Minogue Leading Shortsleeve in GOP Governor Primary, Though Both Trail Healey in Potential November Matchup; State of the State of Massachusetts
August 18, 2026
The new Bay State poll, which finds “cost-of-living” as the most critical issue for voters, also surveyed voters on possible ballot questions, the economy, and more
Executive Summary
Two weeks prior to the Sept. 1 Massachusetts primary vote, Mike Minogue holds a 2-to-1 lead over Brian Shortsleeve among likely Republican voters for the party’s nomination for governor, according to a new statewide poll conducted Aug. 5-12.
Minogue, former CEO of medical device company Abiomed, leads former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief administrator Shortsleeve, 53-26, but whichever GOP candidate secures the party’s nominee appears to be in line for a difficult general election as the poll also shows Governor Maura Healey with substantial leads of approximately 20 points over each Republican.
The poll also surveyed Bay State voters’ views on a slate of potential ballot questions, the economy, the most important issues affecting their lives, and more.
Minogue leads Shortsleeve
Minogue, former CEO of medical device company Abiomed, leads former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority chief administrator Shortsleeve, 53-26, in the new survey, which was conducted Aug. 5-12. “Mike Minogue has gone from being a relatively unknown candidate to the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination,” says Raymond La Raja, professor of political science at UMass Amherst and co-director of the poll. “The striking thing is not simply that he leads Brian Shortsleeve, but that he has consolidated support across most parts of the Republican primary electorate.”
Ballot Questions
The UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll also surveyed respondents’ views on a number of initiatives and referendums that may appear on the ballot in November. While most of the potential ballot questions garner broad support among Massachusetts voters, the question to repeal the commonwealth’s marijuana legalization is rather widely rejected in the new poll.
As for the ballot questions that garner more substantial support from Bay State voters, same-day registration, public records accessibility, gun control and residential zoning reform all proved popular in the new poll. The public records question is even more popular, garnering 84% support among the poll’s respondents. Not quite as popular, but still drawing 59% support, is the question on residential zoning reform.
One ballot question appears to be unsettled according to the new poll—the call for an all-party primary in which the top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to the general election.
Most Important Issue Facing Massachusetts in A Word or Two
“With the nation and the commonwealth continuing to experience rising costs for gas, groceries, healthcare, housing, and utilities, it is no surprise that when asked to identify the state’s most important problem, Bay Staters have their minds focused on their precarious financial well-being, with ‘housing,’ ‘cost,’ and ‘affordability’ emerging as the three most frequently used words,” Poll Director Tatishe Nteta explains. “Massachusetts voters increasingly see the state’s problems through the lens of affordability,” Poll Co-Director Ray La Raja says. “Housing, taxes and health care still matter, but cost of living has become the umbrella concern that ties many of these anxieties together. And while the Massachusetts economy may look healthy by some conventional measures, that’s not necessarily how voters experience it.”
In a word or two, what do you think is the most important issue facing Massachusetts? (N=800)
Caption (image right): Respondents were asked to provide one word that best describes the most important issue facing Massachusetts. The words are displayed in proportion to how many times each word was submitted. The total word list contains 404 unique entries. The top five words listed are: Housing (166), cost (140), living (77), affordability (71), and economy (66).
Views on the Nation and State: Economy, Right Direction/Wrong Track
The new UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll also finds voters deeply focused on the financial issues that face themselves and their families.
“Massachusetts residents currently have a very negative view of the economy, whether they’re considering the state of the nation’s economy, the state of the economy in the Commonwealth, or their own personal financial situation,” Poll Co-Director Jesse Rhodes says. “More than 70% of Massachusetts residents view the nation’s economy in ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ shape, and nearly two-thirds view the state’s economy as ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ Although perceptions of personal financial circumstances are somewhat better, still, nearly 60% of Massachusetts residents believe that their personal circumstances are either ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ Clearly, the war in Iran and the rising cost of gas, food, and other necessities are contributing to sharply negative views of the economy.”
“Voters make a clear distinction between the national economy, the Massachusetts economy and their own pocketbooks,” Poll Co-Director Ray La Raja says. “They are most pessimistic about the country, somewhat less negative about Massachusetts, and more positive about their own finances. Economic dissatisfaction is real, but it isn’t experienced uniformly.”
