Maura Healey

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Maura Healey
BornMaura Tracy Healey
8 2, 1971
BirthplaceBethesda, Maryland, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, lawyer
Title73rd Governor of Massachusetts
Known for73rd Governor of Massachusetts; first woman elected governor of Massachusetts; first openly lesbian woman elected attorney general of a U.S. state
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Website[https://www.mass.gov/governor Official site]

Maura Tracy Healey (born February 8, 1971) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 73rd Governor of Massachusetts since January 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Healey previously served as the 44th Attorney General of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023. Her career in public service began within the Attorney General's office under Martha Coakley, where she led the state's challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act as chief of the Civil Rights Division. She went on to win election as attorney general in 2014, becoming the first openly lesbian woman elected to serve as a state attorney general in the United States and the first openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Massachusetts.[1] In 2022, Healey was elected governor of Massachusetts, becoming the first woman elected to that office and one of the first two openly lesbian women elected governor of a U.S. state. She serves alongside Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and succeeded Republican Governor Charlie Baker.

Early Life

Maura Tracy Healey was born on February 8, 1971, in Bethesda, Maryland.[2] She grew up in New Hampshire before relocating to Massachusetts for her education and career. Healey was a standout athlete during her youth, a quality that carried into her college years and beyond. As a student at Harvard University, she played on the women's basketball team, where she earned recognition for her abilities on the court. The Harvard Crimson profiled her during the 1991–1992 basketball season, noting her rising contributions to the team.[3] Her athletic background was later referenced during her political campaigns; a 2014 profile described her as a "pro basketball star turned attorney general hopeful," noting that Healey had played professional basketball in Austria after graduating from college before returning to pursue a legal career.[4]

Healey's early experiences as an athlete informed her approach to teamwork and public engagement throughout her subsequent career in law and government. Her time playing basketball abroad gave her international perspective before she returned to the United States to pursue higher education in law and eventually enter public service in Massachusetts.

Education

Healey attended Harvard University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. During her time at Harvard, she was a member of the women's basketball team, a role that brought her campus recognition.[3] After completing her undergraduate studies and spending time playing professional basketball overseas,[4] Healey pursued a legal education. She earned a Juris Doctor degree, which prepared her for a career in litigation and public interest law. Her legal training would prove instrumental in her later work within the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, particularly in the areas of civil rights, consumer protection, and business regulation.

Career

Early Legal Career

Before entering public service, Healey practiced law in the private sector. Her legal expertise and interest in public interest work eventually brought her to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, where she was hired by then-Attorney General Martha Coakley in 2007.[2]

Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (2007–2013)

Upon joining the Attorney General's office, Healey was appointed as chief of the Civil Rights Division. In this role, she led the state of Massachusetts's legal challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a case that drew national attention and placed her at the forefront of the marriage equality legal battle. Her work on the DOMA challenge established her reputation as a civil rights litigator and brought her prominence within Massachusetts legal and political circles.[2]

Following her work in the Civil Rights Division, Healey was appointed chief of the Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau, where she oversaw matters related to consumer protection, environmental law, and public safety. She was subsequently named chief of the Business and Labor Bureau, further broadening her portfolio within the office. These successive leadership roles gave her extensive experience across multiple areas of the attorney general's jurisdiction, from civil rights to business regulation.[2]

Healey resigned from the Attorney General's office in 2013 to launch her campaign for attorney general.[2]

2014 Attorney General Campaign

Healey announced her candidacy for Massachusetts Attorney General in October 2013, entering the race as a Democrat.[2] Her campaign quickly attracted endorsements from a range of political figures and organizations across the state. Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan endorsed her candidacy, lending support from western Massachusetts.[5] She also received endorsements from the Victory Fund, a national organization that supports openly LGBT candidates,[6] and from EMILY's List, which endorses pro-choice Democratic women candidates.[7] The mayor of Fitchburg also endorsed her candidacy.[8]

