Gov. Maura Healey is lucky she’s not up for re-election until 2026.
That’s because a poll out Tuesday clearly signals Massachusetts voters are fed up with the cost of … well, everything. Reading between the lines, the governor is facing heat.
Economic anxiety is a reality in households across the commonwealth due to inflation, high interest rates, and limitations on purchasing power. A trip to the grocery store now requires a cost-benefit analysis by household members.
Toss in stresses coming from Beacon Hill, and Team Healey should be sweating the cliff their candidate is heading toward if her administration refuses to moderate. But that would take leadership and upsetting your base and we doubt Healey has the political courage to do so.
Here’s what the MassFiscal poll is saying:
- 59.87% are against the new “net zero” emissions goals built into the state building codes, which can hike the cost of a new home by an estimated $23,000.
- 53.60% are “highly concerned” that the migrant crisis — and all the payouts to shelter dwellers — will harm the housing and rental markets.
- 55.20% say Healey’s “real estate transfer fee” idea, which would tax 0.5% to 2% on the portion of a property sale over $1 million or the county median home sale price, is a bad idea.
- 44.80% dislike the MBTA Communities Act mandating higher-density housing. Go ask Milton about this one.
And we’re not talking about the cross tabs, where the largest political party in Massachusetts — “unenrolled” independent-minded voters — make up 63.61% of the electorate.
Looking at one category in the poll, it’s clear Healey is treading water with independents. A robust 30.69% responded they have “strongly unfavorable” views of her administration; 14.83% are “somewhat unfavorable,” and 13.81% are “unsure.”
Unsure? These voters could tip the scales in a race. Because the governor is doing a good job at angering more and more residents every week. In Norfolk, the Herald reported one resident was so popular in her concerns about migrants moving into an abandoned prison that someone shouted out, “Run for governor!”
“The bottom line is we don’t have the space, and I know the government loves to simply throw money at the problem with the expectation that it will be fixed, but that won’t work,” Norfolk school committee member Lauren Vives said last week at an emergency community meeting where she was cut off by a booming standing ovation, yells from the crowd — including the urge to run for the Corner Office.
Politicians have a saying for this, they call it retail politics. Getting on the ground, but for Healey and other progressives, packing the room with like-minded followers won’t win you re-election. (U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren should take note, but that’s a topic for another day.)
Healey’s edicts and lack of immediate and get-tough reaction to what ails Massachusetts residents will make her a one-term governor. We can’t wait for reality to finally catch up to her thinking.
The summer is on our doorstep and now is the time to stop the state’s right-to-shelter law, help who’s here now and turn the focus back on the residents who keep paying taxes. Or, more will leave the state.