In their second and final televised debate, Democratic incumbent Gov. Maura Healey and Republican Mike Minogue faced off about issues from affordability to abortion rights to immigration enforcement.
The debate opened with moderators asking each candidate about the rising cost of living and the discussion quickly turned to gas prices.
Healey said she is the “first governor in Massachusetts in 20 years to cut taxes,” pointing to a $1 billion tax relief package she signed in 2023. Moderators asked both candidates about what other taxes they might suspend after the gas tax pause, which is 24 cents per gallon. Healey specified the gas tax break should only be for a limited time and should benefit drivers. The suspension would cover gas and diesel and would cost the state about $120 million.
Healey also blamed rising costs of living on President Donald Trump.
“We’re only having this conversation because we have a president who has taken us to war, who long ago put on tariffs and has done other things that have raised the cost of everything,” she said.
In his response, Minogue said he would cut a third of utility fees and expand school choice through the federal scholarship tax credit. He also pointed to achievement gaps in schools and said Healey has had the lowest housing permit rate in the country.
Minogue repeatedly referenced Healey’s remark from the first debate that Massachusetts is a “great place to live if you can afford it.” PolitiFact, which fact-checked the debate, said the line needs context. Healey made the comment while answering a question about a ballot measure encouraging denser housing, which she said she supported.
During the debate, energy costs were also a point of contention. Minogue blamed Healey for stopping installation of natural gas lines. As attorney general about a decade ago, Healey opposed two proposed pipelines, Access Northeast and Northeast Energy Direct. Politifact noted that since then, she has reversed her opposition and asked the Trump administration to speed up a gas line process. Healey said the commonwealth needs to bring in more energy such as hydropower and geothermal to lower costs and blamed the war in Iran and tariffs for driving up prices.
“I will say that we believe we can make energy more affordable without backsliding on clean energy,” Larry Chretien, executive director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, said in a statement provided to the Bay State Banner. “There are many opportunities to contain cost.”
The candidates also split on abortion. Moderators asked Minogue whether he would support an effort to repeal the law Healey signed in August, which removed restrictions on abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy and left those decisions to doctors’ professional judgment. Minogue, who describes himself as “pro-life,” did not give a yes or no answer. He called abortion a “very sensitive and difficult decision that has become politicized” and said his own beliefs would not interfere with the law.
Healey countered by saying abortion is not a politicized issue in America if 1 in 3 women live without access to needed abortion care. Healey described Massachusetts as having the strongest shield law, referring to the Shield Act 2.0, which she signed in 2025. The law prevents disclosure of sensitive data such as a physician’s name and bars states and local authorities from cooperating with out-of-state or federal investigations into health care legally protected in Massachusetts.
Rebecca Hart Holder, former president of Reproductive Equity Now, said in an online statement that the updated shield law means “Massachusetts has taken a bold and necessary step to reaffirm and expand our commitment to protecting patients and providers.”
On immigration enforcement, Rafael Ulloa from El Planeta Media asked the candidates whether or not they would use U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport undocumented immigrants with no criminal records, even if it separated families, and how they would protect people from government mistreatment.
Healey called ICE a rogue agency, describing how many immigrants are tax-paying people raising families and that children are scared to go to school because of ICE. She pointed to the PROTECT Act, which she signed in August and bars warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses, schools, child care centers and health care facilities. She said those “who aren’t here legally should be deported” and she has worked to take criminals off the street. “ICE is a public safety threat right now in Massachusetts,” Healey said.
Liz Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said in a press release shortly after the PROTECT Act was passed that it “solidifies a commitment to protecting immigrant communities, ensuring due process, and upholding fundamental civil rights.”
Minogue said he would “be the leader” and “lower the temperature” while making sure ICE targets criminals. He said he supports “schools and these communities where their parents are illegal immigrants and are working” and that he would meet with people who are scared.
Moderators asked Healey whether her administration has an oversight problem, following the arrest of LaMar Cook, a former deputy director of her western Massachusetts office. Cook was arrested in October 2025 on cocaine trafficking charges and fired. Authorities said they intercepted about 17 pounds of cocaine addressed to the state office building where Cook worked, and State Police arrested him after a trooper posing as a delivery driver handed over a package. He was arrested again this week on federal wire fraud and SNAP fraud charges. Healey said she fired Cook immediately.
When questioned if there were any changes made in how things are overseen, she responded that there is “an extensive process when it comes to hiring people.”
Minogue countered that Cook was arrested before he was fired. Minogue questioned whether Healey’s administration had looked into the case, including where earlier packages were delivered and whether anyone had overdosed. Law enforcement did conduct an investigation in which State Police intercepted the package of cocaine and arrested Cook, and the Hampden district attorney has described the criminal investigation as ongoing. Some Republicans have called for an independent review of how Healey’s administration hires.
Early voting runs through Oct. 30, and Election Day is Nov. 3. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 24.