Durant discusses factors influencing Massachusetts governor run decision
BOSTON (SHNS) – Sen. Peter Durant says he's 'getting closer' to deciding whether to jump into the gubernatorial race.
'We're still looking at it, and you know, part of that is we have to be really careful. Because A) I have to give up my seat to do it, and you want to make sure that it's the right timing for yourself and for my family,' Durant told the News Service Tuesday after an unrelated State House event.
'In addition, we're looking at the people who may or may not be getting in,' the Spencer Republican continued. 'So, I'd say we're getting closer.'
Durant in a mid-March television interview had pledged to make a decision 'relatively soon.' Republican candidate Mike Kennealy, former housing and economic development secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, launched his bid for governor on April 7. Gov. Maura Healey plans to seek reelection.
Asked whether Kennealy's entry changed his calculus, Durant praised the Republican challenger.
'He's a great guy. I think he's got a real good background for this. We know Brian Shortsleeve's thinking about it — another guy with a really good background,' Durant said, referring to the former MBTA administrator. 'And they have resources, so you know, yeah those things are factoring into it.'
Durant added, 'But we're still leaving the door open.'
Durant said he discussed a gubernatorial bid with his wife, Kate Campanale, who unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor in 2022, during a vacation last month.
'She asked me, she said, 'What are you thinking? Do you want to do this?' And she said, 'I'll stand behind you no matter what you want to do.' She wasn't overly excited about doing it because she had just come off the lieutenant governor's race a few years ago,' Durant said. 'And I said, 'Do I want to do it? Yeah. I would like to do it, and I'd like a shot at being governor. Do I have to do it? No. It's not like I have to do this in my life, you know?' And so, but that was it. I'll know it when I see it, and I feel like it's coming closer together — I just don't know where that's going to lead me yet.'
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