Mike Kennealy didn’t grow up dreaming of politics. He grew up in a middle-class family in Reading. His father was a steelworker, and his mother was a homemaker. From them, he inherited hard work and a deep belief in fairness.

“I’m very proud of my dad,” Kennealy says, “He always told me, we’ve got to make sure everyone has a great opportunity here.”

Now, as Kennealy launches his campaign for governor of Massachusetts, the message about opportunity for everyone is at the heart of his campaign. A Republican with a background in both private and public services, Kennealy is presenting himself as a leader who knows how to build an alliance in a state ruled by Democrats.

“We’re an independent-minded state,” he says. “Massachusetts is often called a blue state, but I see it as a purple state with a blue government.”

Path to politics

Kennealy’s path to politics wasn’t easy or premeditated. He graduated from Dartmouth College and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He spent over 15 years in private equity working with more than a thousand CEOs, investing in over 100 companies. That experience, he says, gave him first-hand insight into job creation and economic development.

But about 12 years ago, he decided he wanted to do something more.

“What I wanted to do with the rest of my professional career was to serve the people of Massachusetts,” he says.

He began his public service with a role in the turnaround of Lawrence Public Schools, where he helped raise the graduation rate from 52% to 72%. He later joined Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration and eventually served as Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.

In that role, he traveled to more than 150 cities and towns across the state, working closely with local leaders on housing reforms, infrastructure and workforce training programs.

“That job taught me the scale and scope of what the state government can achieve when it works in true partnership with communities,” Kennealy says.

The three pillars of the campaign

If elected governor, affordability, opportunity and trust in government would be the three main goals of Kennealy’s administration.

He argues that affordability has become a crisis for Massachusetts at this moment.

“This has become a state where some people cannot afford to live here, and people are leaving,” he says, pointing to rising taxes, housing and energy costs.

The second goal is ensuring a great future for everyone.

“We need a growing, vibrant economy,” he says. “But we also need a trained workforce to take advantage of it.”

Finally, he wants to restore trust in government through responsibility, transparency, and collaboration.

“I think Beacon Hill is falling short in all those areas today,” he says.

Collaboration key

Kennealy believes one of his core strengths is the ability to work across the business and public spheres.

“Too often, business is viewed in politics as a resource to be taxed or regulated, rather than a partner in progress,” he says, adding his campaign seeks to change that, leaning on both his boardroom credentials and his first-hand experience with communities statewide.

Kennealy says reaching young voters, especially those concerned about climate change and student debt, is a top priority.

“We’ll be active on social media, at events, in meetings,” he says. “But more importantly, we’ll be listening.”

As a Republican in a state with a Democratic stronghold, Kennealy isn’t intimidated. He points out that 65% of Massachusetts voters are registered as independents, the highest percentage in the country.

Even though Massachusetts leans heavily Democratic, voters have repeatedly elected moderate Republicans to the governor’s office, the most recent being Charlie Baker, who served two terms from 2015 to 2023.

Baker maintained high approval ratings across party lines for his moderate stance, a legacy Kennealy embraces.

“What people want is collaboration, not one-party rule,” he says. “They want real solutions to real problems.”

Who is Mike Kennealy?

So, who is Mike Kennealy beyond his credentials? When asked what he hopes voters understand about him, he’s quick to reply: “A deep dedication and a proven ability to deliver.”

He ticks off the qualities he believes leadership requires: vision, strategy, team-building, listening and execution.

“I’ve done all those things throughout my career,” he says. “And that’s what I hope to bring to the people of Massachusetts.”

Aditi Thube writes for the Gazette from the Boston University Statehouse Program.