Methodology
- Field Dates: August 5 –12, 2026
- Sample: 800 Registered Voters | 445 Self-Identified Democratic Primary Voters
- Margin of Error: 4.4% (All Respondents) | 5.8% (Self-Identified Democratic Primary Voters)
YouGov interviewed 833 registered voters 18+ from Massachusetts, 462 of which were self- identified Democratic primary voters, providing two samples of interest. The initial 833 respondents were matched down to a sample of 800 registered voters, yielding 445 Democratic primary voters, to produce the main dataset. The respondents were matched to a sampling frame on gender, age, race, and education. The sampling frame was constructed by stratified sampling from the 2024 Current Population Survey (CPS) and subsetted on registered voters in the state, with selection within strata by weighted sampling with replacements (using the person weights on the public use file).
For the main sample, the cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores. The cases and the frame were combined and a logistic regression was estimated for inclusion in the frame. The propensity score function included age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The propensity scores were grouped into deciles of the estimated propensity score in the frame and post-stratified according to these deciles.
The weights were then post-stratified on 2024 presidential vote choice as well as a four-way stratification of gender, age (4-categories), race (2-categories), and education (4-categories), a 2-way stratification on race (2-categories) and education (4-categories), and a single stratification on home ownership to produce the final weight for the main sample.
For the 445 Massachusetts self-identified Democratic primary voters, a sampling frame of 2022 Vote Smart Massachusetts Democratic primary voters was employed. The cases were post-stratified on a three-way stratification of gender, age (4-categories), and race (2-categories), to produce the final weight for this sample of Democratic primary voters.
Caveats on State Primary Polling, Looking Toward November and Beyond
The team behind the UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll notes that while meticulous efforts and methodology sculpt all non-partisan polling, there are substantial complications to accurately surveying state primaries. See the the press release for this poll for more details.
Read more about the UMass Poll's methodology
Read more about the contributing members of the UMass Poll team
Toplines
View the toplines from the Aug 18, 2026 Massachusetts Residents Public Opinion Poll release regarding the gubernatorial race and the state of the state.
This PDF contains the official toplines from this poll. Toplines are the raw question‑and‑answer results from the poll—showing exactly how people answered each question before any analysis or interpretation is added.
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Familiarity (N=208)
Only asked of Republicans and Pure Independents who indicated that they would participate in the 2026 Republican Primary.
In the past few months, how much have you heard about . . .
| Candidate | A Great Deal | Some | Only a Little | Nothing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Shortsleeve, Former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Chief Administrator | 17% | 28% | 26% | 29% |
| Mike Minogue, Former CEO of Abiomed, a medical device company | 22% | 31% | 22% | 24% |
2024 Republican Gubernatorial Primary Election (N=209)
Only asked of respondents who indicated that they identify as Republicans and Pure Independents who indicated that they would participate in the 2026 Republican Primary.
If the Massachusetts Republican Gubernatorial Primary were held today, which one of the following candidates would you support in the Massachusetts Republican Gubernatorial Primary? – August 2026
| Candidate | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Without Leaners | With Leaners | Without Leaners | With Leaners | |
| Former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve | 24% | 26% | 27% | 37% |
| Former CEO of Abiomed, a medical device company, Mike Minogue | 49% | 53% | 15% | 23% |
| Former Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy | N/A | N/A | 15% | 22% |
| Not Sure | 24% | 18% | 43% | 16% |
| Would not Vote | 4% | 4% | 0% | 2% |
Candidate Qualities (N=209)
Only asked of Republicans and Pure Independents who indicated that they would participate in the 2026 Republican Primary.
From the list below, please rank the top three qualities that are the most important to you when deciding who you will vote for in the 2026 Republican Gubernatorial Primary.
| Quality | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | |
| best represents my views on the issues | 21% | 20% | 12% | 11% | 15% | 17% |
| strongest leader | 10% | 7% | 15% | 12% | 10% | 14% |
| will challenge Democrats in the Massachusetts Legislature/on Beacon Hill | 13% | 10% | 15% | 8% | 4% | 13% |
| most honest and trustworthy | 17% | 16% | 15% | 15% | 13% | 10% |
| most experienced | 5% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 8% | 7% |
| represents a new generation of leadership | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2% | 10% | 5% |
| cares about people like me | 9% | 12% | 8% | 14% | 8% | 10% |
| most conservative candidate | 5% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 5% | 3% |
| most moderate candidate | 3% | 6% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 4% |
| has best chance to win general election/will win the general election | 4% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 3% |
| supports President Trump’s agenda | 6% | 11% | 8% | 14% | 7% | 8% |
| If the candidate has the endorsement of President Donald Trump | 5% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 2% |
| has the endorsement of former Governor Charlie Baker | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2% | 3% | 4% |
Satisfaction with Republican Gubernatorial Candidates (N=209)
Only asked of Republicans and Pure Independents who indicated that they would participate in the 2026 Republican Primary.
