2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election
The 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Massachusetts. Republican former state representative Geoff Diehl, Democratic state Attorney General Maura Healey, and Libertarian Kevin Reed sought to succeed incumbent Governor Charlie Baker, who did not seek re-election after two terms. This was one of six Republican-held governorships up for election in 2022 in a state carried by Joe Biden in the 2020 [United States presidential election|2020 presidential election], and the only race in which the incumbent was retiring despite being eligible for re-election.
Primary elections were held on September 6, with Diehl and Healey winning against minimal opposition. Due to Massachusetts's strong liberal lean and Diehl's conservative political views, Healey was widely expected to win the election. The election was called for the Democrat shortly after polls closed, with Healey becoming the first woman ever elected governor of Massachusetts and the first openly lesbian governor to take office in United States history.
In addition, with the election of Kim Driscoll as lieutenant governor, Massachusetts became one of the first two states to simultaneously elect women as governor and lieutenant governor, along with Arkansas gubernatorial election|Arkansas]. Arkansas, however, elects the governor in a separate election from the lieutenant governor. Taking 63.7% of the vote, Healey's performance was the strongest of any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the state since Michael Dukakis in 1986, the best performance in history for a non-incumbent Democrat, and the best performance for any non-incumbent since Channing Cox in 1920. Healey also made history by receiving over 1.5 million votes, the most ever received by a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Massachusetts history.
This election constituted the largest shift by partisan margin of any 2022 gubernatorial election, swinging from a 33.5 point margin of victory for the Republican in 2018 to a 29.1 point margin for the Democrat in 2022. Additionally, every county in the state flipped from Republican to Democratic; this was the first gubernatorial election in which every county flipped since the 2010 Wyoming election.
Republican primary
Governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Geoff Diehl, former state representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 [United States Senate election in Massachusetts|2018] ''''
Eliminated in primary
- Chris Doughty, manufacturing executive ''''
Eliminated at convention or did not file
- Shiva Ayyadurai, lecturer, entrepreneur and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020
- Darius Mitchell, perennial candidate
- Philip Mitza, running as a write-in candidate
- Joselito Santiago Matias, tech support specialist
Withdrawn
- Kimberly Duffy, businesswoman
Declined
- Charlie Baker, governor of Massachusetts
- Scott Brown, former U.S. senator from Massachusetts, former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, and nominee for U.S. Senate from New Hampshire in 2014
- Mike Kennealy, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Andrew Lelling, former United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
- Scott Lively, anti-gay activist, independent candidate for governor in 2014 and Republican candidate for governor in 2018
- Shaunna O'Connell, mayor of Taunton and former state representative
- Patrick O'Connor, state senator
- Karyn Polito, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
- Jane Swift, former acting governor and former lieutenant governor
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Geoff Diehl | Karyn Polito | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 12–13, 2021 | 556 | ± 4.2% | 29% | 50% | – | 21% |
| Advantage, Inc. | February 22–26, 2021 | 221 | ± 6.6% | – | 20% | 22% | 58% |
Results
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Leah Cole Allen, former state representative ''''
Eliminated in primary
- Kate Campanale, former state representative ''''
Withdrew
- Ron Beaty, former Barnstable County commissioner
- Rayla Campbell, write-in candidate for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district in 2020 [Massachusetts's 7th congressional district election|2020] ''''
Declined
- Cecilia Calabrese, Agawam city councilor
- Karyn Polito, lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
Endorsements
Debate
Polling
Results
Democratic primary
Governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Maura Healey, attorney general of Massachusetts
Withdrawn
- Danielle Allen, political science professor at Harvard University '
- Sonia Chang-Díaz, state senator '
- Scott Donohue, Melrose resident
- Benjamin Downing, former state senator
Declined
- Jake Auchincloss, U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district ' '
- Michael Bellotti, Norfolk County treasurer and former Norfolk County Sheriff
- Mo Cowan, former List of [United States senators from Massachusetts|U.S. senator]
- Joseph Curtatone, former mayor of Somerville
- Michael Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts and nominee for president in 1988
- Annissa Essaibi George, former at-large Boston city councilor and candidate for mayor of Boston in 2021
- Deb Goldberg, Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts '
- Jay Gonzalez, former Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts and Democratic nominee for governor in 2018
- Paul Heroux, mayor of Attleboro and former state representative '
- Joe Kennedy III, former U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020
