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Minogue is ready to debate Healey, not primary opponent Shortsleeve
Mike Minogue says that it is time for the Mass. GOP to "unite" to defeat Maura Healey. Brian Shortsleeve says voters should see him and Minogue side-by-side again.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue is ready for a debate — just not with his primary opponent.
On the heels of his overwhelming victory at the Massachusetts Republican Party Convention last month, Minogue issued a release Friday calling on Gov. Maura Healey to debate him twice before Labor Day. It makes no mention of the venture capitalist and former MBTA head Brian Shortsleeve, the other Republican candidate. Shortsleeve narrowly made it on to the primary ballot after the convention.
Minogue, the former CEO of Danvers-based medical device company Abiomed, secured the support of more than 70 percent of GOP delegates at the convention that was marked by logistical delays and moments of chaos. Shortsleeve won 15.5 percent of delegates, barely surpassing the 15 percent threshold needed to earn a spot on the primary ballot. Another candidate, Mike Kennealy, dropped out after failing to hit that mark.
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In the wake of the convention, allies of Minogue began a pressure campaign with the hopes of forcing Shortsleeve out of the race.
Shortsleeve is adamant that he will remain in the race and is focused on defeating Minogue in the Sept. 1 primary. His campaign says that Minogue is ducking debate challenges and refusing to present his case for the nomination directly to GOP primary voters.
During a recent appearance on WCVB, Minogue responded to questions about debating Shortsleeve by saying that he has done plenty of side-by-side appearances with opponents over the past few months, including question-and-answers sessions. The 70 percent support Minogue won was a “mandate,” he said, and he is now focused solely on the general election.
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Minogue declined to specifically call for Shortsleeve to drop out but said that Republicans need to coalesce if they have any hope of defeating Healey.
“My opponent can make their own opinion. I respect both the opponents, they have worked hard, they have been out there listening to people, they want to serve. I respect that. I also sincerely believe they made me a better candidate, but now it’s time for the party to unite,” Minogue said on WCVB.
Minogue focused on Healey in his release, blaming her for driving up energy and housing costs while failing to support State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s efforts to audit the Legislature.
“[Voters] should not have to wait until the final stretch of the campaign to hear a clear contrast on the issues shaping their lives,” Minogue’s campaign said.
Shortsleeve has called the GOP convention an “insider spectacle” and said that candidates who avoid primary debates are “not ready” for general election showdowns. In recent social media posts, his campaign has kept the focus on Healey and issues of affordability.
The editorial board of The Boston Globe published an article Monday advocating for debates between Minogue and Shortsleeve.
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The Massachusetts Democratic Party also responded to Minogue’s challenge of Healey, saying that he should stop avoiding a debate with Shortsleeve.
“News flash to Mike Minogue: he has a primary opponent and he should stop ducking his own party’s debates,” the party said.
Meanwhile, the debate about debates is bleeding into the Senate race. Rep. Seth Moulton is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, framing the primary election as a choice between the older political establishment and a new generation of leaders. Republican John Deaton awaits in the general election.
Moulton used social media to respond to the post from the Massachusetts Democratic Party, tagging Markey and saying that the two should “lead by example.”
Deaton jumped on Moulton’s suggestion, saying that the two Democrats should join him for multiple three-way debates before the general election.
“If you’re confident you have the right vision for MA and America, you won’t hesitate. And neither should Ed,” Deaton said in a statement directed at Moulton.
Moulton responded to Deaton, saying he would be happy to debate whether or not Markey participated.
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