2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

The 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2022, to elect the Governor of Massachusetts. As Massachusetts does not have gubernatorial term limits, incumbent Republican Governor Charlie Baker is eligible to run for re-election to a third term in office, but has not yet announced whether he will do so.

2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election

November 8, 2022

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Governor Charlie Baker Republican

Republican primary

Potential

• Charlie Baker, incumbent governor[1][2][3]
• Geoff Diehl, former state representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018[4][3]
• Andrew Lelling, former United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts[5]
• Patrick O'Connor, state senator[6]
• Karyn Polito, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts[7][3]
• Brian Shortsleeve, venture capitalist and former general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority[7]

Potential Lt. Governor Candidates

• Ron Beaty, former Barnstable County Commissioner[8]
• Karyn Polito, incumbent lieutenant governor[7]

Democratic primary

Formed exploratory committee

• Danielle Allen, political science professor at Harvard University[9][10][3]
• Scott Khourie, former Wall Street executive[11]

Potential Candidates

• Jeff Bussgang, venture capitalist and lecturer at Harvard Business School[7]
• Katherine Clark, U.S. representative for Massachusetts' 5th congressional district since 2013[7]
• Mo Cowan, former U.S. Senator (2013)[7]
• Joseph Curtatone, mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts since 2004[12]
• Benjamin Downing, former State Senator (2007–2017)[7]
• Kim Driscoll, mayor of Salem, Massachusetts since 2005[7]
• Deb Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts since 2015[13]
• Maura Healey, Attorney General of Massachusetts since 2015[7][14]
• Joe Kennedy III, former U.S. Representative for Massachusetts' 4th congressional district (2013–2021), member of the Kennedy family, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020[7][3]
• Eric Lesser, state senator and former aide to President of the United States since 2015 Barack Obama[7]
• Alex Morse, Outgoing Mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts since 2012 and candidate for Massachusetts' 1st congressional district in 2020[7]
• Seth Moulton, U.S. representative for Massachusetts' 6th congressional district since 2015, 2020 Democratic candidate for President[7]
• Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative for Massachusetts' 7th congressional district since 2019[13]
• Robert Rivers, Chairman and Chief Executive of Eastern Bank[7]
• Yvonne M. Spicer, Mayor of Framingham, Massachusetts since 2018[7]

Potential Lt. Governor Candidates

• Eric Lesser, state senator[15]

Declined

• Marty Walsh, mayor of Boston and nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor[16]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Deb Goldberg	Maura Healey	Ayanna Pressley	Marty Walsh	Others	Undecided
SurveyUSA[17]	August 12–16, 2020	558	–	4%	25%	13%	25%	–	–
				1%	13%	4%	7%	62%[lower-alpha 1]	–
Suffolk University	June 5–9, 2019	370	± 5.1%	—	34%	—	36%	—	28%

1. With Republican Governor Charlie Baker running as a Democrat.

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[18]	Solid R	February 1, 2021

References

1. Reilly, Adam (November 7, 2018). "Charlie Baker Says He'll 'Let It Rock' In His Second Term. What Does That Mean?". WGBH. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
2. Phillips, Frank (June 6, 2019). "Baker quietly puts political team together as he considers 3rd term". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
3. Tiernan, Erin (December 14, 2020). "Harvard professor Danielle Allen first to emerge in 2022 governor's race as Charlie Baker mulls options". The Boston Herald. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
4. Murray, Stephanie (December 14, 2020). "BAKER's APPROVAL rating takes a hit — BOSTON TRASH piles up — EVICTIONS hit CITIES hardest". POLITICO. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
5. Sobey, Rick (November 22, 2020). "Andrew Lelling says he 'wouldn't rule out' running for office". Boston Herald. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
6. Staff, WCVB (December 16, 2018). "OTR: Mass. GOP Chair Kirsten Hughes discusses 2022 gubernatorial candidates". WCVB. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
7. "It's way too soon to wonder who will run for Massachusetts governor in 2022. Or is it?". Boston Globe. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
8. December 16, Tom Joyce |; 2020; Est, 13:45 (December 16, 2020). "Cape Republican Ron Beaty Weighing Run For Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts". NewBostonPost. Retrieved February 4, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
9. https://www.allenforma.com/
10. Murray, Stephanie. "ALLEN exploring run for GOVERNOR — BOSTON takes a STEP BACK — FALL RIVER aide pleads GUILTY". POLITICO. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
11. https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2021/01/07/democrat-quincy-explores-run-governor-2022/6551731002/
12. https://soundcloud.com/kelleronmassterlist/place-your-political-bets
13. Han, Jessy [@hjessy_] (September 15, 2020). "2022 #MAGov Poll: AG Maura Healey - 25% Boston Mayor Marty Walsh - 25% Rep. Ayanna Pressley - 13% Treasurer Deb Goldberg - 3% N = 558 | Aug 12-16 SurveyUSA/@PrioritiesMass" (Tweet) (in Tagalog). Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
14. Locas, Peter (November 20, 2018). "Who's in Ed Markey's rearview mirror? Maura Healey". Lowell Sun. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
15. https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/01/01/races-for-boston-mayor-massachusetts-governor-to-dominate-local-politics-in-2021/
16. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/07/biden-chooses-boston-mayor-walsh-as-labor-secretary-455899
17. Han, Jessy [@hjessy_] (September 15, 2020). "2022 #MAGov Poll: AG Maura Healey - 25% Boston Mayor Marty Walsh - 25% Rep. Ayanna Pressley - 13% Treasurer Deb Goldberg - 3% N = 558 | Aug 12-16 SurveyUSA/@PrioritiesMass" (Tweet) (in Tagalog). Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Twitter.
18. "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.