During the campaign, Healey outlined policy positions on several key issues. She advocated for stricter oversight of for-profit educational institutions, arguing that greater accountability was needed to protect students and taxpayers.[9] She also articulated a comprehensive approach to addressing gun violence in Massachusetts, including support for stronger enforcement of existing firearms laws.[10][11] Healey additionally spoke about the opioid crisis, calling prescription drug abuse an issue of epidemic proportions and pledging to use the attorney general's office to combat the crisis.[12] She also addressed environmental protection issues during the campaign, including her stance on ending the use of certain fossil fuel infrastructure.[13]

During the primary campaign, candidates for attorney general participated in debates and forums across Massachusetts.[14] Healey discussed her background as a former civil rights division chief and her experience leading the DOMA challenge, which she cited as evidence of her readiness for the office.[15][16]

In the September 2014 Democratic primary, Healey defeated former State Senator Warren Tolman to secure the party's nomination. In the November general election, she defeated Republican attorney John Miller to become the 44th Attorney General of Massachusetts.[1][17]

Her election was historic: she became the first openly lesbian woman elected as a state attorney general in the United States, and the first openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Massachusetts.[1] The Advocate noted that her victory made her "the top LGBT attorney in the country" at a state level.[18]

Attorney General of Massachusetts (2015–2023)

Healey took office as Attorney General on January 21, 2015, succeeding Martha Coakley, who had vacated the position to run for governor.[2] She served throughout the two terms of Republican Governor Charlie Baker.

During her tenure as attorney general, Healey focused on issues including consumer protection, civil rights enforcement, the opioid epidemic, environmental law, and gun safety. She was reelected to the office in 2018, running without significant opposition.

Her time as attorney general coincided with a period of significant national legal and political conflict, and Healey's office was involved in numerous multistate legal actions and enforcement efforts. Her record in the office formed the basis for her subsequent gubernatorial campaign.

2022 Gubernatorial Campaign and Election

In 2022, Healey ran for Governor of Massachusetts. She won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election, succeeding the departing Republican Governor Charlie Baker. Her running mate was Kim Driscoll, the mayor of Salem, who became lieutenant governor.

Healey's election as governor was historic on multiple fronts. She became the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts. She was also one of the first two openly lesbian women elected governor of a U.S. state, alongside Tina Kotek of Oregon, who won on the same Election Day. The two were also the joint-third openly LGBT individuals elected governor of any U.S. state.

Governor of Massachusetts (2023–present)

Healey was inaugurated as the 73rd Governor of Massachusetts on January 5, 2023, succeeding Charlie Baker.[19]

As governor, Healey has addressed a range of policy areas. Her administration has engaged with issues including clean energy deployment, state budget management, and emergency response. In 2024, Healey signed into law S.2967, a bill aimed at accelerating clean energy deployment in Massachusetts.

Budget decisions have drawn scrutiny during her tenure. In February 2026, The Berkshire Eagle reported that Healey's proposed budget would trim funding for state parks and seasonal labor, a move that drew criticism from parks advocates who argued that the cuts could jeopardize one of the state's important resources.[20]

February 2026 Blizzard Response

In February 2026, Healey's emergency management capabilities were tested by a major nor'easter that struck Massachusetts. On February 22, 2026, she declared a state of emergency and deployed 200 members of the Massachusetts National Guard ahead of the approaching blizzard.[21][22][23]

On February 23, as the blizzard intensified, Healey issued travel bans in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Dukes counties, prohibiting non-essential travel in those areas as heavy snow and dangerous conditions made roadways impassable.[24][25][26] In a statement to The New York Times, Healey described the storm as "as bad as I've seen it," noting that there were nearly 300,000 power outages throughout the state and approximately 350 cars stuck on roadways, some with drivers still inside.[19]

Personal Life

Healey is openly lesbian, a fact that has been publicly known since her first campaign for attorney general in 2014.[1] Her partner is Joanna Lydgate. In 2014, Healey's identity as an openly LGBT candidate was a notable aspect of her historic election as attorney general, and it remained part of her public profile during her 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

Healey was a collegiate basketball player at Harvard University and later played professional basketball in Austria before pursuing a career in law.[4][3] Her athletic background has been a recurring element in her public image, frequently referenced in media profiles throughout her political career.

