Charlie Baker’s former Cabinet Secretary joined BAMW for a Q&A last month to talk immigration, energy, Trump, and how he’d do the job differently from Maura Healey.

The 2026 primary is still a ways off, but the GOP race for governor is already heating up — and Mike Kennealy is officially in.

Kennealy, a former Cabinet Secretary under Governor Charlie Baker and longtime business leader, spoke exclusively with Mass Daily News political correspondent BAMW in a detailed Q&A about why he’s running, what he’d do differently, and why he thinks Maura Healey has already lost the plot.

Over the course of the interview, Kennealy touched on energy costs, immigration policy, the right-to-shelter law, and even his coaching days on the sidelines of youth sports.

Below is the full Q&A — presented exactly as submitted.

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What inspired you to run for governor, and how would your leadership differ from Governor Healey’s?

Thanks for having me! I’m running for Governor because I care deeply about this state and this country. I’ve watched Governor Healey mismanage crisis after crisis, leading Massachusetts down a path of decline—and I know we can do better. I’m not a career politician chasing headlines or national attention. I’m a leader with real executive experience, in both the private sector and public service, who is ready to take the bull by the horns and deliver meaningful results.

Over the past several years, my focus hasn’t been on Washington—it’s been right here at home, working behind the scenes to strengthen the Massachusetts Republican Party and position us to take on Governor Healey and the Democratic supermajority. I’ve raised money, supported candidates, and done the hard work to prepare our party for this moment.

My leadership and life experience is much different than Governor Healey's. I helped lead a private equity firm that invested in 100 companies, building businesses and creating jobs. My last 12 years have been working full time in service to the Commonwealth - 2 years as part of the team that turned around the Lawrence Public Schools; 8 years in state government, 4 of which as a Cabinet Secretary getting things done all across the state; and 2 years as a member of the senior leadership team of a major non-profit, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. I have also been active in my community and served on our local finance committee. There is nobody else in this race with a track record of success across business, education, state government, non-profit, and local government, with relationships all across Massachusetts that will help me win and help me govern.

I believe I’m the only candidate equipped to unite Republicans, win independents, and show Democrats that there’s a better way forward—one rooted in common sense, accountability, and results. We can’t afford another four years of Governor Healey’s failed leadership.

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A recent poll shows Healey’s approval slipping — why do you think that is, and how does it shape your campaign strategy?

Her approval rating is slipping because she’s doing a bad job as Governor and all it takes is looking at her record to come to that realization.

Massachusetts voters are smart. We have the highest percentage of independent voters in the country, and the idea that Healey has this race locked up just because she’s a Democrat is a myth. Five of the last seven governors in Massachusetts have been pragmatic Republicans. Voters here don’t just vote by party—they vote for the person who will protect their best interest.

That’s why I’m focused on showing voters, every day, why I’m the right person to lead this state forward.

We’ll keep highlighting Maura Healey’s failures—rising energy costs, unaffordable living, and her complete mismanagement of the migrant crisis. Meanwhile, Healey will keep trying to distract from her record by turning this race into a referendum on national politics.

She’s built her entire political career by being adversarial—blaming President Trump for Massachusetts’ problems. But that strategy collapses under the weight of reality: we were facing all the same problems under President Biden. That excuse just doesn’t work anymore, and Massachusetts voters can see right through it.

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Gov. Healey insists Massachusetts isn’t a sanctuary state, but a lot of people feel otherwise. What would your approach be?

Maura Healey has flip-flopped on this issue time and again. First, she publicly supported sanctuary policies. Then, she claimed she didn’t even know what a sanctuary state is. Now, she insists Massachusetts isn’t one. If anyone can make sense of where she truly stands, they’re smarter than me—because frankly, I don’t think Maura Healey even knows. Her position seems to change with every new poll.

The truth is, Massachusetts is a de facto sanctuary state. That’s largely due to the 2017 Lunn decision by the SJC, which effectively stripped law enforcement of the authority to cooperate with federal immigration officials on deportations.

That’s why we’re seeing ICE forced to conduct raids in our communities. Massachusetts is not viewed as a reliable partner by the federal government. There have been far too many instances where dangerous criminal illegal immigrants were in custody with ICE detainers in place—only to be released back onto our streets because of our sanctuary policies. That is simply unacceptable.