How satisfied are you with the two candidates running for the Republican nomination for governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very satisfied | 21% |
| Somewhat satisfied | 67% |
| Somewhat dissatisfied | 8% |
| Very dissatisfied | 4% |
2026 Gubernatorial General Election (N=800)
Governor Maura Healey is running unopposed in the Democratic primary election for governor of Massachusetts. If Governor Maura Healey was running against the Republican candidate, [Insert Candidate], in the 2026 general election for governor, who would you be most likely to vote for? – August 2026
Maura Healey, a Democrat, has announced she will seek a second term as governor. If Governor Healey was running against the Republican candidate, [Insert Candidate], in the 2026 general election for governor, who would you be most likely to vote for? – Oct. 2025
Healey vs. Shortsleeve
| Response | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Maura Healey | 51% | 49% |
| Former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve | 32% | 27% |
| Not Sure | 14% | 18% |
| Would not Vote | 3% | 7% |
Healey vs. Minogue
| Response | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Maura Healey | 53% | 51% |
| Former CEO of Abiomed, Mike Minogue | 33% | 26% |
| Not Sure | 12% | 16% |
| Would not Vote | 2% | 7% |
Ballot Questions (N=800)
There are a number of ballot initiatives that may appear on the 2026 ballot. Thinking ahead to the 2026 general election, please indicate how you would vote on each of the following potential ballot questions. A ballot question that would . . .
| Ballot Question | Would Definitely Vote Yes | Would Probably Vote Yes | Would Probably Vote No | Would Definitely Vote No | Undecided | Do Not Understand Ballot Question |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| make most official records held by both the Massachusetts State Legislature and the Governor subject to the state’s public records laws and available to the public? | 54% | 30% | 5% | 2% | 7% | 3% |
| replace Democratic and Republican primary elections with a single primary in which all candidates compete regardless of party affiliation and the top two candidates advance to the general election? | 20% | 31% | 13% | 19% | 17% | 1% |
| allow single-family homes to be built in residentially zoned areas on lots that are at least 5,000 square feet, have access to public sewer and water services, and have at least 50 feet of street frontage? | 23% | 36% | 9% | 12% | 14% | 6% |
| allow eligible residents to register to vote and cast their ballot on Election Day and during early voting periods? | 41% | 28% | 8% | 14% | 5% | 2% |
| repeal the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts while allowing adults age 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana? | 15% | 18% | 15% | 40% | 10% | 3% |
| establish a “Nature for All Fund” to support conservation efforts and improvements to public parks using state tax revenues collected from sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf-related activities? | 29% | 38% | 11% | 11% | 8% | 2% |
| change the limit on state tax revenues so that annual revenue growth is tied to the average growth of wages and salaries in Massachusetts over the previous three years, with any revenue collected above the limit refunded to taxpayers? | 22% | 37% | 9% | 5% | 16% | 10% |
| allow employees of the Committee for Public Counsel Services, including attorneys who represent indigent criminal defendants, to engage in collective bargaining and increase compensation for bar advocates? | 15% | 30% | 14% | 10% | 18% | 13% |
| uphold the state firearms law that expanded the definition of assault-style firearms, created a statewide electronic firearms registration system, expanded red flag provisions, prohibited ghost guns, and restricted the carrying of firearms in schools, polling places, and government buildings? | 48% | 22% | 9% | 13% | 5% | 2% |
State of the National Economy (N=800)
Thinking about the state of our national economy, would you rate the nation’s economy as excellent, good, fair, or poor?
| Rating | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 | Oct. 2022 | June 2022 | Nov. 2021 | March 2021 | Oct. 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 4% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 4% |
| Good | 21% | 20% | 28% | 36% | 32% | 32% | 23% | 22% | 18% | 29% | 19% | 19% |
| Fair | 38% | 41% | 47% | 32% | 37% | 35% | 46% | 37% | 37% | 42% | 55% | 38% |
| Poor | 37% | 36% | 23% | 28% | 26% | 29% | 27% | 38% | 41% | 27% | 24% | 38% |
State of the Massachusetts Economy (N=800)
Thinking about the state of Massachusetts’ economy, would you rate Massachusetts’ economy as excellent, good, fair, or poor?