- Josh Kraft, CEO of the Kraft Foundation and son of businessman Robert Kraft
- Bob Massie, Episcopal minister, nominee for lieutenant governor in 1994, candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012, and candidate for governor in 2018
- Jon Mitchell, mayor of New Bedford
- Alex Morse, former mayor of Holyoke, current town manager of Provincetown, and candidate for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district in 2020 [Massachusetts's 1st congressional district election|2020]
- Tim Murray, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts
- Richard Neal, U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district, former U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district '
- Ayanna Pressley, U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 7th congressional district '
- Bob Rivers, chairman and CEO of Eastern Bank
- Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Labor and former mayor of Boston
- Elizabeth Warren, U.S. senator and 2020 Democratic candidate for president
Endorsements
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Sonia | Maura Healey | Other | Undecided |
| UMass Amherst | August 26–29, 2022 | 500 | ± 5.1% | 14% | 73% | 1% | 12% |
| UMass Amherst | June 15–21, 2022 | 557 | ± 4.7% | 20% | 53% | 1% | 26% |
| Emerson College | May 2–4, 2022 | 488 | ± 4.6% | 8% | 34% | 15% | 43% |
| UMass Lowell | April 2–11, 2022 | 800 | ± 3.9% | 17% | 62% | 2% | 18% |
| MassINC Polling Group | January 18–20, 2022 | 310 | ± 5.6% | 12% | 48% | 7% | 30% |
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Danielle Allen | Charlie Baker | Sonia Chang-Díaz | Ben Downing | Deb Goldberg | Maura Healey | Joe | Ayanna Pressley | Marty Walsh | Other | Undecided |
| MassINC Polling Group | January 18–20, 2022 | 310 | ± 5.6% | 2% | – | 8% | – | – | 31% | – | – | 32% | 2% | 22% |
| Advantage, Inc. | February 22–26, 2021 | 406 | ± 4.9% | 2% | – | – | 2% | – | 35% | 22% | – | – | – | 39% |
| SurveyUSA | August 12–16, 2020 | 558 | ± 4.1% | – | – | – | – | 3% | 25% | – | 13% | 25% | – | 34% |
| SurveyUSA | August 12–16, 2020 | 558 | ± 4.1% | – | 62% | – | – | 1% | 13% | – | 7% | 4% | – | 13% |
| Suffolk University | June 5–9, 2019 | 600 | ± 4.0% | – | – | – | – | – | 34% | – | – | 36% | – | 30% |
Results
Convention
Primary
Lieutenant governor
Nominee
- Kim Driscoll, mayor of Salem
Eliminated in primary
- Tami Gouveia, state representative
- Eric Lesser, state senator
Eliminated at convention or did not file
- Bret Bero, Babson College lecturer and small business owner
- Scott Donohue, Melrose resident
- Adam G. Hinds, state senator
Declined
- Manny Cruz, member of the Salem school committee
- Angel Donahue-Rodriguez, deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
- Dan Koh, chief of staff to U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, former Andover selectman, and candidate for Massachusetts' 3rd congressional district in 2018
Endorsements
Debate
Polling
Results
Convention
Primary
Libertarian primary
Governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Kevin Reed
Withdrew
- Carlos Perez
Lieutenant governor
Candidates
Nominee
- Peter Everett
Independents
Candidates
Failed to qualify for ballot
- Dianna Ploss, former radio host
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Predictions
Polling
Aggregate polls| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Geoff Diehl | Maura Healey | Other | Undecided |
| UMass Amherst/YouGov | October 20–26, 2022 | 700 | ± 4.3% | 33% | 61% | 2% | 3% |
| UMass Lowell/YouGov | October 18–25, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 4.1% | 32% | 59% | 3% | 6% |
| Suffolk University | October 13–16, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 33% | 56% | 4% | 6% |
| MassINC Polling Group | October 5–14, 2022 | 987 | – | 23% | 53% | 6% | 18% |
| Suffolk University | September 10–13, 2022 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 26% | 52% | 6% | 17% |
| Emerson College | September 7–8, 2022 | 708 | ± 3.6% | 34% | 52% | 3% | 12% |
| Suffolk University | July 20–23, 2022 | 493 | ± 4.4% | 23% | 54% | – | 23% |
| UMass Lowell | June 7–15, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 4.0% | 30% | 61% | 1% | 8% |
| Emerson College | May 2–4, 2022 | 848 | ± 3.3% | 31% | 59% | – | 10% |
| Suffolk University | April 24–28, 2022 | 651 | ± 3.8% | 27% | 54% | – | 19% |
Charlie Baker vs. Danielle Allen
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Danielle Allen | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 33% | 12% | 6% | 48% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 34% | 12% | 5% | 48% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 800 | ± 4.6% | 30% | 14% | 8% | 48% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 756 | ± 4.7% | 31% | 14% | 6% | 49% |
Charlie Baker vs. Sonia Chang-Díaz
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Sonia | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 35% | 16% | 9% | 41% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 36% | 16% | 7% | 41% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 800 | ± 4.6% | 30% | 16% | 10% | 45% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 756 | ± 4.7% | 31% | 17% | 7% | 45% |
Charlie Baker vs. Benjamin Downing
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Benjamin Downing | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 35% | 11% | 8% | 46% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 36% | 11% | 6% | 47% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 800 | ± 4.6% | 30% | 11% | 8% | 51% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 756 | ± 4.7% | 31% | 12% | 6% | 51% |
