TALES FROM SPIN CITY – Two of former Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration officials, Brian Shortsleeve and Mike Kennealy, both vying for the Republican party’s nod to run against incumbent Democrat Gov. Maura Healey in 2026, participated in a debate on Friday, August 22nd. Shortsleeve served as Chief Administrator head of the MBTA while Kennealy was Baker’s Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

Who won the debate? It depends on who you ask.

The answer from Republican Brian Shortsleeve’s campaign:

“Marine Corps Veteran, successful business leader and proven government reformer Brian Shortsleeve, Republican candidate for governor, delivered a commanding performance during the one-hour live debate.”

“We don’t need a Healey lite,” said Shortsleeve, referring to his GOP opponent Mike Kennealy. “We need a Marine who will put the people of Massachusetts first. The people of Massachusetts are tired of empty promises and rising costs. I’m running to bring real-world leadership to Beacon Hill, cut waste and restore common sense to state government. We can’t afford another four years of top-down mandates, endless benefits for illegal immigrants, rising utility costs and economic mismanagement.”

The answer from Republican Mike Kennealy’s campaign:

“Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy emerged as the clear winner in the first primary debate of the election cycle.”

“We already knew that Mike Kennealy is the only candidate capable of taking on and defeating Maura Healey,” said Ben Hincher, Kennealy’s campaign manager, “Tonight, anyone tuning into this race for the first time saw the truth: Mike Kennealy is running against Maura Healey, while his opponent is running against Mike Kennealy. Mike laid out a clear, common-sense agenda: ending Massachusetts’ sanctuary state policies, cutting the green gimmicks that have driven up our electric bills and restoring affordability for families across the commonwealth. He showed voters that he will bring pragmatic, principled and commonsense leadership back to Beacon Hill.”

The answer from Democrat Gov. Maura Healey’s campaign:

“Two Trump-supporting Republican candidates for governor held a ‘debate’ on an August Friday afternoon.”

“You know that the MassGOP is embarrassed by their own candidates when they schedule their first debate for 5 p.m. on a summer Friday,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan. “It’s just the latest sign that Kennealy’s and Shortsleeve’s candidacies are failing, along with their fundraising numbers. The only thing that was more blurry than the debate’s livestream was the candidates’ plans to stand up to Donald Trump. Not once did they mention his devastating cuts to lifesaving research funding, his plans to kick hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents off their health care or his tariffs that are raising costs for everyone.”

Kerrigan continued, “The Republican candidates for governor yet again showed that they’re afraid to stand up to Donald Trump and won’t stand for the people of Massachusetts. One thing is for sure after tonight: Gov. Maura Healey is the only candidate who will make life easier for people, lower the cost of housing, health care and energy and stand up to Donald Trump when he hurts our state.”