Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race: Super PACs Increase Spending

The final stretch of the Massachusetts governor's race is defined by escalating expenditures from super political action committees. These groups are deploying substantial funds to shape voter perception in a contest that polling indicates remains close between the major party candidates.

The Massachusetts First Independent Expenditure PAC, aligned with Republican candidate Mike Minogue, has spent $1.3 million since late June. The group intensified its efforts after the September primary, directing recent mailers and digital ads specifically at independent candidate Andrea James. These materials describe James as a socialist and draw comparisons between her and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Robert Neuner, the PAC’s chairman and largest donor, stated that the strategy aims to clarify the distinction between Minogue and the political left. Neuner, who has contributed $500,000 to the PAC since September, argued that the ads help voters make informed decisions without a hidden agenda. He noted that James’s policy positions, such as ending state cooperation with ICE and implementing rent control, are popular among Democrats but often overlooked in mainstream discussions.

On the other side, the Commonwealth for Tomorrow Independent Expenditure PAC has spent $585,000 opposing Minogue since late June. This group, affiliated with Democratic Governor Maura Healey, allocated $250,000 in mid-October to a digital media buy. The advertisements refer to Minogue as a MAGA mega-donor. Minogue has pointed to this spending in media appearances, noting that the national Democrat Governors Association is spending between $30,000 and $60,000 daily on social media to support Healey.

A poll released Wednesday by UMass Lowell shows Healey leading with 57% support, while Minogue holds 29%. James trails at 4%. John Cluverius, a political science professor at UMass Lowell, observed that the focus on James may be an attempt to peel progressive voters away from Healey. He noted that while James’s positions on housing and healthcare are popular, her stances on prison abolition and crime are less favored even among progressives.

The poll data indicates that 87% of voters who supported Kamala Harris in the last presidential election plan to vote for Healey. Only 5% of that group intend to vote for Minogue, and 3% plan to vote for James. Cluverius suggested that reliable Democratic voters are unlikely to shift their support to James based on the current advertising strategies.

Neuner defended the targeting of James by noting she was excluded from the two televised debates between Minogue and Healey. He argued that including her on the debate stage would have provided a clearer distinction for voters regarding her platform. The PAC continues to distribute flyers comparing the three candidates, highlighting their positions on taxes, healthcare, and housing costs.

State law limits individual contributions to a candidate's campaign committee to $1,000 per year, but super PACs can accept unlimited individual contributions. These groups are not legally permitted to coordinate directly with the campaigns. The increased spending reflects a broader effort by outside groups to influence the outcome as Election Day approaches.