Democrat Maura Healey has won re-election as governor of Massachusetts, defeating Republican Michael Minogue to secure a second four-year term, the Associated Press projected on Tuesday night, November 3.
The AP called the race for Healey at 8:01 p.m. ET, minutes after polls closed in Massachusetts. NBC News and CNN also projected Healey as the winner. The call came before counting was complete, so no final vote totals or margin were available at the time of the projection — a point readers should keep in mind as results continue to come in.
Healey, the incumbent governor, campaigned heavily on opposition to President Donald Trump, while Minogue, a Republican businessman and former healthcare executive, targeted her record on the economy and affordability. Independent candidate Andrea James was also on the ballot.
Who is Maura Healey?
Healey became the first woman and the first openly gay person elected governor of Massachusetts when she won in 2022, defeating Republican Geoff Diehl by 64% to 35%, according to Ballotpedia figures cited in election coverage. Before becoming governor in 2023, she served two terms as Massachusetts attorney general.
Her running mate, Lieutenant Governor Kimberly Driscoll, was also on the Democratic ticket.
What the result means
The Massachusetts governor’s race was one of several statewide contests decided on November 3, a night that also saw Democrats hold the Virginia Senate seat, with incumbent Mark Warner winning a fourth term. Massachusetts, a reliably Democratic state, was widely expected to re-elect Healey, and pre-election forecasts gave her a commanding lead.
Minogue put nearly $20 million of his own money into his campaign, according to reports citing The Boston Globe, but could not close the gap in a state where Democrats hold every statewide office.
What is still to come
Counting in Massachusetts continues through the night and beyond. Mail ballots postmarked by November 3 can arrive by November 6 and still count, so final certified totals will take several days. The AP’s projection, based on its VoteCast survey of voters and other data, indicates the outcome is not in doubt, even though the final margin is not yet known.
Healey will begin her second term after the results are certified. Her second term agenda, including housing, affordability and the state’s response to federal policy, is expected to come into focus once the full midterm picture is clear.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Massachusetts governor’s race in 2026?
Democrat Maura Healey won re-election, defeating Republican Michael Minogue, according to projections by the Associated Press, NBC News and CNN.
When was the race called?
The AP called the race at 8:01 p.m. ET on November 3, minutes after polls closed.
Is the final margin known yet?
No. Counting was barely under way at the time of the projection, and mail ballots arriving by November 6 can still count, so the final margin will take days to settle.
Who else was on the ballot?
Independent candidate Andrea James also ran for governor, alongside Healey and Minogue.
Sources
- Associated Press election results, Massachusetts governor race, 2026-11-03: https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/?ap_doc=ap%2Fv2%2F20261103%2Fl%2F22957%2FMA%2Fs%2F71279
- WAMC, “Massachusetts Gov. Healey wins reelection to second term”, November 3, 2026: https://www.wamc.org/news/2026-11-03/election-2026-massachusetts-maura-healey-wins-reelection-governor
- The New England Signal, “Maura Healey wins second term as Massachusetts governor, defeating Mike Minogue”, November 3, 2026: https://www.newenglandsignal.com/article/post_1793754767595-maura-healey-wins-second-term-as-massachusetts-governor-defeating-mike-minogue
- Worcester Telegram & Gazette live results, November 3, 2026: https://www.telegram.com/story/news/politics/2026/11/03/massachusetts-election-live-results-updates–live/92493506007/
Related: Mark Warner’s Virginia Senate win
