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Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Woke Dem Governor in big re-election danger, according to new poll
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is in an 'extremely vulnerable position' amid the chaos sown during her first term, according to an internal poll paid for by her Republican rival Mike Kennealy. Some 45.5 percent of voters hold a favorable opinion of the Democrat politician - but the same number dislike her as a leader, per the Opinion Diagnostics survey seen by The study of more than 800 likely Massachusetts voters from February 11-12 found that 33 percent hold a 'very' unfavorable opinion of Healey, who has served as governor since January 2023. 'After a first-year honeymoon, Healey has faced unrelenting challenges over the past sixteen months on issues such as immigration, affordability, energy, transparency, and housing,' the pollsters said. 'As a result, Healey enters the 2026 election cycle in an extremely vulnerable position.' Left-leaning Healey, 54, who is the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts and was the first lesbian woman elected attorney general of a US state, has been walking a political tightrope since Donald Trump, 78, came to power in January. The first-term Democrat from Arlington, MA, has been critical of Trump's tariffs and deportations, and blamed his policies on the 'tremendous amount of chaos, uncertainty and unpredictability' seen in Massachusetts and beyond. Despite mixed reviews of Healey among people in her state, a narrow plurality of voters approve of the job she has done as governor overall, by a 45 percent to 41 percent margin. However, she falls short on four key public policy issues - housing, taxes, the immigration crisis, and strengthening the economy. Only 25 percent of people said they approved of her work on housing, 32 percent on taxes, 33 percent on the immigration crisis, and 39 percent on the economy. When asked whether Healey has performed her job well enough to deserve re-election, only 37 percent of voters say she has, compared to 46 percent who said it's time to give a new person a chance. In a memo accompanying the Opinion Diagnostics poll, Brian Wynne, the head of the company and former campaign manager for Gov. Charlie Baker, said Healey has a 'net disapproval' of her handling of key issues like immigration and housing. 'A plurality of voters believe that Healey's job performance warrants a change in governor,' Wynne said, according to a copy of the poll obtained by 'While they are open to replacing the chief executive of the commonwealth, voters will not accept just any alternative.' The poll was commissioned by Mike Kennealy, 57, the former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development, who is running against Healey in the 2026 gubernatorial election. It found that in a hypothetical matchup between the two, Healey narrowly led by 37.5 percent to 35.9 percent - but among the 27 percent of voters who were undecided, more believe Healey 'does not deserve re-election', according to the memo. has contacted Healey's office for comment. Massachusetts is facing a housing affordability crisis, and needs to build more than 222,000 more housing units over the next decade to address spiraling demand, according to a Bloomberg report from February 2025. Median home prices in the Bay State have risen 73 percent since 2000, while household income has risen by only four percent over the same period, according to a report by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. On the ritzy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard, rent prices have reached such staggering levels that doctors and nurses are leaving in droves because they simply can't afford to live on the luxury enclave. Martha's Vineyard Hospital President Denise Schepici said that one of their 'greatest challenges' is simply 'keeping people housed' - and the non-profit hospital has had to start paying for affordable housing units just to retain staffing levels. Healey's administration has described the housing crisis as 'the state's greatest challenge', and it signed the Affordable Homes Act into law. The act 'authorizes a record $2 billion for the repair, rehabilitation and modernization of the state's public housing portfolio', per Healey's release - but polls suggest residents don't think it's having enough impact. Massachusetts residents are also feeling a hit to their wallets from another angle - tax increases imposed by Healey's administration. In January, the Democrat leadership slipped a series of tax increases into her fiscal year 2026 budget, which impacted products like candy, synthetic nicotine products, and excise tax on complimentary hotel rooms. The budget also amounted to a 7.4 percent increase in overall spending compared with the fiscal year 2025 plan which was signed into law last summer - something the administration did not acknowledge. In March, Healey's administration went further by slapping additional taxes on prescription drugs - a move which was met with 'staggering disapproval' from residents, according to a Fiscal Alliance Foundation poll. The cost of living in Massachusetts is much higher than the national average. In the state's priciest city, Nantucket, the cost of living is 132 percent higher than the rest of the US, according to Rent Cafe. Bostonians tend to pay 47 percent more than the national average on the basics like rent and food, while people in Framingham pay 36 percent more, and Leominster residents spend 14 percent more on average. Massachusetts is also under strain from an influx of migrants who are sent to overcrowded centers where crime has been rife, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has recorded 316 'serious incident' reports at hotels, congregate sites, scattered sites and co-shelters within the program from January 2022 until December 2024. In May 2024, Healey was forced to convert a former prison into a shelter for homeless people, many of whom are migrants. Almost 4,000 people were granted asylum in the New England state in 2023 - or 20 percent of those who applied, according to US Custom and Border Protection data. The number of migrants on the Massachusetts emergency shelter system swelled to 3,500 by mid-December, figures show. Many of those without a place to go have been camping out at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Politico