As Governor, I will work with Republicans in the legislature to close the gaps created by the Lunn decision. We will give our state, county, and local law enforcement the authority to cooperate with ICE, so that criminal illegal immigrants are removed from our shelters, off our streets, and out of our state. Massachusetts needs a cooperative relationship with the federal government—not one built on political posturing. The safety of our communities must come before Maura Healey’s national ambitions.

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Many residents say their energy bills have gone up under Gov. Healey. What would you do differently?

On day one, I will appoint an energy expert whose sole focus will be lowering energy costs for Massachusetts families and businesses. I don’t think we have that today. It’s clear that Maura Healey doesn’t have an energy policy but a climate agenda. We need a diverse, reliable, and affordable energy portfolio—not one driven by political agendas or designed to pad the resumés of career politicians.

Like most people, I support clean energy and a healthier environment—but not at the expense of working families who can’t afford to keep the lights on. Affordability and sustainability must go hand in hand. What we’re seeing now is insane utility bills—and it’s no accident. The skyrocketing delivery charges on our gas and electric bills are a direct result of Maura Healey’s sweeping green energy mandates and Green New Deal-style initiatives. Massachusetts families are being forced to pay the price so Maura Healey can score political points on the national stage—all while our state contributes less than 0.1% of global emissions. Her costly climate agenda may boost her profile, but it’s crushing working families.

I will work directly with utility companies to understand why our rates are among the highest in the country and take immediate action to reform energy policy in a way that prioritizes consumers, cuts through red tape, and puts Massachusetts ratepayers first.

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Where do you stand on the Second Amendment in Massachusetts?

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and believe it is my duty to protect legal gun ownership in Massachusetts. Chapter 135 is a direct assault on that right—criminalizing thousands of lawful gun owners virtually overnight.

In response, grassroots advocates collected over 100,000 signatures to suspend enforcement of this reckless law and put it before the voters in 2026. But in a blatant display of disregard for the will of the people, Governor Healey dismissed their voices, declaring ‘I know better’ and using a procedural loophole to force the law into effect immediately.

As Governor, I will never govern that way. I fully support the effort to repeal Chapter 135 and will always defend the rights of responsible gun owners.

At the same time, I believe we must take strong action to keep firearms out of the hands of known, dangerous individuals. These are not mutually exclusive goals. We can—and must—both safeguard the Second Amendment and protect our communities from bad actors.

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You’ve been called the “Godfather” of the MBTA Communities Act. What’s your response?

I’m glad you asked—because that assertion is flat-out false. It’s a narrative pushed by political operatives aligned with Maura Healey and Brian Shortsleeve. Here are the facts: the Legislature wrote and passed the MBTA Communities Act. The Baker Administration had no role in creating it and never advocated for it. Once the legislature passed the law, Governor Baker directed me to develop the implementation guidelines with the goal of making it as flexible as possible for cities and towns.

At no point did anyone in the Baker Administration anticipate this law would be weaponized the way Maura Healey has. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: when I’m Governor, the threats, lawsuits, and mandates will end.

Yes, Massachusetts needs more housing. But that must be done in genuine partnership with our cities and towns—not shoved down their throats through intimidation and litigation.

What’s sorely missing in the Healey administration is humility—and a willingness to listen. If I were Governor when Milton raised their concerns, I would have gone to Milton, stood by that trolley, and listened to the community before making a decision. That’s real leadership. Healey chose to ignore them and force a plan they overwhelmingly rejected.

Republicans in the State Senate have filed thoughtful amendments to the MBTA Communities Act—measures that ensure any new development aligns with a community’s infrastructure capacity. I’d sign them into law without hesitation.

Local control matters and the role of state government is to work with all 351 to help them get done what they want to get done. I loved this work as Secretary, traveling to 151 cities and towns, and I will love it as Governor.

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Did you vote for Maura Healey in 2022?

No, I did not. I voted for the Republican candidate, Geoff Diehl. More recently I was among the 72% of voters who supported auditing the legislature—an effort that Attorney General Campbell and Governor Maura Healey have blocked at every turn.

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How would your relationship with President Trump be different from Governor Healey’s?

