Massachusetts’ 2026 elections have seen record-breaking spending, with nine ballot questions set to appear on the ballot, surpassing the previous single-cycle record of $65.8 million set in 2022. Governor Maura Healey has targeted her opponent, Mike Minogue, for his wealth and campaign spending, which has exceeded $17 million as of early October. Healey has raised about $7.6 million since the start of 2025.
Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national nonprofit, is the largest single question backer with $3.5 million contributed to the effort to repeal recreational marijuana. The Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance has offered $1.9 million, all in-kind contributions, to the effort to tweak a state tax cap. Several private-equity donors have also put big money behind a proposal to change state primary elections, with Randy Peeler contributing more than $1 million.
For the 160-member House and 40-member Senate, less of the money goes directly into campaigning than might be expected. Will Brownsberger spent nearly $575,000 on the effort to keep his seat, nearly twice as much as Senate President Karen Spilka, who spent $938,000 from January 1, 2025, through the end of August 2026. Brownsberger’s spending includes efforts to keep his seat, while Spilka’s includes political consulting, travel to a conference, and a $2,150 “ice cream reception for Senate staff during budget week.”
The spending patterns reflect long-standing practices in the Legislature, where lawmakers often burn through campaign cash even when they do not need to exert effort to secure reelection. A 2024 study by state campaign finance regulators found that candidates running for the House unopposed spent about $1,700 more on average than candidates running for the House with opponents.
Lawmakers also use campaign funds for a variety of purposes, including the maintenance of websites and offices, consultants and strategists on payroll, and sending condolence flowers to friends and constituents.
