Sen. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, stated he’s contemplating working for governor in 2026, including to the sphere of conservatives who consider Gov. Maura Healey is a susceptible candidate ought to she determine to run for a second time period.
Durant, whose potential candidacy was first reported by WBUR, stated he’s aiming to decide earlier than Memorial Day in Might and believes Massachusetts is “heading in the wrong direction.”
“I think there is an opportunity here,” Durant advised the Herald Thursday. “We’re going to spend some time deciding whether or not I’m the best person to do that. We’re going through the process of working through this.”
Durant, who received a particular election final 12 months to flip a Central Massachusetts seat, stated a Republican can retake the nook workplace in 2026 as a result of Healey is “beatable.” He stated he’s doing “some soul searching” to determine whether or not he’s the appropriate individual for the job.
The Spencer Republican is the second conservative to significantly take into account a gubernatorial bid. Mike Kennealy, a former cupboard secretary below Gov. Charlie Baker, stated earlier this month that he’s debating a run for governor.
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis and Brian Shortsleeve, a enterprise capitalist and former MBTA official, have additionally been floated as potential Republican candidates in 2026.
Durant stated is deciding if he has the appropriate coverage concepts and fundraising means.
“Can we make a difference? I think the answer to that question, again, is yes,” he stated.
Healey, an Arlington Democrat, has not stated whether or not she plans to run for reelection in 2026. She has fielded a collection of crises throughout her first two years in workplace, together with the meltdown of Steward Health Care and an explosion of demand within the state-run shelter system.
In an interview with the Herald in December, Healey stated she liked her job and felt “really privileged to be governor.”
“There’s a lot more I want to do,” she stated.