She resides in Massachusetts.

Recognition

Healey's elections in 2014 and 2022 were recognized for their historic significance. In 2014, she became the first openly lesbian woman elected as a state attorney general in the United States, a milestone noted by national media outlets including The Advocate,[1] Fox 25 Boston,[27] and other publications. She was also the first openly LGBT person elected to statewide office in Massachusetts.

Her 2022 gubernatorial victory extended this record: she became the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts and one of the first two openly lesbian women elected governor of a U.S. state, along with Tina Kotek of Oregon. These milestones were recognized by national and international media as significant in the history of LGBT political representation and women in American politics.

During her 2014 campaign, The Advocate profiled her as a potential leading LGBT figure in state-level law enforcement, calling her a candidate who could become "the top LGBT attorney in the country" at the state level.[28]

Legacy

As the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts and one of the first openly lesbian women to serve as a U.S. state governor, Healey's political career represents a series of firsts in American politics. Her tenure as attorney general, during which she led the state's challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act and pursued a wide-ranging policy agenda on issues from consumer protection to gun safety and the opioid crisis, established her as a prominent figure in Massachusetts Democratic politics. Her subsequent election as governor further cemented her standing as one of the most prominent openly LGBT elected officials in the United States.

Healey's career trajectory — from college basketball player to professional athlete abroad, to civil rights litigator, to the state's chief law enforcement officer, to governor — is distinctive in Massachusetts political history. Her work on the DOMA challenge in particular placed her at the center of one of the landmark legal battles of the early 21st century regarding marriage equality.

