This month, the two conservative candidates for Massachusetts governor intensified their attacks on one another’s character and prior work, including in opposing letters that present conflicting perspectives on the contest for the Republican nomination for the state executive position.
In order to determine who would oppose Governor Maura Healey in the general election, the two contenders, Mike Kennealy of Lexington and Brian Shortsleeve of Barnstable, engage in a heated back-and-forth early on.
Kennealy’s campaign aides told supporters Monday that after just two months on the campaign trail, the former housing and economic development secretary under Republican Governor Charlie Baker had a great start to fundraising.
Shortsleeve, a venture entrepreneur and former MBTA official under Baker, was also targeted by Kennealy’s campaign for his tenure at the dysfunctional transit organization.
Shortsleeve’s main campaign claim and sole government experience in Massachusetts is that he revived the MBTA. According to a copy of the message that the Herald was able to secure, “his campaign is in serious trouble if this is an example of his turnaround work.” Shortsleeve praises his efforts in acquiring new Red Line vehicles that are flawed, years late, and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.
After the MBTA crumbled in 2015 due to unrelenting snowstorms, Baker appointed Shortsleeve as the agency’s chief administrator.
In addition to taking credit for moving the Green Line Extension project forward after delays and overspending, Shortsleeve has praised his efforts to extend a contract with a Chinese-owned business to provide new Orange and Red Line Cars.
Since then, there have been numerous delays in the train car contract. When agency officials revealed in 2023 that the new tracks were narrow and flawed, and that they had been aware of the problems since 2021, when Baker was in office, the Green Line Extension suffered a significant setback.
However, Shortsleeve, who began his gubernatorial campaign in mid-May, has charged Kennealy with managing an unsustainable campaign beset by financial issues.
Jim Barnett, Shortsleeve’s general consultant, claimed in a June 6 document that the Herald was able to receive earlier this month that the 52-year-old Barnstable native had widespread Republican party support.
Strong conservatives and donors who are more in line with Governor Baker’s moderation are represented in your (May fundraising) report, Barnett said. This is a result of the goodwill created by your three decades of work supporting Republicans at all levels of government, as well as the respect and confidence of donors from all over the center-right spectrum who have seen your success as a job creator and government reformer.
Kennealy was also criticized by Barnett for having a very high cash burn rate.
Last month, Kennealy raised over $291,000, with over half of that amount coming from a $200,000 loan he gave his campaign as part of his promise to use $2 million to launch his gubernatorial campaign.
According to state campaign finance reports, the Lexington Republican also spent over $114,000 in the same time frame and had over $433,000 in cash on hand at the end of May.
According to Barnett, Kennealy’s May fundraising report indicates that there is less low-hanging fruit for him to rely on.
From here, it just gets harder for him, particularly as we enter the customarily slow summer fundraising season. By the time next June arrives, Barnett stated in the document, he will have spent three-quarters of a million dollars more than he was able to raise, even if he continues his fundraising and does not escalate his monthly expenditure in the upcoming year.
Kennealy spokeswoman Logan Trupiano described the Barnett memo as a pitiful attempt to divert attention from Shortsleeve’s CV failings and the evident momentum of the Kennealy campaign.
Early investments in the Kenneally campaign, made possible in part by Mike’s personal dedication, are paying off; according to a statement from Trupiano, “our social media reach is 440% larger than Shortsleeve’s.” Across all platforms, we have produced more than 3.1 million views and impressions.
Shortsleeve, who raised more money in May than both Kennealy and Healey, was also criticized by Kennealy’s team for having a number of weaknesses that Democrats would target.
Kennealy’s aides told supporters Monday that Shortsleeve’s prior involvement as a member of the national finance committee for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ unsuccessful presidential campaign means there is just no chance for him to win.
He will always be stuck in the national Republican Party’s lane because to his personal political activity and unfavorable affiliations with the MBTA. The letter to supporters stated that national republicans are not electable in the general elections in Massachusetts, as any political observer can understand.
Shortsleeve’s political strategist, Holly Robichaud, stated that the organization is making significant strides in terms of grassroots support and financing.
Due to their inability to raise money, the Kennealy campaign is in complete disarray. Perhaps it is because Kennealy failed to change the right-to-shelter statute or because he is the godfather of the MBTA Communities Act. Kennealy’s persistent assaults demonstrate desperation and an inability to acknowledge that fellow Republicans are not the issue. According to a statement from Robichaud, it’s Healey.
