A Republican candidate for governor in Massachusetts says he has never voted for President Donald Trump..Mike Kennealy, the secretary of housing and economic development under former Governor Charlie Baker, made this revelation in a CBS Boston interview with Keller at Large host Jon Keller on Sunday morning.Here is the exchange where Kennealy revealed his recent presidential election votes and explained his position (starts at 1:37):Keller: Well, you say you blanked your presidential ballot last fall.Kennealy: I did.Keller: What about 16 and 20? Did you vote for Trump?Kennealy: I blanked my ballot those years as well.Keller: Really? Why?Kennealy: That was the choice I felt was best for me at the time. But I'll tell you what, Jon, people, I think, in my experience now going around the state, are a lot less focused on the outcome of that election and more focused on the future of Massachusetts. And that's the stuff worth talking about right now. We're talking about an affordability crisis, an opportunity crisis in our state, having the kind of responsive, transparent, effective government people need. So that's where our focus is right now in the campaign.Kennealy added that when he talks about Massachusetts having an affordability problem, he looks at it from a local perspective."We focus on affordability — affordability in three dimensions, housing, energy, and taxes," Kennealy said."And I think for those issues, it's state policy that's driving the affordability agenda," he added. "We simply don't have enough housing, and we took important steps in the Baker administration to try to drive the production of more housing. And I don't think the [Healey] administration has the right strategy on that. Energy costs are simply way too high, a lot due to state policy, and taxes -- you know, this administration, Beacon Hill keeps coming up with new proposals for new taxes, so no I don't think I agree with that."When Kennealy mentioned housing, he was referring to the MBTA Communities Act.He helped implement the MBTA Communities Act, a 2021 law that requires municipalities in or near the service area of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to allow for denser housing development. Supporters argue that it will allow developers to build the housing Massachusetts needs to fix the problem of high housing costs. But opponents criticize the law, saying it interferes with local control, puts too much pressure on infrastructure, and threatens the character of communities.Kennealy currently serves as a senior adviser and chief strategy officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. He previously worked in private equity for 19 years before entering politics, serving as an associate at TA Associates and as managing director at Spectrum Equity.The Republican hopes to unseat Governor Maura Healey, who announced in February that she's seeking re-election in November 2026.Other Republicans, including Brian Shortsleeve, former MBTA chief under Baker, and state Senator Peter Durant (R-Spencer), are also considering runs for governor. Shortsleeve is expected to announce his run in June.The Cook Political Report rates Massachusetts as a solid Democratic state in the 2026 governor's race, the same as it does for California and Hawaii.
A Republican candidate for governor in Massachusetts says he has never voted for President Donald Trump..Mike Kennealy, the secretary of housing and economic development under former Governor Charlie Baker, made this revelation in a CBS Boston interview with Keller at Large host Jon Keller on Sunday morning.Here is the exchange where Kennealy revealed his recent presidential election votes and explained his position (starts at 1:37):Keller: Well, you say you blanked your presidential ballot last fall.Kennealy: I did.Keller: What about 16 and 20? Did you vote for Trump?Kennealy: I blanked my ballot those years as well.Keller: Really? Why?Kennealy: That was the choice I felt was best for me at the time. But I'll tell you what, Jon, people, I think, in my experience now going around the state, are a lot less focused on the outcome of that election and more focused on the future of Massachusetts. And that's the stuff worth talking about right now. We're talking about an affordability crisis, an opportunity crisis in our state, having the kind of responsive, transparent, effective government people need. So that's where our focus is right now in the campaign.Kennealy added that when he talks about Massachusetts having an affordability problem, he looks at it from a local perspective."We focus on affordability — affordability in three dimensions, housing, energy, and taxes," Kennealy said."And I think for those issues, it's state policy that's driving the affordability agenda," he added. "We simply don't have enough housing, and we took important steps in the Baker administration to try to drive the production of more housing. And I don't think the [Healey] administration has the right strategy on that. Energy costs are simply way too high, a lot due to state policy, and taxes -- you know, this administration, Beacon Hill keeps coming up with new proposals for new taxes, so no I don't think I agree with that."When Kennealy mentioned housing, he was referring to the MBTA Communities Act.He helped implement the MBTA Communities Act, a 2021 law that requires municipalities in or near the service area of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to allow for denser housing development. Supporters argue that it will allow developers to build the housing Massachusetts needs to fix the problem of high housing costs. But opponents criticize the law, saying it interferes with local control, puts too much pressure on infrastructure, and threatens the character of communities.Kennealy currently serves as a senior adviser and chief strategy officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. He previously worked in private equity for 19 years before entering politics, serving as an associate at TA Associates and as managing director at Spectrum Equity.The Republican hopes to unseat Governor Maura Healey, who announced in February that she's seeking re-election in November 2026.Other Republicans, including Brian Shortsleeve, former MBTA chief under Baker, and state Senator Peter Durant (R-Spencer), are also considering runs for governor. Shortsleeve is expected to announce his run in June.The Cook Political Report rates Massachusetts as a solid Democratic state in the 2026 governor's race, the same as it does for California and Hawaii.
