30 Million Reserve: Minogue Accuses Healey of Buying State Police Endorsement

Mike Minogue, the Republican nominee for governor, accused Gov. Maura Healey on Saturday of exchanging a new state police contract for her campaign endorsement. Minogue posted on Facebook that Healey cut a deal with the State Police Association of Massachusetts (SPAM) and withheld the announcement until after the November 3 election. He characterized the arrangement as illegal, arguing that a political endorsement was traded for a taxpayer-funded contract.

The claim centers on a supplemental budget Healey filed on September 23 to close fiscal year 2026 books. That legislation includes language to ratify collective bargaining agreements with SPAM and the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union. The bill creates a $30 million reserve account to cover the costs of these ratified deals. Minogue suggested the contract terms, which he claimed total an 18% increase over three years, were the price for the union’s support.

SPAM president Brendan Murphy rejected the numbers in a statement Sunday. He said the agreement provides raises totaling 11% over three years, a figure consistent with other state unions. Murphy called Minogue’s 18% claim wrong and labeled the accusation that the union traded its endorsement for a contract categorically false. He argued that accusing members of corruption without evidence was reckless.

Healey’s campaign responded with sharp criticism. Spokesperson Kerry Patrick Lyons called the allegation an unhinged rant from a desperate candidate. Lyons noted that his response was issued under penalty of perjury, a direct nod to Minogue’s demand for a sworn statement from the governor. The campaign maintained that the endorsement stemmed from Healey’s long history with law enforcement, not a financial transaction.

Minogue escalated the issue during a debate with Healey on October 15, stating he disliked the deals being cut with unions for endorsements. He has since demanded Healey disclose all communications between her negotiation team and union representatives. He argued that the timing of the endorsement, which came on September 10 alongside the conclusion of contract negotiations, raised questions about transparency. Healey, a Democrat, also received endorsements from the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, and the Massachusetts State Police Commissioned Officers Association on that same day.

During a campaign stop in Framingham on Monday, Healey addressed the accusations directly. She said she was proud to have the support of four police organizations and called the deal theory lies and nonsense. The House passed its version of the supplemental budget last week, retaining the $30 million reserve and contract language. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation after the election.