27-01-2025
- Business
- Politico
Who's in Kennealy's camp
ADVICE AND COUNSEL — As he weighs whether to wade into the race for the governor, Mike Kennealy, who served as housing and economic development secretary under Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, has a crew of informal advisers counseling him. The list includes Baker's longtime political adviser Jim Conroy, former Baker campaign manager Brian Wynne and David Drummond, a Scott Brown alum who also served as finance director for Baker's political committee, according to a person familiar with Kennealy's operation. Sound familiar? Conroy advised GOP Senate nominee John Deaton in his bid to unseat Sen. Elizabeth Warren last fall, while Drummond did finance consulting and Wynne's firm, Opinion Diagnostics, handled polling. Also advising Kennealy: Gail Gitcho and Peter Flaherty, who both worked for Mitt Romney. Gitcho served as communications director on Romney's 2012 presidential campaign and as a spokesperson for Brown and the Republican Governors Association. Flaherty, a former Suffolk assistant district attorney, was also a senior adviser to Romney while he was in office and during both of his presidential campaigns, and later started a consulting firm with fellow Romney aides Beth Myers and Eric Fehrnstrom. Nothing's official yet. Kennealy earlier this month declined to give a timeline for when a decision could be coming. Baker launched his first gubernatorial campaign in July 2009; Kennealy — and anyone else considering running — have plenty of time to make a decision if they want to stick to the same timeline. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Tips? Scoops? Advising a potential campaign? Drop me a line: kgarrity@ TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announces early literacy school district grant awardees at 12:30 p.m. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu calls in to GBH's 'Boston Public Radio' at noon. DATELINE BEACON HILL — 'Raging moderate': Is Gov. Maura Healey tacking toward the center ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race?,' by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Tax cuts. Cutting red tape. Deregulation. Making life easier for businesses. Cracking down on free benefits for newly-arrived migrants. A pledge to work with the Trump administration. Those are key issues that Massachusetts conservatives have long championed. But they have also been touted over the past month as top priorities for Gov. Maura Healey, a first-term Democrat from Arlington who has not yet said whether she plans to run for reelection next year.' — ''Medicare for All' bill refiled in both chambers of state Legislature,' by Peter Currier, The Lowell Sun: 'State Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Reps. Margaret Scarsdale and Lindsay Sabadosa refiled a bill this past week to establish a single-payer health care system in Massachusetts. The bills, titled An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts, would establish the Massachusetts Health Care Trust, which would serve as the single payer for health care costs to Massachusetts residents. This would replace the role of insurance companies and certain government programs. The trustees for the trust would be appointed by the governor, attorney general and Governor's Council from across the state.' — 'Push to legalize psychedelics returns: After defeat in November, 10 legislators file bills more limited in scope,' by Samuel Gelinas, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Less than three months after voters rejected a ballot measure to legalize certain natural psychedelic substances and introduce therapeutic care, legislators have filed 10 bills at the start of this legislative session hoping to push the cause forward. Some 57% of voters in November rejected Question 4, which would have authorized licensed clinics, home cultivation and legal distribution for five psychedelic substances: psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), mescaline and ibogaine. Retail sale of psychedelics, or 'psychedelic dispensaries' would have remained barred.' — 'Mass. has a primary care physician shortage. A new law aims to help fill it with internationally trained doctors,' by Maren Halpin, The Boston Globe. — 'Judge dismisses lawsuit against State Auditor's Office from former employee accused of sexual harassment,' by Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald. FROM THE HUB — 'Boston City Council to debate mayor's tax shift bill Monday,' by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald: 'Taxes will be top of mind for the Boston City Council on Monday, when it plans to hash out the mayor's latest home rule petition, as part of her yearlong push to shift more of the city's tax burden onto businesses to provide relief to homeowners. The City Council will hold a joint tax classification hearing of the Government Operations and Ways and Means committees, which are respectively chaired by Councilors Gabriela Coletta and Brian Worrell.' MIGRANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS — 'Worcester County sheriff backs bill on ICE detainers,' by Henry Schwan, Telegram & Gazette: 'Two state Republican lawmakers filed a bill to crack down on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes, and it has the support of Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis Jr. The proposal comes as the Trump administration is taking steps to round up people living in the country illegally that include executive orders, increased security at the southern border, and reports of raids by federal immigration agents. The