GOP rival Mike Minogue won the two debates by a country mile over Democratic Gov. Maura Healey — according to two Herald online polls.
After Thursday’s debate, readers used their one click to declare him the winner 95% to 5%. More than 2,400 votes were cast.
In the first debate, he came in ahead 90% to her 10%. More than 4,200 votes were tallied.
Is this an upset in the making? The Herald polls are more like a survey of readers who don’t necessarily need an online subscription to vote. The polls are unscientific and simple, and maybe that’s not bad, pollsters say.
“Some information is better than no information,” said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center. “But you have to look at the demographics of the people responding because it may not represent the general voting public.”
The Herald polls do not ask for identification, so these were blind polls. But Paleologos said, “It doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”
We’ll know for sure after the Nov. 3 election, but the race may not be one-sided as some believe.
Chris Arterton, founding dean and emeritus professor of Political Management at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, told the Herald the simplicity of both polls — seeking just a who-won vote — inches the survey closer to legitimacy.
“Given our history in the past two decades of a push to extremes, there’s room for a more moderate stance,” he explained, and that may help Republican Mingoue more than expected over Democratic incumbent Healey.
“It’s useful,” he said of the polls.
Or it’s just Herald readers feeling forgotten by Beacon Hill.
Newsom to attend Healey campaign fundraiser today
Gov. Maura Healey is bringing in the progressive big guns to help campaign and fundraise as the general election lies just over two weeks away.
California Gov. and potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate Gavin Newsom will be attending a Healey campaign fundraiser this afternoon in Boston’s south end as the Massachusetts governor pushes to boost fundraising in the final stretch of her re-election bid.
The event, hosted by ActBlue at a location disclosed upon RSVP, is charging $1,000 per benefactor to attend, with a $500 donation for “friends,” followed by $250 per each “ally,” and $125 per each “supporter,” according to the website promoting the event.
The high-profile political fundraiser comes just days after Healey faced off in her second and final debate against GOP challenger and billionaire Mike Minogue, who many feel bested Healey in the Thursday showdown on WCVB-TV as the topic of corruption within the Healey administration took center stage for much of the program.
It also comes as Healey is sitting on a healthy $3,375,751 in cash on hand, according to the latest information provided by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF). To date, the Healey campaign has spent $5,797,332 on her re-election bid.
That’s compared to the $1,523,557 in total cash on hand for Minogue, according to the OCPF. Minogue’s campaign has spent a whopping $18,165,102 since launching his big for governor in October 2025, while he has poured in over $15 million of his own money into his campaign account.
Newsom will be coming to Boston after spending much of the past week in New Hampshire to campaign for Democrats Chris Pappas, Stefany Shaheen and Cinde Warmington in their respective races. The trip has further fueled speculation of a possible presidential run for Newsom.
Healey and Minogue will face off in the general election on November 3.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be attending a fundraiser for Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey in Boston’s south end on Sunday afternoon. Screenshot: Actblue