Healey repeatedly blamed President Donald Trump’s tariffs and other policies for rising costs, saying the president had helped drive inflation and energy bills higher. Minogue argued that state policies were also raising household expenses and called for an immediate cut to Massachusetts’ 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax. Healey has also proposed a gas-tax reduction, but the Legislature had not acted on it.

The candidates also differed on how to lower energy costs. Minogue criticized Healey for opposing a natural-gas pipeline expansion, arguing that Massachusetts should bring in more gas from Pennsylvania. Healey said she had stopped a developer from shifting the cost of a new line to taxpayers and was seeking federal help to expand existing pipelines. She also pointed to renewable and lower-carbon energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power.

Housing drew another exchange. Minogue said the state needed to speed up permitting, proposing a 45-day limit and changes to building requirements in communities with enhanced “stretch” codes. He credited housing construction during Healey’s term to her Republican predecessor, Charlie Baker, and said Massachusetts ranked last nationally in permits per person. Healey countered that the state had shortened its own permitting process to 30 days.

On abortion, Minogue said he would uphold the law as governor while maintaining his personal beliefs, which he has described as pro-life and grounded in his Catholic faith. Healey said the issue was not merely political, citing limits on access to abortion care, and accused Minogue of not trusting women to make decisions with their doctors. Minogue called that accusation unfair and said he respected women, including members of his family and former colleagues.

The debate also focused on questions of accountability in state agencies. Minogue criticized Healey’s leadership after reports of a sexual assault at a State Police barracks on Martha’s Vineyard. Healey praised State Police Col. Jeffrey Noble, whom she appointed from outside the agency, and said swift action was taken when wrongdoing occurred. Minogue said her response minimized the seriousness of the reported assault.

Minogue also pressed Healey about LaMar Cook, a former administration employee arrested earlier this year after investigators accused him of arranging delivery of eight kilograms of cocaine to his state office. Cook was fired after his arrest. This week, federal prosecutors brought fraud charges alleging he improperly obtained SNAP benefits. Minogue questioned how the alleged cocaine delivery went undetected and claimed Cook received severance; Healey said she fired him immediately and would dismiss anyone in her administration who committed wrongdoing. Cook’s cases remain allegations, not findings of guilt.

The candidates clashed over federal immigration enforcement as well. Minogue said he would work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove people who pose public-safety risks. Healey said federal enforcement had made residents afraid to go to school and characterized ICE as a public-safety threat.

UMass Boston political science professor Paul Watanabe said Healey largely held her ground against Minogue’s attacks, while Minogue did not clearly set out a broad governing agenda. Watanabe described the exchange as a substantive contest of ideas rather than a stark ideological showdown.

The debate came as Massachusetts voters prepared to cast ballots. Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin’s office said more than 600,000 mail ballots had been sent the previous week, with another 300,000 awaiting delivery. In-person early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday.

September polls from MassINC Polling and the University of New Hampshire Survey Center showed Healey above 50% and Minogue below 40% among respondents. Independent candidate Andrea James, who was polling in the low single digits, was not invited to the debate.