Brian Shortsleeve Announces Candidacy for Governor of Massachusetts, Citing Budget and Business Concerns

Former MBTA chief and Marine veteran enters 2026 governor’s race, pledging fiscal reform, local control on housing, and support for small businesses.

By Hank Stolz | Radio Worcester

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Boston, Mass.-Brian Shortsleeve, a former chief administrator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and a Marine Corps veteran, has entered the 2026 race for governor of Massachusetts as a Republican candidate. In an interview with Hank Stolz on Talk of the Commonwealth, Shortsleeve presented himself as a business-minded alternative to current Governor Maura Healey, focusing on fiscal discipline, small business support, and what he described as a need to “rescue” the state’s economy.

“I’m a Marine first. I’m also a businessman,” Shortsleeve said. “We live in the real world. We have to balance budgets. We know how to build and create jobs.”

Shortsleeve criticized what he called the “failed policies” of Governor Healey’s administration, pointing to a $10 billion increase in the state budget since she took office. He also cited what he characterized as high costs across the board—taxes, energy, and regulatory burdens—as major factors in declining private sector job growth and outmigration from Massachusetts.

Opposition to the MBTA Communities Act

When asked about the MBTA Communities Act—a state zoning law requiring cities and towns served by the MBTA to create multi-family zoning districts—Shortsleeve called for a full repeal. He described the measure as “administrative overreach” and “a one-size-fits-all solution,” arguing that it disregards local infrastructure needs and the authority of municipalities to manage their own housing plans.

“We need to restore local control over zoning,” Shortsleeve said. While acknowledging the importance of expanding housing supply, he advocated instead for incentivizing development on state-owned vacant land, particularly in metro Boston.

Budget and Tax Priorities

Shortsleeve said that, if elected, his administration would move immediately to reduce taxes and fees, including utility surcharges. He asserted that Massachusetts has lost over 60,000 taxpayers in recent years and that private sector job growth has stagnated.

According to Shortsleeve, the state is currently spending more than $1 billion annually to manage the migrant shelter system. He linked the increase in spending to the state’s 1983 right-to-shelter law, originally designed for citizens and families in crisis. Shortsleeve called for prioritizing veterans and American citizens for shelter space, and proposed universal background checks—beyond CORI checks—for individuals in the shelter system.

“I’ve got three young boys,” he said. “I think we need to get dangerous people off the streets and out of those shelters.”

On Federal Policy and Partisanship

When asked about the relationship between Massachusetts and the federal government under the Biden and Trump administrations, Shortsleeve said he is focused on state-level issues, not national political dynamics.

“I’m running for governor, I’m not running for president,” he said. “What happens in Washington, D.C. will happen in Washington, D.C. My focus is here in Massachusetts.”

Shortsleeve described Governor Healey as “political grandstanding,” citing her appearances in national media and her criticism of federal policies. He emphasized what he views as the need for a governor who is focused on state-based solutions rather than partisan conflict.

Experience in Public Transit and Private Business

Reflecting on his tenure at the MBTA, Shortsleeve said he was proud of leading efforts to balance the agency’s operating budget and control costs after the 2015 snowstorms. “We delivered the first balanced budget in a decade at the T,” he said. “We also delivered the lowest operating expenses in the history of the T.”

He contrasted those efforts with what he said has been a $1 billion increase in the MBTA’s operating costs under the current administration.

Outside of public service, Shortsleeve discussed his work with M33 Growth, a private equity firm that invests in small businesses. He said his experience helping companies scale has given him insight into the challenges facing Massachusetts entrepreneurs.

“When I read in The Boston Globe last week that 50% of small businesses in Massachusetts are planning to either close or leave over the next five years, I’m really concerned with that,” he said.

Shortsleeve added that energy costs, including fees attached to utility bills, were among the key issues driving small businesses out of the state.

“If people are leaving your state and your private sector is breaking… it means you’re not a good place to do business,” he said.

Looking Ahead

Shortsleeve encouraged voters to visit his campaign website and get involved in what he described as a “rescue mission” for Massachusetts. “We’re on a mission for Massachusetts. The state needs a rescue and we’re going to turn it around.”

The 2026 race for governor is expected to be closely watched as Republicans seek to regain control of the corner office after Governor Baker’s departure and the current administration’s fiscal challenges. Shortsleeve’s candidacy joins what is likely to become a competitive GOP primary field in the coming months.

This article was sourced from a transcript of a recent interview conducted by Hank Stolz on the Radio Worcester program Talk of the Commonwealth.