Charlie Baker vs. Maura Healey
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Maura Healey | Other | Undecided |
| Change Research/Northwind Strategies | November 15–19, 2021 | 789 | ± 4.1% | 33% | 29% | – | 38% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 33% | 27% | 11% | 30% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 34% | 28% | 9% | 29% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 800 | ± 4.6% | 30% | 27% | 10% | 34% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 756 | ± 4.7% | 31% | 28% | 7% | 34% |
Charlie Baker vs. Joe Kennedy III
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Joe | Other | Undecided |
| Change Research/Northwind Strategies | November 15–19, 2021 | 789 | ± 4.1% | 36% | 30% | – | 34% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 800 | ± 4.6% | 35% | 25% | 10% | 30% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | March 5–9, 2021 | 756 | ± 4.7% | 37% | 27% | 8% | 28% |
Charlie Baker vs. Orlando Silva
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Baker | Orlando Silva | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 36% | 9% | 8% | 47% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 37% | 9% | 7% | 47% |
Karyn Polito vs. Danielle Allen
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karyn Polito | Danielle Allen | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 17% | 8% | 54% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 22% | 17% | 7% | 54% |
Karyn Polito vs. Sonia Chang-Díaz
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karyn Polito | Sonia | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 19% | 8% | 51% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 23% | 19% | 7% | 52% |
Karyn Polito vs. Benjamin Downing
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karyn Polito | Benjamin Downing | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 15% | 8% | 56% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 22% | 16% | 7% | 55% |
Karyn Polito vs. Maura Healey
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karyn Polito | Maura Healey | Other | Undecided |
| Change Research/Northwind Strategies | November 15–19, 2021 | 789 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 42% | – | 37% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 18% | 32% | 10% | 40% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 19% | 35% | 8% | 38% |
Karyn Polito vs. Orlando Silva
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karyn Polito | Orlando Silva | Other | Undecided |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 750 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 14% | 9% | 57% |
| YouGov/UMass Amherst | November 9–16, 2021 | 687 | ± 4.3% | 22% | 14% | 7% | 56% |
Geoff Diehl vs. Maura Healey with Charlie Baker as an independent
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Geoff Diehl | Maura Healey | Charlie Baker | Undecided |
| Suffolk University | April 24–28, 2022 | 651 | ± 3.8% | 17% | 28% | 37% | 18% |
| Change Research/Northwind Strategies | November 15–19, 2021 | 789 | ± 4.1% | 21% | 26% | 32% | 21% |
Geoff Diehl vs. Sonia Chang-Díaz
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Geoff Diehl | Sonia Chang-Díaz | Other | Margin |
| Real Clear Politics | April 24 – June 15, 2022 | June 22, 2022 | 30.0% | 48.7% | 21.3% | Chang-Díaz +15.5 |
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Geoff Diehl | Sonia | Other | Undecided |
| UMass Lowell | June 7–15, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 4.0% | 29% | 54% | 3% | 15% |
| Emerson College | May 2–4, 2022 | 848 | ± 3.3% | 32% | 47% | – | 21% |
| Suffolk University | April 24–28, 2022 | 651 | ± 3.8% | 29% | 45% | – | 25% |
Chris Doughty vs. Sonia Chang-Díaz
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Chris Doughty | Sonia Chang-Díaz | Other | Margin |
| Real Clear Politics | April 24 – June 15, 2022 | June 22, 2022 | 30.0% | 44.7% | 25.3% | Chang-Díaz +14.7 |
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Doughty | Sonia | Other | Undecided |
| UMass Lowell | June 7–15, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 4.0% | 30% | 50% | 4% | 16% |
| Emerson College | May 2–4, 2022 | 848 | ± 3.3% | 33% | 41% | – | 26% |
| Suffolk University | April 24–28, 2022 | 651 | ± 3.8% | 27% | 43% | – | 30% |
Chris Doughty vs. Maura Healey
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Chris Doughty | Maura Healey | Other | Margin |
| Real Clear Politics | April 24 – June 15, 2022 | June 22, 2022 | 28.7% | 55.7% | 15.6% | Healey +27.0 |
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Chris Doughty | Maura Healey | Other | Undecided |
| Suffolk University | July 20–23, 2022 | 493 | ± 4.4% | 22% | 54% | – | 24% |
| UMass Lowell | June 7–15, 2022 | 1,000 | ± 4.0% | 30% | 58% | 2% | 10% |
| Emerson College | May 2–4, 2022 | 848 | ± 3.3% | 31% | 54% | – | 15% |
| Suffolk University | April 24–28, 2022 | 651 | ± 3.8% | 25% | 55% | – | 21% |
Debates
Results
By county
! colspan="8" | 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election results by county! rowspan="2" |County
! colspan="2" |Healey
! colspan="2" |Diehl
! colspan="2" |Other
! rowspan="2" |Total
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
! Votes
! %
By congressional district
Healey won all nine congressional districts.| District | Diehl | Healey | Representative |
| 41% | 58% | Richard Neal | |
| 35% | 63% | Jim McGovern | |
| 37% | 61% | Lori Trahan | |
| 37% | 62% | Jake Auchincloss | |
| 25% | 73% | Katherine Clark | |
| 37% | 61% | Seth Moulton | |
| 14% | 84% | Ayanna Pressley | |
| 35% | 64% | Stephen Lynch | |
| 42% | 56% | Bill Keating |