the 2010 and 2014 elections, Baker confronted a decrease most particular person donation cap of $500. Former Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, signed laws in August 2014 that doubled the person contribution restrict from $500 to $1,000 beginning in 2015.
Kennealy is the solely Republican to thus far launch a gubernatorial marketing campaign forward of the 2026 elections. Brian Shortsleeve, a former MBTA government and enterprise capitalist, and Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer are weighing a run.
Republican mega-donor Michael Minogue has had conversations with prime brass on the Massachusetts Republican Social gathering a couple of potential bid however has not responded to repeated Herald inquiries.
Healey, a first-term Democrat from Arlington, stated earlier this yr that she plans to run for reelection.
