Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy, a former cabinet secretary under Gov. Charlie Baker, raised the most cash last month, but most of that money came from a $200,000 loan he gave his campaign, according to state data and his campaign.
Kennealy reported pulling in $254,733 in July, his lowest haul since launching his campaign in April, according to data from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. The Lexington native had more than $800,000 cash on hand at the end of last month, data showed.
In a statement last week, Kennealy said he is building a “campaign that can go the distance.”
“We’re committed to putting together the strongest team possible to defeat (Gov.) Maura Healey in 2026, and the funds raised so far prove that we’re on track to do just that,” he said in a statement last week. “I’m 100% invested in restoring Massachusetts to the thriving, opportunity-rich state it once was.”
The former secretary of housing and economic development loaned himself $200,000 in July, the same amount he has forked over every month since announcing his candidacy. He raised just over $54,000 in individual contributions, according to his campaign.
Kennealy has so far loaned his campaign $800,000, or more than four times the amount allowed under Massachusetts state law, as part of a pledge to contribute $2 million to his gubernatorial bid. He may face legal challenges if he or his family tries to recoup the cash.
Kennealy spent more than $87,000 last month, including $21,000 on consultants and another $14,000 with Opinion Diagnostics, a polling company run by Brian Wynne, a former campaign manager for Baker.
Healey, who said she plans to run for a second term next year, raised more than $245,000 in July, according to state data. She had more than $3.7 million cash on hand as of the end of last month.
Top-dollar donations came in from MassMutual CEO Roger Crandall, Boston Public Market CEO Cheryl Cronin, and Newton City Councilor Vicki Danberg, among others, the data showed.
The governor spent more than $75,000 last month, including $19,000 with Beacon Research for a “survey,” state records show.
A spokesperson for Healey’s campaign said Healey had “another strong fundraising month in July because voters know she is the best candidate to lower the cost of housing, health care, and energy, while creating jobs and growing our economy.”
“They also know that she is the only candidate in this race who will stand up to Donald Trump when he hurts the people of Massachusetts,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Steve Kerrigan said the fundraising numbers for Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve, a venture capitalist and former MBTA official who is also running for governor as a Republican, make clear that the two “don’t have the support of Massachusetts voters.”
“Their campaigns are shrinking each month. And it looks like Mike Kennealy raised under $50,000, which is the latest sign of his failing campaign. Meanwhile, voters see the results Gov. Healey is delivering to make Massachusetts more affordable, grow our economy, and create jobs,” Kerrigan said in a statement to the Herald.
Shortsleeve raised more than $152,000 last month and continued his streak of pulling in top-dollar donations from business and finance executives, consultants, and attorneys, according to state data.
The 53-year-old from Barnstable spent more than $64,000 last month, including $17,000 with Ace Campaign and $12,500 with Jim Barnett, a political consultant who once served as the chair of the Vermont Republican Party, according to state records.
Shortsleeve had more than $531,000 cash on hand as of the end of last month, state data showed.
Holly Robichaud, Shortsleeve’s political strategist, said he is the “only Republican who has the broad-based support and demonstrated fundraising ability to compete and win against Maura Healey.”
“He is running a lean, mean, and fiscally responsible campaign,” Robichaud said in a statement. “But Mike Kennealy’s campaign is on life support, having blown through almost every dollar he has raised. He is now totally reliant on a dwindling self-funding commitment just to keep the lights on.”
Originally Published:
http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=68ca9ba0ad8f4e70a7a987c7cf8566e6&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bostonherald.com%2F2025%2F08%2F05%2Fmike-kennealy-leads-july-fundraising-in-2026-governors-race-because-of-loan-to-campaign%2F&c=11658184232452317627&mkt=en-us
