Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary features Minogue and Shortsleeve

Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve are competing in the Massachusetts Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. The winner of the primary will advance to the general election in November to challenge the Democratic incumbent, Governor Maura Healey.

Immigration enforcement has emerged as a central issue in the race. Both candidates have pledged to take a harder line on immigration than the current administration. They specifically support repealing the PROTECT Act, which restricts warrantless arrests by ICE on state properties, and aim to end the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented residents. While they agree on these policies, Shortsleeve has positioned himself as a more moderate option compared to Minogue, a former medical device CEO and Army officer.

Other key campaign topics include state affordability and legislative cooperation. Shortsleeve, a former Marine and administrator of the MBTA, stated he is prepared to work with the Democrat-dominated state Legislature, citing his past bipartisan experience. Minogue has focused his platform on prioritizing state resources for residents, arguing that current policies are bankrupting the commonwealth.