Gov. Maura Healey has agreed to two debates in the 2026 Massachusetts governor’s race, including the final debate of the election cycle on WCVB. The deal puts the incumbent onstage twice even as the Republican side is still arguing over who should get onstage first.
Healey’s campaign agreed to the appearances, according to WCVB. One of the debates, planned for October, will be hosted by a consortium of WCVB, WBUR and The Boston Globe, with WCVB anchor Ed Harding moderating and panelists Tiziana Dearing, Adrian Walker and Sharman Sacchetti.
The Republican Contest Is Still Unsettled
Healey’s eventual opponent will be either Mike Minogue or Brian Shortsleeve, the two Republicans competing for their party’s nomination. Minogue won the Massachusetts GOP’s endorsement in April, and supporters have since pressed Shortsleeve to leave the race, as reported by The Boston Globe.
That intraparty fight has made debates a campaign issue of its own. A Suffolk University poll found that 57% of likely Republican primary voters wanted one or two debates between Minogue and Shortsleeve, while Minogue had declined to participate in a traditional forum, according to Suffolk University.
Healey And Minogue Had Already Been Talking Debates
Minogue formally challenged Healey in May to take part in two debates before Labor Day, arguing that voters should not have to wait until the final stretch of the campaign to see the candidates side by side. His proposed topics included affordability, economic growth, government accountability and public safety, according to Minogue’s campaign.
Healey’s team is presenting the eventual debates as a direct choice between the governor’s agenda and a Republican nominee aligned with President Donald Trump. Katie Prisco-Buxbaum said the forums will outline that contrast for November voters, while Healey has emphasized lowering costs, protecting rights and freedoms, and standing up to Trump, WCVB reported.
The agreement gives Massachusetts voters two guaranteed chances to compare Healey with the Republican nominee once that contest is settled. Until then, the state’s 2026 governor’s race has a slightly awkward preview act: Republicans are still debating the debate before Healey has agreed to hers.
