Mike Kennealy, a former housing and financial growth secretary, is “seriously considering” operating for governor in 2026 as a Republican although a timeline for a closing resolution and potential public announcement remains to be unsure, a number of sources informed the Herald.
Kennealy has been floating his potential bid to key figures in Republican circles, together with throughout a Massachusetts Republican Social gathering vacation gathering final month, in accordance with sources who spoke to the Herald on the situation of anonymity to debate personal conversations.
Rep. David DeCoste, a Norwell Republican who serves on the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, stated Kennealy spoke to him a few potential run for the manager workplace on the vacation occasion in December.
“It’s no secret,” DeCoste informed the Herald Thursday afternoon.
Kennealy, who has not beforehand run for public workplace, couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
One other supply additionally confirmed that Kenneally informed others on the vacation occasion that he was “seriously considering” operating for governor.
“He told me at a GOP event that he is seriously considering running for governor,” the supply stated. “The fact that he’s going to GOP events, I would assume that he’s trying to get out there and get in front of people.”
Kennealy had greater than three a long time of public service and expertise within the enterprise sector when he was named senior advisor and chief technique officer on the Boys & Ladies Golf equipment of Boston in February 2023.
He served for 4 years as secretary of the Government Workplace of Housing and Financial Growth beneath former Republican Gov. Charlie Baker the place he helped craft the MBTA Communities Act, a transit-oriented zoning legislation that’s now the topic of a lawsuit earlier than the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court docket.
The workplace was later renamed the Government Workplace of Housing and Livable Communities beneath the Healey administration.
Earlier than he took on the highest job on the secretariat, Kennealy labored as an assistant secretary for enterprise progress for the Baker administration. He began his profession working in personal fairness and at one level served as a particular advisor to the Lawrence Public Colleges receiver.
Rep. Paul Frost, an Auburn Republican who additionally sits on the Republican State Committee, has not spoken to Kennealy about operating for governor however stated the previous Baker official would “be an excellent candidate if he did decide to commit.”
“It seems like Kennealy could be a player in having the resources and that’s a box you want to check when you’re looking to see someone running for a statewide office,” Frost informed the Herald. “I mean, money matters no matter what level you’re running at but it’s obscene the money it takes to run statewide and to play on TV.”
Kennealy’s potential bid comes because the Democratic area for the 2026 gubernatorial election has but to take form.
Gov. Maura Healey has not but stated whether or not she plans to run for reelection, telling the Herald in an interview final month that she had not “given it much thought.” The primary-term governor has fielded a collection of crises over the previous two years which have examined her administration.
Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio stated Wednesday that she has “no plans” to run for governor subsequent yr however on the similar time didn’t make clear whether or not she’s going to pursue a second time period because the state’s prime investigator.
In an interview with the Herald, DiZoglio repeatedly stated “no” when requested if she was contemplating a bid for the manager workplace. The Methuen Democrat had been floated as both a possible challenger to Gov. Maura Healey if she decides to run once more or as an impartial candidate.
“I think it’s natural for people to speculate and throw names out there but I have no plans and I’m completely focused on the work of the Auditor’s Office,” DiZoglio stated by telephone.
She additionally stated it was “far too early to be talking about future potential reelection campaigns” for state auditor.
“I have a lot of work to do this year, which is not an election year, and I am focused on doing the work of my office,” she stated.
DiZoglio had greater than $183,000 in marketing campaign money available on the finish of December, which was additionally her largest fundraising haul of 2024, in accordance with state data.
She pulled in practically $64,000 final month and obtained many top-dollar donations, together with $1,000 from native bionaire Ernie Boch Jr, state information confirmed.
Healey had greater than $2.4 million in her marketing campaign account as of the tip of November, in accordance with state data.
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