| Rating | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 | Oct. 2022 | June 2022 | Nov. 2021 | March 2021 | Oct. 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 4% | 6% | 5% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 3% | 4% |
| Good | 33% | 38% | 46% | 39% | 47% | 47% | 45% | 40% | 36% | 46% | 39% | 32% |
| Fair | 40% | 38% | 31% | 36% | 32% | 31% | 35% | 39% | 38% | 34% | 45% | 51% |
| Poor | 23% | 17% | 18% | 17% | 15% | 15% | 11% | 14% | 19% | 13% | 13% | 13% |
State of Own Economic Situation (N=800)
Thinking about your own economic situation, would you rate your own economic situation as excellent, good, fair, or poor?
| Rating | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 | Oct. 2022 | June 2022 | Nov. 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 6% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 11% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 9% |
| Good | 35% | 38% | 32% | 39% | 38% | 36% | 34% | 36% | 34% | 38% |
| Fair | 41% | 37% | 44% | 38% | 38% | 37% | 36% | 40% | 41% | 35% |
| Poor | 17% | 21% | 15% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 20% | 17% | 17% | 18% |
Nation Right Direction/Wrong Track (N=800)
Do you think things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
| Response | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 | Oct. 2022 | June 2022 | Nov. 2021 | March 2021 | Oct. 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right Direction | 22% | 22% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 21% | 22% | 21% | 18% | 31% | 31% | 24% |
| Wrong Track | 71% | 70% | 64% | 58% | 59% | 63% | 65% | 66% | 67% | 52% | 51% | 71% |
| Not Sure | 7% | 8% | 12% | 14% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 12% | 15% | 17% | 18% | 5% |
Massachusetts Right Direction/Wrong Track (N=800)
Do you think things in Massachusetts are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
| Response | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 | Oct. 2022 | June 2022 | Nov. 2021 | March 2021 | Oct. 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right Direction | 38% | 40% | 41% | 46% | 44% | 46% | 44% | 45% | 40% | 50% | 47% | 49% |
| Wrong Track | 45% | 43% | 38% | 41% | 36% | 37% | 33% | 36% | 38% | 30% | 30% | 32% |
| Not Sure | 17% | 18% | 21% | 14% | 20% | 17% | 23% | 19% | 22% | 20% | 23% | 19% |
Job Approval Ratings (N=800)
Do you approve or disapprove of the way each is doing their job?
| Official | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App. | Disapp. | Not Sure | App. | Disapp. | Not Sure | App. | Disapp. | Not Sure | App. | Disapp. | Not Sure | |
| Governor Maura Healey | 56% | 39% | 5% | 57% | 32% | 11% | 52% | 36% | 12% | 58% | 32% | 10% |
| Senator Edward Markey | 56% | 35% | 9% | 54% | 28% | 18% | 51% | 29% | 20% | 54% | 31% | 15% |
| Senator Elizabeth Warren | 55% | 40% | 5% | 57% | 35% | 8% | 53% | 36% | 11% | 53% | 38% | 8% |
| Mass State Legislature | 47% | 43% | 10% | 51% | 34% | 15% | 50% | 35% | 15% | 46% | 37% | 16% |
| President Donald Trump | 29% | 70% | 1% | 27% | 69% | 4% | 32% | 64% | 4% | |||
MAGA ID
Do you identify with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement?
| Response | All Respondents (N=800) | Republican Respondents (N=212) | Self-Identified Republican Primary Voters (N=209) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very much | 11% | 31% | 31% |
| Somewhat | 20% | 44% | 41% |
| Not at all | 69% | 25% | 28% |
Democratic Socialist ID
Do you identify as a democratic socialist?
| Response | All Respondents (N=800) | Democratic Respondents (N=426) | Self-Identified Democratic Primary Voters (N=445) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very much | 10% | 17% | 15% |
| Somewhat | 31% | 49% | 42% |
| Not at all | 59% | 34% | 43% |
Healey and Legislature One Issue (N=800)
Of the following issues, please select the one issue that you would like to see Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts State Legislature address in the coming year:
| Issue | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 14% | 24% | 23% | 34% | 31% |
| Immigration | 11% | 15% | 18% | 18% | 12% |
| Crime | 2% | 5% | 3% | 4% | 8% |
| Transportation and Infrastructure | 4% | 6% | 6% | 9% | 9% |
| Health care | 9% | 11% | 15% | 8% | 9% |
| Taxes | 9% | 14% | 12% | 7% | 8% |
| Climate change | 4% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 9% |
| Homelessness | 3% | 15% | 13% | 9% | 11% |
| Education | 2% | 6% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Replacing the State Flag | N/A | 0% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living | 39% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Policy Support and Opposition (N=800)
Do you support or oppose . . .
