Mike Kennealy ‘seriously’ considering running for Massachusetts governor

Mike Kennealy, former Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, is “seriously considering” running for governor in 2026 as a Republican, although the timeline for a final decision and possible public announcement is still uncertain, multiple sources told the Herald.

Kennealy has been pitching his potential candidacy to key figures in Republican circles, including during a Massachusetts Republican Party holiday gathering last month, according to sources who spoke to the Herald on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

Rep. David DeCoste, a Norwell Republican who serves on the Massachusetts Republican State Committee, said Kennealy spoke with him about a possible run for executive office during the December Christmas party.

“It’s no secret,” DeCoste told the Herald Thursday afternoon.

Kennealy, who has not previously run for public office, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Another source also confirmed that Kenneally told others at the party that he was “seriously considering” running for governor.

“He told me at a Republican event that he is seriously considering running for governor,” the source said. “The fact that he goes to Republican events, I guess he’s trying to get out there and get in front of people.”

Kennealy had more than three decades of public service and business sector experience when he was named senior advisor and chief strategy officer for Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in February 2023.

He served for four years as secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development under former Republican Governor Charlie Baker, where he helped craft the MBTA Communities Act, a transit-oriented zoning law that is now the subject of a lawsuit before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

The office was later renamed the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities under the Healey administration.

Before taking the top secretary’s job, Kennealy worked as undersecretary for business growth for the Baker administration. He began his career working in private equity and at one point served as special advisor to the Lawrence Public Schools trustee.

Rep. Paul Frost, an Auburn Republican who also serves on the Republican State Committee, has not spoken to Kennealy about his run for governor, but said the former Baker official would be “an excellent candidate if he decided to commit.”

“It seems like Kennealy could contribute to having the resources and that’s a box you have to check when you’re looking to see someone running for state office,” Frost told the Herald. “I mean, money matters no matter what level you’re at, but it’s obscene how much money it takes to run across the state and get on TV.”

Kennealy’s possible candidacy comes as the Democratic field for the 2026 gubernatorial election has yet to take shape.

Governor Maura Healey he hasn’t said it yet whether he plans to run for re-election, and told the Herald in an interview last month that he hadn’t “given it much thought.” The governor in her first term has faced a series of crises in the last two years that have tested her administration.

Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio said Wednesday that she has “no plans” to run for governor next year, but at the same time did not clarify whether she will seek a second term as the state’s top investigator.

In an interview with the Herald, DiZoglio repeatedly said “no” when asked if he was considering running for the executive office. The Methuen Democrat had been floated as a possible rival to Gov. Maura Healey if she decides to run again or as an independent candidate.

“I think it’s natural for people to speculate and release names, but I have no plans and am completely focused on the work of the Auditor’s Office,” DiZoglio said by phone.

He also said it was “too early to talk about possible future re-election campaigns” for the 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 said.

DiZoglio had more than $183,000 in campaign cash on hand at the end of December, which was also his biggest fundraiser of 2024, according to state records.

It raised nearly $64,000 last month and received many top-tier donations, including $1,000 from local bionary Ernie Boch Jr, state data showed.

Healey had more than $2.4 million in his campaign account at the end of November, according to state records.

Originally Posted: January 2, 2025 at 5:56 pm EST