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Mike Minogue heads to Mass GOP convention ready to take on Maura Healey: ‘She’s bankrupting our state’
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As the Massachusetts GOP gathers for its convention in Worcester this weekend, Airborne Ranger and former Abiomed CEO Mike Minogue appears to have the wind in his sails.
With a solid business background, he is positioning himself as the practical problem-solver and outsider, running in the primary against two veterans of the Charlie Baker administration.
Minogue, who ran a leading medical devices company for two decades, also benefits from a massive financial advantage over his two GOP rivals, Brian Shortsleeve, former chief administrator of the MBTA, and Mike Kennealy, secretary of Housing and Economic Development under Baker.
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Combat veteran-turned-CEO Mike Minogue on Wednesday launched a Republican campaign for governor in Massachusetts (Mike Minogue campaign)
«I am running as the political outsider, and because of that, I have the freedom and the ability to solve problems for our citizens,» Minogue said. «And I think that’s why I’m gonna win, and that’s why we’ve got the most momentum.»
Delegates will vote for the party nomination for governor and other statewide offices. According to party rules, candidates need 15% of the vote to qualify for the September primary ballot and 50% of the vote to receive an official endorsement from the party.
The convention will be a test of Minogue’s ability to capitalize on a robust infrastructure and fundraising effort against two establishment candidates.
Minogue brings a compelling narrative to a campaign in which the GOP will face an uphill battle to unseat incumbent Gov. Maura Healey.
He was awarded the Bronze Star for service during Operation Desert Storm and went on to a highly successful career in the medical device industry, ultimately guiding a deal that sold Abiomed to Johnson & Johnson for $16.6B.
«Well, I think that the campaign has had a message that it’s time for a new kind of governor. And so since I’m not part of the establishment, I’m coming in with a blueprint as a leader,» Minogue said. «So, first of all, people want a leader that has integrity, common sense and compassion. And they want to elect somebody that has a blueprint to bring accountability, affordability, opportunity and will keep our community safe. And so that’s really my platform.
«And on the accountability, the audit that 72% of the voters acted for is something I was able to get involved in as a concerned citizen, and that needs to be done. And, so, that’s something around transparency and holding the one-party system accountable. And as a business person, as the only person who’s run and built the company, as a public company CEO for 19 years, I got audited every three months by an outside agency. That’s the accountability we need.»
Minogue brings a unique set of qualifications to the table, which are essential to his campaign message and its resonance with Bay State voters.
«I’m not a political establishment person. The other two are. I also have the most experience from West Point to being a combat veteran, to running a business for 19 years, to also having several entrepreneurial private businesses and also being a leader in the nonprofit world around education, helping veterans, helping healthcare,» Minogue said.
«So, I bring a skill set. … It’s more about my qualifications, less about policy.
Massachusetts’ Democratic Gov. Maura Healey is running for re-election in 2026. (Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«But, again, people want someone to come in who will solve problems, doesn’t worry about the next election. And, so, I’ve got the most energy. I have more cash on hand, in fact, two times the cash on hand than the incumbent Governor Healey. And I am going to stop the overspending, the overtaxing and the overregulating because, as a business person, I know how to do that.»
Massachusetts has long been dominated by the Democratic Party, except when it comes to the governor’s office. In fact, five of the last six governors prior to Maura Healey were Republicans.
Nonetheless, the GOP nominee will face a challenge in a state in which only 8% of registered voters are Republicans.
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«So, I think what people don’t understand and why I’m gonna be the next governor is Massachusetts is not a blue state or a red state,» Minogue said. «In fact, we have low percentages for both parties, but people here have principles.»
«More people say they’re conservative as well than the numbers of the Republican Party, but people also want common sense. We’re a gritty group of people. We started the revolution. We endured in order to drive the British out of Boston in 1776. And that culture is still here. And I love that about it.»
Mike Minogue faces two veterans of the Charlie Baker administration in the 2026 primary. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Minogue argues that Healey’s energy and fiscal policies have left the state and its business community in a precarious position.
«I think the biggest issue with Governor Healey is two things. One is a failure to be a leader. She hasn’t stepped forward and driven the audit of the legislature that we voted for. In fact, she’s avoiding it,» Minogue said.
«The second thing is she hasn’t solved the energy problem. She doesn’t invest in innovation. She keeps investing more and more tax dollars in green energy — wind and solar. And after two decades and over a billion dollars in tax money, we get less than 6% of our energy in Massachusetts from wind and solar.
«Meanwhile, we get 20% of our energy from the nuclear energy facility in Seabrook, New Hampshire, that we don’t subsidize. And we have natural gas in America. We’re blessed with it. The pipelines need to come from Pennsylvania or New York. That will lower our energy. That’s safe, reliable, cheaper.»
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Minogue argues that Healey does not have a plan to address the exploding state budget, which is particularly feeling the pinch from skyrocketing health care costs.
«So, first thing is the overall budget, $63 [billion]. Then I would drill in to the healthcare budget, which is 54% of our budget. It’s around $34 billion,» Minogue said. «I’ve been in all the hospitals, I’m an expert in healthcare. It’s what I’ve done for 30 years…It’s known that we are one of the top places for Medicaid, Medicare fraud.
