Healey holds her head above water in new poll

September 10, 2025

By JENNIFER SMITH

Just over half of Massachusetts residents approve of the job Maura Healey is doing as governor – holding steady according to a new poll – but any challengers aligning themselves with Donald Trump will have to contend with the president’s persistent deep unpopularity in the Bay State. 

In a new poll for CommonWealth Beacon conducted by the MassINC Polling Group – which is partially owned by Commonwealth Beacon’s publisher MassINC – 1,000 Massachusetts residents weighed in on the state and federal executives between August 11 and 18. (Topline | Crosstabs) 

Asked how they thought Healey is doing as governor, 20 percent of residents said they strongly approve of her performance, 36 percent say they somewhat approve, 15 percent somewhat disapprove, 18 percent strongly disapprove, and 11 percent said they were unsure. The credibility interval is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. 

Most Massachusetts residents have an opinion on Trump’s performance, with only 4 percent unsure. And they’re more firmly opposed to the president’s actions. Some 48 percent of the respondents said they strongly disapprove, 12 percent somewhat disapprove, 18 percent somewhat approve, and 17 percent strongly approve.  

“Healey looks to me like a conventional Democrat,” said Steve Koczela, president of the MassINC Polling group. “She draws more cross-party support than Trump. Republicans don’t love her, but they also are not united against her the way Democrats oppose Trump.” 

Between Healey’s own base and enough independents, he said, it’s a “perfectly fine poll” for the incumbent. “It’s a long campaign with a lot to come,” he said. “But this poll on its own doesn’t feel like a warning sign.”