As governor, Healey has been tested by major policy challenges and emergency situations, including the February 2026 blizzard that produced nearly 300,000 power outages across the state.[19] Her decisions during such events will continue to shape her governorship and her standing in Massachusetts political history.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Results: Healey Elected First Out State Attorney General".The Advocate.2014-11-04.http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2014/11/04/results-healey-elected-first-out-state-attorney-general.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Maura Healey Attorney General Democrat".WBUR.2013-10-21.http://www.wbur.org/2013/10/21/maura-healey-attorney-general-democrat.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Star Still Rising For W. Cagers".The Harvard Crimson.1992-03-14.http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1992/3/14/star-still-rising-for-w-cagers/?page=single.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Pro Basketball Star Turned Attorney General Hopeful Maura Healey Can Still Ball".Boston.com.2014-08-26.http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/08/26/pro-basketball-star-turned-attorney-general-hopeful-maura-healey-can-still-ball/Pa93onwxTj87DNc2jtOsoK/story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan Endorses Maura Healey for Attorney General".Daily Hampshire Gazette.http://www.gazettenet.com/news/townbytown/northampton/9722957-95/northwestern-district-attorney-david-sullivan-endorses-maura-healey-for-attorney-general.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Healey Wins Endorsement of the Victory Fund".Maura Healey for Attorney General.2014-01.http://www.maurahealey.com/news/post/2014-01-bay-windows-healey-wins-endorsement-of-the-victory-f.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Emily's List Endorses Maura Healey and Deb Goldberg".Boston Magazine.2014-03-05.http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2014/03/05/emilys-list-endorses-maura-healey-and-deb-goldberg/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Fitchburg Mayor Endorses Maura Healey for Attorney General".Sentinel & Enterprise.http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/breakingnews/ci_25748117/fitchburg-mayor-endorses-maura-healey-attorney-general.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Mass. AG Hopeful: Crack Down on For-Profit Schools".The Washington Times.2014-02-21.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/21/mass-ag-hopeful-crack-down-on-for-profit-schools/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Healey AG Guns".MassLive.2014-03.http://www.masslive.com/news/boston/index.ssf/2014/03/healey_ag_guns.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "AG Candidate Outlines Approach to Gun Violence".Nashoba Publishing.http://www.nashobapublishing.com/ci_25422542/ag-candidate-outlines-approach-gun-violence.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Prescription Drug Abuse Reaches Epidemic Proportions".WGGB.2014-05-06.http://www.wggb.com/2014/05/06/prescription-drug-abuse-reaches-epidemic-proportions/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Democrat Maura Healey Says End...".MassLive.2014-05.http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/05/democrat_maura_healey_says_end.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Candidates for Attorney General...".MassLive.2014-05.http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/05/candidates_for_attorney_genera.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Massachusetts Attorney General".MassLive.2013-10.http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/massachusetts_attorney_general_4.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Attorney General Hopeful Maura Healey".MassLive.2014-03.http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/03/attorney_general_hopeful_maura.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Democrat Maura Healey Tops GOP's Miller to Become the Nation's 1st Openly Gay Attorney General".Fox 25 Boston.2014-11.http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/27277432/democrat-maura-healey-tops-gops-miller-to-become-the-nations-1st-openly-gay-attorney-general.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Massachusetts' Maura Healey Could Be Top LGBT Attorney in Country".The Advocate.2014-09-07.http://www.advocate.com/politics/politicians/2014/09/07/massachusetts-maura-healey-could-be-top-lgbt-attorney-country.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Snowstorm Is 'as Bad as I've Seen It,' Massachusetts Governor Says".The New York Times.2026-02-23.https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/weather/massachusetts-boston-blizzard-snow-storm.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Gov. Maura Healey's Plan to Trim Money for State Parks and Seasonal Employees Comes at a Time When 'We Need More Help'".The Berkshire Eagle.2026-02.https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/proposed-dcr-budget-cuts-questioned/article_5172d943-b1a1-4834-ada5-f7b205d5da7b.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "State of Emergency Declared, Massachusetts National Guard Deployed for Nor'easter".CBS News.2026-02-22.https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/massachusetts-blizzard-warning-boston-snow-maura-healey/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Governor Maura Healey Declares State of Emergency as Nor'easter Approaches Massachusetts".Boston 25 News.2026-02-22.https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/governor-maura-healey-declares-state-emergency-noreaster-approaches-massachusetts/WSBIU2ZG3JDXFGR3A74ZDC2HTM/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Governor Maura Healey Issues State of Emergency Ahead of Winter Storm".Western Mass News.2026-02-22.https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/02/22/governor-maura-healey-issues-state-emergency-ahead-winter-storm/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Gov. Maura Healey Issues Travel Ban in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable Counties Amid Historic Blizzard of 2026".Boston Herald.2026-02-23.https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/02/23/gov-maura-healey-issues-travel-ban-in-bristol-plymouth-barnstable-counties-amid-historic-blizzard-of-2026/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Travel Bans Remain in Effect as Stranded Vehicles Snag Snow Removal on Highways".NBC Boston.2026-02-24.https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/massachusetts-travel-ban/3905420/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Gov. Maura Healey Issues Travel Ban for Bristol County".WJAR.2026-02-23.https://turnto10.com/news/local/massachusetts-blizzard-snowstorm-response-governor-maura-healey-state-of-emergency-driving-plowing-transit-february-23-2026.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Democrat Maura Healey Tops GOP's Miller to Become the Nation's 1st Openly Gay Attorney General".Fox 25 Boston.2014-11.http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/27277432/democrat-maura-healey-tops-gops-miller-to-become-the-nations-1st-openly-gay-attorney-general.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Massachusetts' Maura Healey Could Be Top LGBT Attorney in Country".The Advocate.2014-09-07.http://www.advocate.com/politics/politicians/2014/09/07/massachusetts-maura-healey-could-be-top-lgbt-attorney-country.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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