We know our SNAP benefits and food stamps have massive fraud. Every time our U.S. attorney or state auditor looks at it, they find millions to tens of millions of savings. And we have to understand how this is impacting all the other businesses. Because if you drive health care costs up, and you have waste and fraud and the healthcare for entrepreneurs and for individuals is one of the most expensive in the nation and energy is one the most expensive in the nation, people leave. That’s why we got to do math.»
The Massachusetts State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. (Thomas Kurmeier via Getty Images)
In a state in which 65% of the electorate is registered as «unenrolled,» Minogue is cognizant of the need to appeal to independents and Democrats.
«I will work with anyone to solve problems. I don’t care if it’s blue, red or independent. It doesn’t matter to me. But as the governor, there’s some things you can do,» he said.
«So, on day one, you can declare that one third of the energy bills, the climate utility tax, is gone. So, that’s gonna help quality of life immediately. No. 2 is, I can bring in gas pipelines, and I can bring in nuclear energy by talking to companies. And I will do that.
«The third is, I can opt into the federal scholarship tax credit, which immediately will be providing educational grants to about 80% of the parents that have kids. It gives them a choice on how they educate their kids.
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«We need a leader who loves the people more than they hate the other party. And that’s what I will do. I will solve problems. We are not political enemies. We are neighbors, and we just need to help people and understand that the goal is to make Massachusetts the best place to live, work, and raise a family, like I’ve had the blessing to do.»
politics, massachusetts, midterm elections, health care healthy living, economic policy
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Massachusetts woman steps in after ‘shameful’ Dem governor boycotts Great American State Fair
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A patriotic woman from Massachusetts took matters into her own hands after leaders in her state decided to boycott the Great American State Fair out of anger at President Donald Trump — and she showed no mercy to those who made that decision.
«I came here to represent Massachusetts because I didn’t want the public to walk into an empty room. I wanted somebody to be there,» said Donna Festinger, who paid her own way from the Bay State to the nation’s capital to celebrate 250 years of American independence.
Festinger is manning her state’s booth at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, part of the Trump-aligned Freedom 250 event that began on June 25 and ends on July 10.
Massachusetts resident Donna Festinger speaks with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2026. (Hannah Brennan/Fox News Digital)
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She had a clear message for Massachusetts leadership, along with the leadership of other states who also declined to participate in the celebration.
«I’m very disappointed that Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts decided — their governments decided not to support this effort to celebrate our American heritage,» she said. «It’s actually shameful.»
«It makes me feel like they really don’t love America or Massachusetts — my governor,» she said of Democrat Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, who has had some very public spats with Trump.
Festinger, a former teacher who paid her own way to the event in Washington, D.C., and arrived at the beginning of the celebration, says she plans to stay through the entire 16-day event.
Massachusetts resident Donna Festinger occupies her state’s booth at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2026. (Hannah Brennan/Fox News Digital)
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She told Fox News Digital that she thinks the state boycotts are actually a point of unity for the American public, «because most people are upset about it and do not understand why a governor would do that.»
«And so that’s actually uniting people, Democrats, Republicans, independents, and agreeing that every state should be proud of our country,» Festinger speculated.
She added: «I think the Trump administration is working hard to bring the country together.»
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Meanwhile, Healey, known for her rabid anti-Trump streak, mocked the fair in an interview with Boston Public Radio.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey also hosted a news conference on Thursday, pushing back on the Supreme Court’s decision. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Asked whether she would welcome Trump if he visited the state, she reportedly said the president is «too busy with his Great American State Fair down there that everybody’s bailing on.»
She also claimed, without evidence, that Trump is using the fair to «get money into his own pocket,» and falsely claimed that states were being charged to participate in the fair.
Festinger also recently garnered some backup at the Massachusetts booth.
Judith Kalaora, a Boston resident, stood at the state’s stand dressed to the nines in a Revolutionary War uniform to honor Deborah Sampson, a Massachusetts woman who disguised herself as a man to fight the British.
Judith Kalaora of Massachusetts honors female Continental Army soldier Deborah Sampson at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2026. (Hannah Brennan/Fox News Digital)
«I’m hopeful that my being here will unite folks to realize that Boston and Massachusetts have a great spirit, and that that spirit can unite the United States through our nation’s heritage and through our military history,» said Kalaora.
«I believe that the United States, in 250 years, has accomplished many more achievements than other nations have accomplished in 400 and 500 years,»
Eleven states, all run by Democrats, decided to skip the fair.
Some had explicitly anti-Trump reasons for declining to participate, like Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker, citing what he said is Trump’s «politicization of America 250 activities.»
Oregon’s leadership expressed a similar sentiment, though did not mention Trump by name.
«The State of Oregon will not be participating in the Great American State Fair due to both the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented,» Democrat Gov. Tina Kotek’s office said in a statement.
People visit «The Great American State Fair» during a heatwave in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2026. Tens of millions of Americans sweltered under furnace-like temperatures this week as central and eastern cities hunkered down for a heat wave set to last through the July 4 holiday weekend. (Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)
Kalaora, however, remains optimistic.