| Policy | Strongly Support | Somewhat Support | Neither Support nor Oppose | Somewhat Oppose | Strongly Oppose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| restricting the use of cellphones by public school students during official school hours except in the case of an emergency or if the student has a medical condition or disability? | 50% | 29% | 10% | 6% | 5% |
| allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live the option to obtain life-ending medication? | 42% | 29% | 14% | 5% | 9% |
| allowing local governments to limit how much rents can be increased each year? | 40% | 25% | 13% | 9% | 13% |
| ending the use of Native American names, symbols, or images to serve as high school, college, or university mascots or team names in Massachusetts? | 17% | 15% | 27% | 13% | 28% |
| renaming Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples Day? | 27% | 13% | 21% | 9% | 30% |
| Allowing cities and towns to use automated cameras for speed enforcement? | 16% | 21% | 15% | 18% | 29% |
Transgender Policy Support and Opposition (N=800)
Do you support or oppose . . .
| Policy | Strongly Support | Somewhat Support | Neither Support nor Oppose | Somewhat Oppose | Strongly Oppose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Several state legislatures have proposed or enacted legislation that prohibits transgender youth from joining school-sponsored sports teams that match their gender identity, if their gender identity is different from their sex assigned at birth. Would you support or oppose a bill that prohibits transgender youth from joining school-sponsored sports teams that match their gender identity? | 27% | 17% | 20% | 13% | 23% |
| Several state legislatures have proposed or enacted legislation that makes providing transgender youth with gender-affirming medical care a crime. Would you support or oppose a bill that designates the provision of gender-affirming medical care to transgender youth a crime? | 16% | 13% | 25% | 14% | 31% |
Marijuana Legalization (N=800)
In 2016, Massachusetts voters passed an initiative that permits the possession, use, distribution, and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts by persons age 21 and older and removed criminal penalties for such activities. Do you believe that the legalization of marijuana in Massachusetts has been positive or negative for the state?
| Response | Percent |
|---|---|
| Very positive | 26% |
| Somewhat positive | 29% |
| Neither positive nor negative | 21% |
| Somewhat negative | 13% |
| Very negative | 11% |
Demographic Breakdown of August 2026 University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB Poll
| Demographic Category | Self-Identified Republican Primary Voters (N=209) | Self-Identified Democratic Primary Voters (N=445) | All Respondents (N=800) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88% | 91% | 82% |
| People of Color | 12% | 9% | 18% |
| HS or less | 30% | 19% | 24% |
| Some Coll. | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| Coll. Deg. | 36% | 36% | 37% |
| Postgrad | 21% | 34% | 27% |
| 18-29 | 14% | 9% | 17% |
| 30-54 | 38% | 25% | 38% |
| >55 | 48% | 67% | 46% |
| Liberal | 3% | 59% | 39% |
| Moderate | 37% | 37% | 36% |
| Conservative | 61% | 5% | 25% |
| Men | 52% | 42% | 46% |
| Women | 48% | 58% | 54% |
| Harris | 7% | 94% | 63% |
| Trump | 93% | 6% | 37% |
| Self-Identified Democrat | 0% | 89% | 53% |
| Self-Identified Independent | 21% | 11% | 18% |
| Self-Identified Republican | 79% | 0% | 29% |
| <$40K | 16% | 20% | 21% |
| $40K-$100K | 35% | 39% | 36% |
| >$100K | 49% | 41% | 43% |
Crosstabs
View the crosstabs from the Aug 18, 2026 Massachusetts Residents Public Opinion Poll release regarding the gubernatorial race and the state of the state.
This PDF contains the official crosstabs from this poll. Crosstabs break the raw question-and-answer results out by different groups of respondents, such as age, gender, or party affiliation, showing how answers vary across the population.
