Sam Drysdale
State House News Service
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue has so far poured $13.5 million of his own money into his campaign and sees it as "another worthy cause," akin to charity.
Minogue would not say Wednesday how much of his own money he plans to spend on his campaign, but said, "I am willing to put in the resources for us to win."
He submitted 16,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office to appear on the Republican primary ballot. The campaign did not return a question about whether the campaign paid signature gatherers, which has become common among campaigns that can afford the service.
"I've outraised my other two Republican opponents since October 1. I'm also the only candidate matching, and I am committed to invest in the future," he said in the dim hallway of the state building that serves as the administrative headquarters for a number of agencies. He was surrounded by supporters cheering and holding signs bearing his slogan, "AAOK" — Accountability, Affordability, Opportunity, Keeping Communities Safe.
"My wife and I do a lot of foundation and charity work. We see this as another worthy cause because it gives us the ability to win and to help get Massachusetts back on the right path. And that's 7 million people," he said.
Pressed by reporters on how much his self-donations might add up to, Minogue, a venture capitalist and former medical device executive, said, "I always have a number in mind. But I don't give away my playbook. The coach of the Patriots doesn't give away his playbook. We're going to have the resources to win."
Minogue outpolled two rivals at the Massachusetts Republican Party convention last month and is now facing a September primary race with businessman and former MBTA head Brian Shortsleeve. Since winning the convention, Minogue has largely ignored the Republican contest, which will be settled Sept. 1, positioning himself instead as already running against Gov. Maura Healey in the general election this November.
"I look forward to debating Governor Healey two times before Labor Day. That's what I'm focused on," he said Wednesday.
Healey has said the GOP needs to get through its primary before she plans to debate the winner.
Shortsleeve's campaign released a statement to "welcome Mike Minogue to the Republican primary" after he filed his signatures Wednesday.
"Now that Mike has finally made the ballot, I'm challenging him to a series of debates to give voters across the Commonwealth maximum opportunity to hear the candidates answering tough questions about their records and agenda," Shortsleeve said. "Transparency starts as a candidate. If you are not willing to answer questions now, it won't get any better if elected. I know that we have all had enough of the lack of transparency from Beacon Hill. Now is the time to show real leadership by practicing what you preach."
Surrounded by fanfare in the hallway of the Secretary of State's office, Minogue took questions from reporters on topics including LGBTQ+ protections, the failed ballot effort of Republican lieutenant governor candidate Anne Brensley, and a message for Democrats ahead of their convention in Worcester this weekend.
Minogue has aligned himself with some socially conservative views rooted in his Catholic values, saying that while he would uphold state law, he is personally anti-abortion. He has also criticized transgender student-athletes competing in girls' sports. Shortsleeve has expressed a similar view after a South Shore mother said her daughter lost a track invitation to a transgender athlete.
Asked about whether he would expand, restrict or maintain the state’s LGBTQ+ protections, Minogue said Wednesday that he would uphold the state’s “common sense” laws.
"One of the things the governor is supposed to do is uphold the law and keep the community safe, and so I will follow the law," he said.
He continued, "I have compassion and respect for people, and I think our state really has common sense around this, and it's a great pride in what Massachusetts does and says. So I will continue to uphold the law and make sure everyone is treated with respect."
Minogue was also asked about Anne Brensley, the Republican lieutenant governor candidate who failed to secure enough signatures to qualify for the ballot and whose campaign has alleged fraud by a signature-gathering firm. Minogue, who previously endorsed Brensley at the GOP convention, appeared to distance himself from her campaign Wednesday.
"I have not talked to her live. I communicated once with her, but as I did at the convention, I'm running as governor, independent," Minogue said. "I did give her support because the delegates gave her support at the event, and what I said is I'm going to respect the vote of the people and the delegates."
Governor and lieutenant governor nominations are determined separately until the general election.
"Whoever ends up winning, I'll support, but if the governor doesn't win, we don't have a Republican LG. And I'm going to win," said Minogue, who trailed Healey 58% to 31% in a poll released earlier this month.
Asked whether he agreed with Brensley's characterization of the signature issue as fraud, Minogue declined to weigh in.
"I don't know the details of what happened, so I'm going to let it play out and see how the process happens, and again, I'll respect the voters and the delegates," he said.
Brensley announced earlier this month that she had failed to gather the 10,000 certified signatures required to make the ballot. The Wayland Republican blamed signature collector Joe Bronske, alleging he misrepresented the number of signatures gathered and submitted forged signatures. Secretary of State officials confirmed that several local clerks had raised concerns about potentially fraudulent signatures.
Ahead of the Massachusetts Democratic Convention in Worcester this weekend, Minogue sought to strike a more conciliatory tone toward Democrats.
"My message is that we are not political enemies," Minogue said. "Everyone in politics wants us to hate each other and take hard positions. Most people are not that way. We're neighbors, we want to solve problems."