Healey launches with Trump attack and funding for cities and towns

Mass General Brigham is committed to world-class care backed by the latest advances in medical research. Innovation across our system delivers the best possible outcomes and enhances the patient experience.

The calendar has said 2026 for a couple weeks now, but this was the week that really kicked off the election year.

Gov. Maura Healey got right to it Tuesday morning, rolling out a video officially launching her reelection campaign. And while there are already three Republicans gunning to take her place in the corner office, Healey's first foray into electioneering made clear that she intends to run her race against a different GOPer.

"Donald Trump is making everything worse," the governor says of the president in a video that features clips of immigration raids that have drawn protests nationwide.

Having taken something of a conciliatory tone towards the president at times in 2025, the State of the Commonwealth address Healey delivered Thursday night solidified the fact that she's changed her tune in 2026.

On FanDuel, sports fans can enjoy the confidence that comes with being in control of their betting journey by setting limits that make sense for them and by using the My Spend dashboard to track progress. Learn how fans can create a responsible betting strategy for playoffs that fits their lifestyle.

The three Republicans jockeying to take on Healey want to make the election about her and would rather talk about the nitty-gritty of the governor's energy bill deferral plan than about ICE raids in other states.

"I'm running for governor. I'm not running for president," Brian Shortsleeve said when asked about Healey's ICE criticism.

Shortsleeve showed up to hear Healey's speech and said he left uninspired. There was plenty he took issue with, but also told the State House News Service he could agree with Healey on a few things ("There was some discussion on social media and on maybe keeping cellphones out of schools. Those are good ideas," he said).

NOTE: Due to forecasted inclement weather, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Keller @ Large LIVE program with Senator Elizabeth Warren scheduled for Monday, January 26, at the MCLE. We look forward to rescheduling this fireside chat for a later date.

MASSterList Job Board
Hotline Counsel Fellowship — NEW!, Reproductive Equity Now
Senior Account Executive — NEW!, Denterlein
Director of Communities and Toxics — NEW!, Conservation Law Foundation
Regional Field Organizer, Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts
Campaign Operations & Fundraising Assistant, Rick Jakious for Congress
Fiscal Coordinator, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
Lending Associate, Massachusetts Housing Partnership

Jobs continue below the fold — post a job

Repeatedly this week, the governor positioned herself as the defender of Massachusetts values in contrast to Trump. One of the values that Healey and others repeatedly talk up is the relatively civil nature of debate on and around Beacon Hill compared to D.C.

So it was no surprise after the governor's speech to hear Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr talk with optimism about the shared interest among Democrats and Republicans in tackling issues like affordability, energy policy, housing production and more.

But in an election year like this one, is it harder to achieve that bipartisan cooperation?

"I think that's largely up to the governor," Tarr, who has been minority leader for 15 years and during three administrations, said. "And I would think that one of the things that would benefit her in her reelection is being inclusive in the conversation."

Tarr said the minority party is not always invited to meetings between the governor and legislative leaders, and that the Republican perspective is not always included in policy discussions. The election year makes things more difficult "because things take on the overtones of politics as well as public policy," he said.

"But in addition to that, I think it would be wise to try to remember that it is an attribute to try to hear the other side and try to communicate with the other side. And I think over the last several months, I've been concerned that that isn't happening as much as it should," Tarr said.

The governor's office said Healey "works with legislators from both sides of the aisle on our shared goals of lowering costs and making life easier for people."

"She is in frequent communication with the minority leaders, including attending leadership meetings together," spokesperson Karissa Hand said.

A policy playbook for Massachusetts to win the talent race. Get it now!

Democrat and Republican eyes alike will be all over Healey's next big policy proposal when she rolls out her fiscal year 2027 budget next week. Those eyes will "see some really tough changes across the board everywhere," an administration official has said.

Healey previewed some her budget Friday at the Mass. Municipal Association's conference, highlighting her proposed 4.4% boost to local aid, with a 2.5% increase for the unrestricted aid that is precious to cities and towns.

If it's going to be as tight of a budget as it seems, Healey's budget team may need to find ways to offset some of the budget increases the governor is eager to trumpet. This week brought a measure of clarity as to how they may accomplish that.

Thanks to a three-year cycle that aligned in the administration's favor, state government was able this month to downshift its pension funding schedule, freeing up about $277 million in cash that otherwise would not have been available in the process.

THE SUNDAY SHOWS

@ ISSUE SIT DOWN: 9:30 a.m., NBC 10. Reporter Matt Prichard interviews South Boston Sen. Nick Collins.

ON THE RECORD: 11 a.m., WCVB. John Deaton, GOP candidate for U.S. Senate, is the guest.

JOB BOARD

Do you have an open job you'd like to feature here? Click here to place a job board order, or email Dylan Rossiter at [email protected].