Republican Gubernatorial Primary (With Leaners)
| Group | Category | Shortsleeve | Minogue | Not Sure | Would Not Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Men | 33% | 51% | 16% | 0% |
| Women | 19% | 54% | 19% | 7% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 11% | 24% | 41% | 23% |
| 30-54 | 27% | 55% | 18% | 1% | |
| >55 | 30% | 59% | 11% | 0% | |
| Education | HS or less | 32% | 52% | 15% | 1% |
| Some Coll. | 18% | 43% | 14% | 24% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 26% | 50% | 23% | 0% | |
| Postgrad | 22% | 64% | 14% | 0% | |
| Income | <$40k | 47% | 28% | 24% | 2% |
| $40k-$100k | 25% | 61% | 14% | 0% | |
| >100k | 21% | 54% | 19% | 6% | |
| Party ID | Ind. | 27% | 42% | 30% | 1% |
| Rep. | 26% | 55% | 14% | 4% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 60% | 16% | 24% | 0% |
| Mod. | 29% | 52% | 19% | 0% | |
| Cons. | 23% | 55% | 17% | 5% | |
| Race | White | 23% | 53% | 20% | 4% |
| POC | 46% | 50% | 4% | 0% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 21% | 53% | 23% | 3% |
| Trump | 28% | 54% | 15% | 4% |
Trump Approval (% Approve)
| Group | Category | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Men | 36% | 32% | 35% |
| Women | 23% | 23% | 29% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 22% | 22% | 31% |
| 30-54 | 29% | 26% | 25% | |
| >55 | 32% | 31% | 38% | |
| Education | HS or less | 43% | 33% | 37% |
| Some Coll. | 32% | 26% | 33% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 25% | 29% | 34% | |
| Postgrad | 21% | 15% | 19% | |
| Income | <$40k | 33% | 22% | 30% |
| $40k-$100k | 25% | 31% | 33% | |
| >100k | 31% | 28% | 29% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Ind. | 29% | 24% | 38% | |
| Rep. | 74% | 80% | 89% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 3% | 5% | 7% |
| Mod. | 27% | 25% | 28% | |
| Cons. | 75% | 75% | 82% | |
| Race | White | 31% | 23% | 27% |
| POC | 19% | 29% | 34% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 2% | 4% | 6% |
| Trump | 79% | 74% | 79% |
Healey Approval (% Approve)
| Group | Category | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | Feb. 2025 | Oct. 2024 | May 2024 | Oct. 2023 | Apr. 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Men | 52% | 54% | 52% | 54% | 54% | 58% | 51% |
| Women | 59% | 60% | 51% | 61% | 55% | 58% | 62% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 62% | 58% | 43% | 51% | 40% | 55% | 49% |
| 30-54 | 54% | 55% | 55% | 59% | 57% | 56% | 60% | |
| >55 | 55% | 58% | 52% | 60% | 59% | 62% | 57% | |
| Education | HS or less | 42% | 48% | 37% | 54% | 44% | 49% | 50% |
| Some Coll. | 56% | 60% | 49% | 59% | 54% | 55% | 59% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 59% | 56% | 55% | 55% | 54% | 59% | 59% | |
| Postgrad | 64% | 72% | 71% | 65% | 71% | 73% | 62% | |
| Income | <$40k | 53% | 49% | 40% | 58% | 55% | 63% | 54% |
| $40k-$100k | 61% | 59% | 50% | 61% | 48% | 54% | 60% | |
| >100k | 53% | 63% | 60% | 57% | 59% | 66% | 59% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 85% | 82% | 71% | 82% | 75% | 80% | 75% |
| Ind. | 36% | 32% | 40% | 42% | 29% | 36% | 37% | |
| Rep. | 14% | 21% | 17% | 20% | 26% | 31% | 29% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 87% | 85% | 74% | 84% | 76% | 82% | 75% |
| Mod. | 52% | 59% | 48% | 54% | 52% | 54% | 56% | |
| Cons. | 13% | 18% | 14% | 22% | 22% | 26% | 23% | |
| Race | White | 53% | 61% | 53% | 57% | 53% | 56% | 58% |
| POC | 68% | 56% | 51% | 61% | 58% | 64% | 56% | |
| 2020/4Vote | Biden/Harris | 84% | 82% | 74% | 86% | 80% | 87% | 79% |
| Trump | 14% | 24% | 25% | 13% | 21% | 28% | 23% |
Massachusetts Right Direction/Wrong Track
