Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor Brian Shortsleeve raises over $135,000 in first 24 hours, campaign says

Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald on May 13, 2025

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BOSTON — Brian Shortsleeve, a venture capitalist and former MBTA executive, raised more than $135,000 in the 24 hours since he announced he was running for governor as a Republican Monday morning, his campaign said in a statement to the Herald.

Shortsleeve’s haul, which cannot be verified with state campaign finance data until fundraising reports are filed at the end of the month, is more than his Republican primary opponent, Mike Kennealy, raised in the first month of campaigning.

Shortsleeve, a 52-year-old Barnstable resident, said he was “truly humbled by the outpouring of support for my candidacy.”

“Our fundraising strength shows that people are ready to invest in a candidate who will fight for real change by ending the migrant crisis, stopping out-of-control spending, and making Massachusetts affordable for everyday people,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

In his campaign launch video, Shortsleeve drew heavily upon his time with the U.S. Marine Corps, arguing that Massachusetts needs a veteran to cut spending, reduce taxes, and make the state affordable for families and businesses.

He argued he was the right person to “restore common sense to the commonwealth and put Massachusetts first.”

“This is our home where we’re raising our boys, and I’m not letting it fall apart without a fight. This isn’t a campaign. It’s a mission for Massachusetts, and I’m ready. You in?”

A spokesperson for Kennealy said “we will wait and see what the final numbers look like when they are reported.”

Kennealy raised more than $311,000 in April after launching his bid for governor at the start of the month, according to campaign finance data. More than 60% of the funds he raised last month came from a $200,000 loan

The 57-year-old from Lexington also took in a string of contributions in April that surpassed the maximum amount an individual can donate to a candidate for elected office under state law.

Kennealy’s campaign said the over-the-limit donations were a result of some donors covering credit card fees and couples donating through a single transaction. A spokesperson for Kennealy previously said the campaign was in the process of refunding excess donations.

Top brass at the Massachusetts Democratic Party called on campaign finance regulators last week to open an investigation into the excess donations.

Kennealy has pledged to seed his campaign with $2 million from his personal wealth, while Shortsleeve said he is not contributing any of his own cash at the outset of his run.

Both Republicans are still far short of Gov. Maura Healey’s nearly $3 million campaign war chest. The governor raised more than $164,000 in April and over $404,000 in March, according to state data.

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