Some GOP candidates for Mass. governor donated to Democrats
Politics
One candidate donated $32,000 to Rep. Seth Moulton, one, beforehand donated to Sen. Ed Markey, and the spouse of one other donated 1000’s to Healey.
The three Republicans vying to tackle Governor Maura Healey subsequent yr all have supported Republicans domestically and nationally, however two have donated 1000’s of {dollars} to Massachusetts Democrats, whereas one other’s spouse has donated $2,000 to Healey since 2017.
The three GOP gubernatorial candidates — Brian Shortsleeve, Mike Minogue, and Mike Kennealy — are all prolific donors. Of the candidates, Shortsleeve has donated essentially the most to Democrats but in addition to the Massachusetts Republican Social gathering, a evaluate of marketing campaign finance data for federal and state campaigns exhibits.
Shortsleeve has donated $32,000 to Rep. Seth Moulton, a Democrat. Minogue crossed the aisle with an almost $15,000 donation to Sen. Ed Markey in 2013.
Kennealy is the one candidate who hasn’t donated a dime to Democratic congressional candidates in Massachusetts, in keeping with public marketing campaign finance knowledge, whereas his spouse, Trisha Kennealy, supported earlier Healey campaigns as just lately as 2022 together with different Democratic campaigns on a nationwide stage.
“Mike Kennealy was the only largest donor to Massachusetts Republicans final election cycle, serving as MassGOP Finance Chair, rising the celebration and serving to Republicans make positive factors,” Logan Trupiano, a spokesperson for Kennealy, stated.
Shortsleeve donated to Moulton, a North Shore Democrat, for years and contributed $18,000 to Rep. Jake Auchincloss, one other Democrat. He additionally contributed to Legal professional Normal Andrea Campbell and to an environmental PAC, in keeping with knowledge from the Massachusetts Workplace of Marketing campaign and Political Finance.
“Simply as President Trump stated when he was attacked for his donations to many Democrats like Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, as a Republican businessman in a deep blue state you’ll want to be mates with everybody, and making donations alongside the best way is a price of doing enterprise,” stated Holly Robichaud, a spokesperson for Shortsleeve.
GOP megadonor Minogue, who donated half one million to the Nationwide Republican Committee, additionally contributed $14,600 to Sen. Ed Markey in 2013. His spouse, Renee Minogue, additionally gave Auchincloss, a Democrat, $1,000 in 2020.
“For 19 years, I labored with Republicans and Democrats throughout the nation to develop merchandise that save lives,” Minogue stated in a press release. “I’m not a politician. I come from a results-driven world the place you’re employed with everybody to get issues finished.”
All three candidates donated to former Gov. Charlie Baker, whereas Minogue and Shortsleeve each contributed to Josh Kraft’s failed mayoral marketing campaign in Boston and former President George Bush’s reelection marketing campaign in 2004.
In accordance with marketing campaign data, Healey donated round $1,500 to John Kerry’s presidential run in 2004, in addition to to committees to elect Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Diane Feinstein, and Hillary Clinton in 2005. She additionally financially supported former Gov. Deval Patrick in 2005.
Shortsleeve: A serious MassGOP donor who additionally made donations to Moulton, Auchincloss
Shortsleeve, a enterprise capitalist who managed the MBTA underneath Baker, contributed $32,000 to Moulton and despatched $2,700 to Moulton’s political motion committee supporting Democrats nationally, in keeping with marketing campaign finance data. He additionally donated $18,000 to Rep. Jake Auchincloss between 2019 and 2023.
The Moulton and Auchincloss contributions are a part of his whole $414,255 in federal contributions since 2005, which included $24,400 to the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee.
Regionally, Shortsleeve additionally went throughout the aisle to help Legal professional Normal Andrea Campbell with $2,000 whole in 2021 and 2022. He additionally contributed $10,000 to a Massachusetts environmental PAC.
Of his $128,000 contributions to native elections, he spent $25,000 to oppose the Truthful Share Modification and despatched greater than $15,000 to the Republican State Committee. He and his spouse, Liz Shortsleeve, additionally donated about $5,000 to Democrat John R. Connolly, a 2013 Boston mayoral candidate.
“Not like his opponents, Brian has served within the trenches of the Massachusetts Republican Social gathering for many years as a member of the Republican State Committee and his native city committee,” Robichaud stated, “engaged on campaigns for state and native workplace, and donating extra to native Massachusetts Republicans than any candidate within the race.”
Kennealy: A whole lot of 1000’s of {dollars} to the GOP whereas spouse supported Healey, Harris
Kennealy, a former Baker official, financially supported Nikki Haley in 2023 to the tune of $13,200. His whole federal marketing campaign contributions since 2009 is about $243,677, together with practically $100,000 to the NRSC.
Trisha Kennealy, the proprietor of a luxurious inn in Lexington, donated $900 to Act Blue, $600 to Professional-Selection Ladies, and $3,000 to former Vice President Kamala Harris, in keeping with federal and state marketing campaign filings. Her largest contribution was $8,400 to Joe Biden’s marketing campaign in 2020.
Whereas Trisha Kennealy donated to former Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican, and Baker via the years, she despatched Healey, her husband’s potential opponent, $500 in 2014, one other $500 in 2017, and $1,000 in 2022, in keeping with state filings.
Kennealy poured $1.4 million of his personal cash into his marketing campaign this yr, in keeping with OCPF data. Since 2010, he spent $117,931.33 on state and native elections aside from his personal. He contributed $30,000 to a PAC supporting Stand for Kids, an training advocacy group, and $25,000 to the Republican State Committee.
“His two opponents… have donated exorbitant quantities to elect progressive Democrats at each stage of presidency,” Trupiano stated. “They’ll’t be trusted.”
Minogue: Trump supporter targeted on nationwide races
Minogue, the one monetary supporter of President Donald Trump of the candidates, is the largest spender of the three, however that spending has been largely both on his personal marketing campaign or nationwide candidates and committees. He contributed $13,000 to MassGOP in federal filings however practically $10,000 to a Massachusetts Democrats committee in 2013.
He’s additionally the one of the three candidates to not have donated to the Republican State Committee, in keeping with OCPF data. Apart from the $1.5 million to his personal marketing campaign, Minogue donated $15,000 to state and native races, the least of his GOP rivals.
However, of Minogue’s practically $2 million in contributions to federal committees, $531,000 went to the Republican Nationwide Committee.
Minogue, who supported a Bush-Cheney committee in 2004, beforehand supported Romney and donated greater than $100,000 to Trump’s re-election in 2024.
His spouse Renee, who runs the couple’s faith-forward, Christian basis, additionally supported Trump’s bid with one other $100,000, most of which was in 2024.
“What issues me is how usually the political class focuses inward whereas prices preserve rising and the state works for some not all,” Minogue stated. “Massachusetts needs to be main in innovation and affordability, and that requires somebody who is aware of the right way to resolve issues and put folks first.”
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