Summary
Massachusetts governors have run for president several times in recent history but have not won any presidential elections. This makes the Massachusetts governorship one of the least successful political positions for launching a presidential campaign.
Key Facts
- Four former Massachusetts governors have run for president a total of five times and lost each time.
- Massachusetts governors are tied with Tennessee senators for the most failed presidential bids.
- Michael Dukakis, governor in 1988, lost the presidential election to George H. W. Bush.
- Mitt Romney, governor in 2008 and 2012, lost the Republican nomination once and the general election once.
- Bill Weld and Deval Patrick, both former Massachusetts governors, failed in the 2020 presidential primaries.
- Massachusetts senators have also struggled to win the presidency after John F. Kennedy.
- The only Massachusetts governor to become president was Calvin Coolidge, who first became vice president and then president after a death.
- Governor Maura Healey has been mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential candidate but has not declared a run.