| Group | Category | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right Direction | Wrong Track | Not Sure | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Not Sure | ||
| Gender | Men | 39% | 47% | 14% | 39% | 45% | 16% |
| Women | 38% | 44% | 19% | 40% | 41% | 19% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 40% | 41% | 18% | 44% | 36% | 19% |
| 30-54 | 40% | 42% | 17% | 38% | 43% | 19% | |
| >55 | 36% | 49% | 15% | 38% | 45% | 16% | |
| Education | HS or less | 21% | 60% | 19% | 29% | 53% | 19% |
| Some Coll. | 30% | 42% | 29% | 35% | 47% | 17% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 45% | 45% | 10% | 43% | 38% | 19% | |
| Postgrad | 48% | 34% | 18% | 55% | 30% | 15% | |
| Income | <$40k | 25% | 50% | 25% | 35% | 47% | 18% |
| $40k-$100k | 37% | 49% | 14% | 39% | 46% | 16% | |
| >100k | 45% | 40% | 14% | 44% | 38% | 18% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 56% | 25% | 19% | 57% | 27% | 16% |
| Ind. | 25% | 57% | 18% | 22% | 50% | 29% | |
| Rep. | 13% | 75% | 12% | 15% | 72% | 13% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 66% | 20% | 14% | 65% | 22% | 13% |
| Mod. | 30% | 51% | 19% | 32% | 46% | 22% | |
| Cons. | 10% | 75% | 15% | 15% | 71% | 14% | |
| Race | White | 37% | 46% | 17% | 34% | 40% | 26% |
| POC | 43% | 41% | 16% | 41% | 43% | 15% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 57% | 24% | 18% | 58% | 25% | 18% |
| Trump | 13% | 75% | 12% | 20% | 68% | 13% | |
Nation Right Direction/Wrong Track
| Group | Category | Aug. 2026 | Oct. 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right Direction | Wrong Track | Not Sure | Right Direction | Wrong Track | Not Sure | ||
| Gender | Men | 28% | 66% | 5% | 29% | 65% | 6% |
| Women | 17% | 74% | 9% | 16% | 74% | 10% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 25% | 65% | 10% | 16% | 76% | 8% |
| 30-54 | 19% | 73% | 8% | 24% | 66% | 10% | |
| >55 | 24% | 71% | 6% | 24% | 70% | 6% | |
| Education | HS or less | 28% | 60% | 11% | 28% | 62% | 10% |
| Some Coll. | 21% | 65% | 15% | 20% | 70% | 10% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 24% | 72% | 4% | 23% | 70% | 6% | |
| Postgrad | 15% | 80% | 5% | 12% | 82% | 6% | |
| Income | <$40k | 23% | 67% | 11% | 17% | 74% | 9% |
| $40k-$100k | 20% | 75% | 6% | 24% | 68% | 8% | |
| >100k | 24% | 69% | 7% | 25% | 70% | 5% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 8% | 88% | 4% | 8% | 89% | 3% |
| Ind. | 24% | 67% | 9% | 14% | 65% | 20% | |
| Rep. | 47% | 40% | 14% | 60% | 31% | 9% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 9% | 91% | 0% | 7% | 92% | 1% |
| Mod. | 23% | 69% | 8% | 19% | 70% | 10% | |
| Cons. | 43% | 40% | 17% | 60% | 31% | 9% | |
| Race | White | 22% | 70% | 7% | 18% | 68% | 14% |
| POC | 20% | 71% | 8% | 23% | 70% | 6% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 8% | 90% | 2% | 8% | 88% | 4% |
| Trump | 49% | 36% | 15% | 56% | 37% | 7% | |
Ballot Questions (% Yes)
| Group | Category | Public Records | Primary | Single Family Housing | Same Day Registration | Marijuana | Conservation | Tax Revenue | Attorney Collective Bargaining | Gun Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Men | 84% | 51% | 61% | 65% | 33% | 64% | 65% | 48% | 68% |
| Women | 84% | 50% | 58% | 74% | 31% | 71% | 54% | 42% | 73% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 72% | 54% | 54% | 59% | 32% | 68% | 59% | 41% | 60% |
| 30-54 | 81% | 50% | 64% | 73% | 32% | 72% | 59% | 46% | 68% | |
| >55 | 91% | 50% | 58% | 71% | 32% | 64% | 60% | 46% | 76% | |
| Education | HS or less | 81% | 60% | 57% | 64% | 44% | 65% | 72% | 41% | 61% |