bill is sponsored by state Reps. Michael Soter, R-Bellingham, and Kenneth Sweezey, R-Pembroke.' — 'ICE Boston arrests suspected gang member with 17 criminal convictions in Mass., officials say,' by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: 'U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested a 25-year-old man in Boston said to be a member of a Haitian street gang who has 17 criminal convictions in Massachusetts, authorities announced Friday. Members of ICE Boston's Enforcement and Removal Operations team took Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles, a Haitian national, into custody on Wednesday, according to a statement from the agency. The arrest was documented by a FOX News team, which was allowed to ride along with ICE authorities during the operation this week.' — 'Worcester Catholic Schools stands by position on ICE amid national deportations,' by Ryan Mancini, MassLive: 'As Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conduct mass deportations across the United States, the Diocese of Worcester Catholic Schools said on Friday it will not work with ICE to deport students. Within hours of being inaugurated for a second time on Monday, President Donald Trump wrote a series of executive orders to crack down on immigration in the United States. This includes orders to mass deport undocumented immigrants, specifically people the administration said are criminals.' — 'Could immigration enforcement officials visit Fall River's schools?,' by Emily Scherny, The Herald News: 'As President Donald Trump's second term dawns, his administration rolled back longstanding policy that prevents federal agents from raiding 'sensitive locations,' including K-12 schools. Mayor Paul Coogan said he hasn't heard of any changes to policy, and noted that traditionally ICE officials notify the local police chief before entering a community to carry out a search.' FROM THE DELEGATION — 'Democrats vow to uphold climate pact after Trump pulls out,' by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'Sen. Ed Markey is leading a group of Democratic lawmakers pledging to stick with the Paris Agreement following Republican President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the global climate pact. Trump, sworn into office on Monday, signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw again from the landmark Paris Agreement, fulfilling a campaign pledge to pull out of the environmental pact.' TRUMPACHUSETTS — 'Trump pardons Massachusetts anti-abortion activists who blocked clinic entrance,' by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: 'President Trump has pardoned a pair of Bay State anti-abortion activists who were convicted and sentenced to federal prison for blocking a reproductive health clinic's entrance. Kingston women Paulette Harlow and Jean Marshall, both in their 70s, are among the anti-abortion activists who were pardoned by Trump this week.' FROM THE 413 — 'Springfield City Councilor proposes ordinance to set minimum apartment size,' by Jeanette DeForge, The Springfield Republican: 'While the lack of housing continues to hit the region, the city must also ensure new apartments that are being constructed are livable and decent, according to City Councilor Sean Curran. Within the next two months, Curran said he plans to draft an ordinance that will regulate the size of new apartments to prevent developers from creating units that are smaller than a hotel room.' — '8 teachers, 4 para posts likely lost in next Amherst elementary school budget,' by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'Eight classroom teachers and four paraprofessionals at Amherst's three elementary schools could lose their jobs under a preliminary plan that would eliminate $1.12 million in spending from a $29.26 million level services fiscal year 2026 budget.' — 'Time for a pro? Holyoke to decide whether to appoint or keep electing its treasurer,' by Western Mass Politics & Insight: 'City voters will decide January 28 whether to make the city's treasurer appointed rather than elected. The ballot question's mid-winter timing is an accident of the calendar. State practice disfavors local questions on state elections and ballot papers for city offices—including the treasurer—will become available next month. However, if voters approve the measure, it would nudge Holyoke toward a consolidation in fiscal management state and local officials have long sought.' THE LOCAL ANGLE — ''A place of their own': Will Brockton's new 24-7 housing center end homelessness crisis?,' by Chris Helms, The Brockton Enterprise. — 'Rift between councilors, mayor erupts over stalled licensing board appointments,' by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light: 'A routine meeting of the City Council turned into a carnival of grievances against Mayor Jon Mitchell in which councilors alleged mismanagement, dysfunction, and manipulation. The trigger for the grievances was a monthslong delay in appointing two people to the city's licensing board — the three-person committee that oversees liquor licenses — and the shift of blame onto the City Council in local media.' — 'D.W. Field Park in Brockton closed due to potential bird flu outbreak,' by Kathy Bossa, The Brockton Enterprise: 'D.W. Field Park — located in Brockton and Avon — has been closed out of an abundance of caution due to reports of a potential bird flu outbreak, and officials are asking the public not to touch any birds that are dead or hurt. … 'Due to recent events with birds, there may be a potential outbreak of Avian Flu,' according to a post on the D.W. Field Facebook page. Park officials said in a post they discovered dead swans and Canada Geese on Upper Porter Pond earlier this week.' HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH TRANSITIONS — Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson has been elected president of the Massachusetts Mayors' Association. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Anna Ornstein, Jenna Kaplan and Cherilyn Strader.
