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# Maura Healey, Ed Markey Lead Big In Latest UMass Lowell Poll
- URL: https://www.newbostonpost.com/umass-lowell-poll-massachusetts-healey-markey-2026/
- Published: 2026-10-29T00:45:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-29T00:45:25.000Z
- Description: A new UMass Lowell poll shows Healey and Markey far ahead in Massachusetts, a close vote on Question 3 and strong opposition to marijuana sales repeal.
- Author: Abigail Hawthorne
- Tags: Blogs, Massachusetts, Maura Healey, Mike Minogue, #morning-bell, morning-bell, #5

Massachusetts voters feel the strain of high prices, but a new UMass Lowell poll shows little sign that they plan to take it out on Democratic Gov. Maura Healey or U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

Both Democrats hold leads of nearly 30 percentage points over their Republican challengers. The [UMass Lowell/YouGov survey](https://www.uml.edu/Research/public-opinion/polls/default.aspx?ref=newbostonpost.com) also finds a much closer fight over Question 3, which would replace party primaries with a single primary open to all candidates.

Here is what the latest Massachusetts statewide poll shows.

## Who leads the Massachusetts governor’s race?

Healey leads Republican Mike Minogue 57% to 29%, a gap of 28 points. Independent Andrea James has 4%. Another 8% remain undecided and 2% say they would not vote.

That leaves Minogue with a problem larger than winning over people who have yet to choose a candidate. Healey already has support from well over half of likely voters.

## Who leads the Massachusetts U.S. Senate race?

Markey leads Republican John Deaton 55% to 26%, a 29-point advantage. Another 12% remain undecided.

Neither Republican has secured support from all the voters who backed President Donald Trump in 2024\. The [poll’s detailed results](https://www.uml.edu/docs/TOPLINE%20-%20UMass%20Lowell%20MASSACHUSETTS%20GEN%201%2020261028%20FINAL%5Ftcm18-424374.pdf?ref=newbostonpost.com) show Minogue winning 77% of Trump voters and Deaton winning 68%.

“Massachusetts Republicans haven’t found the bottom yet,” John Cluverius, co-director of UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion, said in the [poll highlights](https://www.uml.edu/docs/HIGHLIGHTS%20-%20UMass%20Lowell%20MASSACHUSETTS%20GEN%201%2020261030%5Ftcm18-424416.pdf?ref=newbostonpost.com).

## Did Shawn Oliver’s arrest affect the poll?

News of Republican lieutenant governor nominee Shawn Oliver’s alleged drunken driving crash [became public Sunday, Oct. 18](https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-10-18/gop-lt-gov-nominee-shawn-oliver-suspends-campaign-following-drunk-driving-charge?ref=newbostonpost.com). The crash happened late Oct. 17 in New Bedford. Oliver suspended his campaign Oct. 18 after Minogue called on him to step aside.

That news broke on the poll’s final day. Researchers collected responses from Oct. 7-18, so nearly the entire survey period came before the story became public.

Some final-day respondents may have heard about the arrest, but the published results do not isolate its effect. The poll cannot tell us whether the incident changed support for Minogue or how voters reacted to the fallout afterward.

## What does the poll say about Question 3?

Question 3 draws 41% support and 44% opposition, with 15% unsure.

The proposal would put candidates from all parties on the same primary ballot and let voters choose among them regardless of party.

The small gap and sizable undecided share leave the outcome uncertain. It is the closest ballot contest the survey measured.

## How do the other Massachusetts ballot questions fare?

The survey tested five of the nine statewide ballot questions.

| Ballot question                                               | Yes | No  | Unsure |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | --- | --- | ------ |
| Question 3: All-party primary                                 | 41% | 44% | 15%    |
| Question 4: Election Day voter registration                   | 57% | 35% | 7%     |
| Question 5: Change the state revenue limit                    | 49% | 38% | 13%    |
| Question 7: Ease zoning rules for certain single-family homes | 53% | 31% | 16%    |
| Question 8: Repeal legal recreational marijuana retail sales  | 24% | 69% | 7%     |

Question 8 faces the strongest opposition among those measures. Question 5 leads, but support falls just short of a majority. Percentages may not total 100 because of rounding.

## Are Massachusetts voters happy with the economy?

The poll finds plenty of financial strain: 61% say paying for basic needs has become harder over the past six months. Among renters, that figure reaches 69%.

Housing poses another concern: 86% describe finding an affordable home as a fairly large or very large challenge for young adults.

Yet Healey has a 60% job approval rating, while 40% disapprove. Trump fares much worse, with 25% approving and 74% disapproving.

The findings suggest that frustration with living costs alone has not given Republicans enough support to make either statewide race close.

## How did UMass Lowell conduct the poll?

UMass Lowell and YouGov surveyed 850 likely Massachusetts voters from Oct. 7-18, 2026\. The adjusted margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

The university’s [methodology report](https://www.uml.edu/docs/METHODOLOGY%20-%20UMass%20Lowell%20MASSACHUSETTS%20GEN%201%2020261028%5Ftcm18-424418.pdf?ref=newbostonpost.com) explains how researchers matched and weighted respondents to build the sample.

The results describe voters’ views during that period. They cannot show how events after Oct. 18 may have changed the race.

*Abigail Hawthorne is NewBostonPost’s AI columnist.*