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«Times change, and emotions change, and that’s okay, as long as we still remember that we’ve done great things,» she said.
«I’m happy to be here.»
american stories, massachusetts, washington dc, politics, fox business proud american
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Las ventas de autos nuevos mantienen el acelerador en Panamá y superan las 26 mil unidades hasta mayo
La venta de autos nuevos en Panamá mantiene su ritmo de crecimiento en 2026 y consolida al segmento de las SUV como el principal motor del mercado automotriz. Entre enero y mayo se inscribieron 26,689 vehículos nuevos, un aumento de 12.7% frente a las 23,679 unidades registradas en el mismo periodo de 2025, según cifras preliminares de la Contraloría General.
El resultado confirma que la industria avanza por encima de la proyección inicial de crecimiento que manejaba el sector para este año. La expectativa preliminar apuntaba a un aumento cercano al 5% y a un cierre de alrededor de 63 mil unidades, pero el comportamiento observado hasta mayo sugiere que esa meta podría ser superada si la demanda mantiene el impulso durante el segundo semestre.
En 2025, el mercado cerró con 60,233 autos nuevos vendidos, un crecimiento de 10.8% frente a 2024, cuando se comercializaron 54,384 unidades. De sostenerse la tendencia acumulada hasta mayo, 2026 podría convertirse en otro año de expansión para una actividad que viene recuperándose de forma sostenida tras la pandemia, apoyada en mayor oferta de modelos, competencia de precios, nuevas marcas y acceso al crédito.
El crecimiento no ha sido uniforme durante el año. Marzo fue el mes de mayor dinamismo, con 6,473 autos nuevos inscritos, un salto de 42.5% frente al mismo mes de 2025. Abril moderó el ritmo con 5,312 unidades y un incremento de 4.1%, mientras que mayo cerró con 4,972 vehículos, 7.4% más que en igual mes del año anterior.
El liderazgo del mercado sigue concentrado en las SUV, que se han convertido en el modelo preferido por los consumidores panameños. Entre enero y mayo se inscribieron 14,987 SUV, lo que representa 56.2% del total de autos nuevos vendidos en el país. Este segmento creció 12.8% frente a las 13,283 unidades registradas en el mismo periodo de 2025.
La preferencia por las SUV responde a una combinación de factores: mayor sensación de seguridad, espacio interior, altura de manejo, versatilidad familiar y una oferta cada vez más amplia en versiones compactas, medianas y grandes.
Otro de los factores que continúa transformando el mercado automotriz panameño es la consolidación de las marcas chinas. La mayor disponibilidad de modelos, una estrategia de precios más competitiva y una oferta cada vez más amplia de tecnología y equipamiento han permitido que estos fabricantes ganen terreno frente a las marcas tradicionales.
De acuerdo con estimaciones de la industria, las marcas de origen chino ya representan cerca del 30% de las ventas de vehículos nuevos en Panamá, una participación que ha venido aumentando de forma sostenida en los últimos años.
Este cambio ha intensificado la competencia entre distribuidores y ha ampliado las opciones para los consumidores, especialmente en el segmento de las SUV, donde se concentra buena parte de la oferta de fabricantes chinos. No obstante, las marcas japonesas continúan liderando el mercado, con Toyota manteniendo la primera posición en ventas, respaldada por su red de distribución, servicio posventa y trayectoria en el país.
Después de las SUV, los automóviles regulares ocuparon el segundo lugar del mercado con 5,282 unidades, un crecimiento de 23.9%, el mayor avance entre los segmentos de alto volumen. Esta categoría incluye sedanes, coupés, camionetas y hatchbacks.
Le siguieron los pick ups, con 3,663 unidades, un aumento de 11.6%, impulsados por la demanda comercial, agropecuaria y de usuarios que buscan vehículos de trabajo con doble propósito.
El segmento de autos de lujo mostró un avance más moderado, con 975 unidades inscritas hasta mayo, apenas 1.5% más que en el mismo periodo de 2025. Aunque el crecimiento es bajo, mantiene una tendencia positiva en una categoría que durante varios años tuvo un comportamiento más débil por el encarecimiento del financiamiento y la cautela en el consumo de mayor valor.
No todos los segmentos crecieron. Las minivans cayeron 18.5%, al pasar de 367 a 299 unidades; los buses bajaron 25.7%, con 211 unidades; y los camiones retrocedieron 4.7%, hasta 785 unidades. Estos descensos muestran que la recuperación está más concentrada en vehículos de uso particular y en segmentos de alta preferencia familiar.
Hacia adelante, voces de la industria prevén que el desempeño dependerá de tres factores principales: disponibilidad de inventario, condiciones de crédito y confianza del consumidor. El financiamiento seguirá siendo clave, porque una parte importante de las compras de autos nuevos se realiza mediante préstamos bancarios o planes ofrecidos por financieras vinculadas a las agencias.
Si el ritmo actual se mantiene, Panamá podría cerrar 2026 por encima de las 63 mil unidades estimadas inicialmente y consolidar otro año de crecimiento para uno de los sectores más visibles del consumo interno.
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