Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue has earned the endorsement of his once-primary opponent and former fellow GOP candidate for governor, Mike Kennealy, making the announcement in front of a crowd of supporters at Minogue’s campaign headquarters in Burlington on Thursday.
“During my campaign for governor, I consistently pledged that I would support the Republican nominee because Massachusetts cannot afford four more years of Governor Healy,” Kennealy said to a room full of Minogue supporters.
“Mike Minogue will be our party’s nominee. And so today, I’m announcing that I support his candidacy. I believe Mike Minogue is running for office because of a genuine calling to serve,” he said.
Kennealy’s endorsement comes after failing to break the 15% threshold at the Massachusetts Republican Convention in order to qualify for the ballot. Kennealy secured 14.11% of support from delegates on 253 votes, while Minogue won in a landslide victory with 70.4% on 1,262 votes. Brian Shortsleeve, who remains in the Republican primary against Minogue, qualified with just over 15% on 278 votes.
Minogue welcomed Kennealy’s endorsement, equating the political backing to “another step forward” towards defeating Gov. Maura Healey.
“Mike Kennealy is a conservative who ran an ethical, issue-focused campaign. He is a man of faith whose commitment to the next generation, reforming Lawrence Public Schools and his work with Boys and Girls Club of Boston, has changed lives. Mike’s public service to our Commonwealth and his dedication to our Republican Party has made us stronger,” Minogue said.
“Bay Staters deserve a new kind of governor who will make us, once again, the best state to live, work, and raise a family by delivering accountability, affordability, opportunity, and who will keep the communities safe for Massachusetts. I am grateful to have Mike Kennealy in the fight with us and on Team Minogue,” he added.
Kennealy officially suspended his campaign in the days following the convention, stating that he will remain committed to securing a Republican victory in November over Gov. Maura Healey.
“Massachusetts is heading in the wrong direction and is last in the nation in job growth. As a proven job creator, Mike has the experience to get the state back on track and I applaud Mike’s commitment to serving others through his work in education and health care and his support for veterans,” Kennealy added. “Mike is by far the best candidate of the two Republicans running for governor.”
But the campaign for Minogue’s primary opponent, Brian Shortsleeve, says Kennealy’s endorsement is nothing more than “tactical.”
“Failed candidate Michael Kennealy is playing for 2030. He knows Mike Minogue cannot win a general election; after all, he spent the past year telling everyone exactly that. He also knows Brian Shortsleeve can win a general election,” Shortsleeve campaign spokesperson Pat Nestor said in a written statement.
“Kennealy made the calculated decision to endorse Mike Minogue because he believes that if Brian Shortsleeve advances to the general election, he will win. And if Brian wins, Michael knows he will never be governor,” added Nestor.
A Lexington resident, Kennealy served as the former Secretary of Housing and Economic Development under Gov. Charlie Baker and most recently worked in leadership at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston. The candidate pitched himself as holding both private and public sector experience, focusing on issues of affordability, taxes, rising energy costs, migrant policy and more.
Minogue and Shortsleeve will face off the September Republican primary.
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