Governor Healey spends more time on MSNBC attacking the President than she does leading the Commonwealth—and it shows. When Maura Healey disagrees with something coming out of Washington, her first move is to tell her staff to get her on TV. If Massachusetts needs a voice in D.C., I’m not looking for a camera—I’m getting on a plane and going there myself to advocate for our state and strengthen the partnership we need. Her focus is clearly on her political future, not the needs of Massachusetts residents.

As Governor, I won’t play those games. I’ll work with the President—not against him—to do what’s best for our state. A broken relationship between the Governor and the White House only hurts the people of Massachusetts. We can’t afford that.

I look forward to collaborating with the administration to build a more prosperous Massachusetts, eliminate unnecessary government bureaucracy, and drive down the cost of energy. My goal isn’t to climb the political ladder—it’s to serve the people of this state. And every relationship I build, including with the President, will be rooted in that mission.

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Many agree that the migrant crisis in Massachusetts has been mishandled by the Healey administration. What would you have done differently, and what immediate steps would you take as Governor to address this crisis?

Recently, the Herald broke this story, but during Governor Healey’s transition, I sat down with her and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll and warned them directly about the seriousness of a pending migrant crisis. The warning signs were all there. We had a wide-open southern border under the Biden administration, humanitarian disasters unfolding in other countries, and Massachusetts stood alone as the only state in the nation with a right-to-shelter law. It was a recipe for disaster.

It wasn’t hard to see what was coming.

If I had been Governor, I would’ve acted immediately—working with Republicans in the legislature to amend the right-to-shelter law and put residency requirements in place - if the Democrats wouldn't come along (plausible,) I would hold them accountable with the voters. This law was designed to protect Massachusetts families facing homelessness—not a bandaid for failed open border policies.

But instead of addressing the problem, Governor Healey chose politics. She pandered to the far-left wing of her party, turned the right-to-shelter into an international magnet, creating a sanctuary state, and allowed Massachusetts taxpayers to be stuck with the bill—now billions of dollars and climbing.

What’s happening in these shelters today is a humanitarian and fiscal disaster. It’s a national embarrassment. And the worst part? Healey still hasn’t done anything meaningful to fix it.

When I’m Governor, we’re going to clean up this mess—not just because it’s fiscally unsustainable, but because the families living through this deserve better than political negligence.

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We’ve covered your professional experience, but let’s shift gears — can you share something interesting about yourself that has nothing to do with your career or politics?

My favorite thing to talk about here would be my family and sports. Being a fan of our Boston sports teams has been a huge part of our family life and we have seen a lot of winning over the years! We also all ride the Pan Mass Challenge - this year will be my 16th ride and it’s just an amazing weekend for a great cause. Finally coaching youth sports was a huge part of my life when my kids were younger. I coached them in baseball, softball, flag football and soccer. We knew it had been a lot of teams but one night we decided to sit down and figure it out - turns out it was 39 teams over 15 years!

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If you win the primary, how will you use that platform to strengthen the MassGOP?

When I’m Governor, I will serve all the people of Massachusetts—but I will govern as a Republican. I’ve spent the last two years as Finance Chair and Legislative Support Fund Chair with the MassGOP to raise money, support our candidates, and strengthen our party from the ground up. I’ve personally donated to dozens of Republican campaigns across the Commonwealth and have knocked on doors on their behalf.

And that’s because I believe the corner office isn’t enough. Our policies work—and they resonate with voters. Lower taxes, safer communities, stronger schools, and a government that knows its limits—these aren’t just Republican ideas; they’re commonsense solutions that Massachusetts needs now more than ever.

As Governor, I will lead with those values. I’ll put Republican principles front and center in the statewide conversation, and I won’t hesitate to call out the failures of one-party Democratic rule, which has prioritized partisanship over pragmatism and left too many Massachusetts families behind.

I want to see a stronger, more balanced legislature—and I will work tirelessly to get us there. I’ve long been working to elect Republicans up and down the ballot, and as Governor it will be a priority.

The Democratic supermajority has failed this state. I’m ready to lead the charge to show voters that Republican candidates are ready to govern—and ready to win.

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If you'd like to read our Q&A with Brian Shortsleeve, it's available here.