| Some Coll. | 70% | 55% | 52% | 65% | 22% | 60% | 62% | 34% | 64% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 88% | 49% | 61% | 69% | 29% | 67% | 58% | 42% | 72% | |
| Postgrad | 87% | 42% | 63% | 78% | 31% | 73% | 49% | 58% | 79% | |
| Income | <$40k | 80% | 58% | 60% | 63% | 41% | 60% | 66% | 48% | 66% |
| $40k-$100k | 85% | 55% | 62% | 72% | 27% | 77% | 62% | 44% | 74% | |
| >100k | 85% | 42% | 56% | 71% | 32% | 63% | 55% | 46% | 71% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 86% | 51% | 66% | 86% | 24% | 80% | 55% | 57% | 85% |
| Ind. | 81% | 58% | 48% | 62% | 38% | 58% | 61% | 37% | 63% | |
| Rep. | 82% | 45% | 54% | 44% | 45% | 50% | 66% | 27% | 49% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 92% | 49% | 72% | 92% | 21% | 86% | 54% | 66% | 91% |
| Mod. | 79% | 61% | 58% | 66% | 34% | 64% | 64% | 38% | 73% | |
| Cons. | 82% | 37% | 45% | 43% | 46% | 47% | 61% | 25% | 37% | |
| Race | White | 84% | 51% | 60% | 70% | 30% | 67% | 57% | 45% | 71% |
| POC | 84% | 49% | 56% | 69% | 41% | 68% | 67% | 47% | 70% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 87% | 51% | 66% | 86% | 24% | 80% | 55% | 55% | 86% |
| Trump | 81% | 46% | 50% | 46% | 48% | 47% | 67% | 29% | 46% |
Policies (% Support)
| Group | Category | Restrict Cell Phones | End Of Life | Rent Control | Native American Symbols | Columbus Day | Automated Cameras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | Men | 76% | 69% | 57% | 25% | 31% | 36% |
| Women | 81% | 73% | 71% | 38% | 47% | 39% | |
| Age | 18-29 | 60% | 59% | 70% | 46% | 54% | 25% |
| 30-54 | 77% | 73% | 70% | 39% | 46% | 35% | |
| >55 | 86% | 74% | 58% | 21% | 29% | 44% | |
| Education | HS or less | 72% | 69% | 64% | 22% | 28% | 46% |
| Some Coll. | 72% | 62% | 61% | 29% | 36% | 29% | |
| Coll. Deg. | 80% | 73% | 62% | 31% | 40% | 33% | |
| Postgrad | 86% | 74% | 71% | 44% | 51% | 40% | |
| Income | <$40k | 65% | 67% | 64% | 35% | 42% | 44% |
| $40k-$100k | 82% | 75% | 73% | 33% | 43% | 42% | |
| >100k | 81% | 70% | 59% | 30% | 37% | 33% | |
| Party ID | Dem. | 79% | 83% | 81% | 48% | 60% | 44% |
| Ind. | 74% | 59% | 58% | 16% | 21% | 27% | |
| Rep. | 80% | 57% | 40% | 13% | 14% | 32% | |
| Ideology | Lib | 83% | 87% | 87% | 60% | 73% | 35% |
| Mod. | 75% | 67% | 58% | 19% | 24% | 39% | |
| Cons. | 79% | 56% | 41% | 10% | 11% | 40% | |
| Race | White | 81% | 71% | 63% | 29% | 37% | 37% |
| POC | 69% | 70% | 74% | 47% | 54% | 41% | |
| 2024 Vote | Harris | 79% | 82% | 78% | 44% | 55% | 41% |
| Trump | 79% | 55% | 40% | 14% | 15% | 35% |
Demographic Breakdown of August 2026 University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB Poll
| Category | Self-Identified Republican Primary Voters (N=209) | Self-Identified Democratic Primary Voters (N=445) | All Respondents (N=800) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 88% | 91% | 82% |
| People of Color | 12% | 9% | 18% |
| HS or less | 30% | 19% | 24% |
| Some Coll. | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| Coll. Deg. | 36% | 36% | 37% |
| Postgrad | 21% | 34% | 27% |
| 18-29 | 14% | 9% | 17% |
| 30-54 | 38% | 25% | 38% |
| >55 | 48% | 67% | 46% |
| Liberal | 3% | 59% | 39% |
| Moderate | 37% | 37% | 36% |
| Conservative | 61% | 5% | 25% |
| Men | 52% | 42% | 46% |
| Women | 48% | 58% | 54% |
| Harris | 7% | 94% | 63% |
| Trump | 93% | 6% | 37% |
| Self-Identified Democrat | 0% | 89% | 53% |
| Self-Identified Independent | 21% | 11% | 18% |
| Self-Identified Republican | 79% | 0% | 29% |
| <$40K | 16% | 20% | 21% |
| $40K-$100K | 35% | 39% | 36% |
| >$100K | 49% | 41% | 43% |
Contact for This Poll
Director of UMass Poll
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