Politics
Hospital closure becomes flashpoint as Massachusetts governor candidates campaign
Republican nominee Michael Minogue blamed Maura Healey for the loss of Nashoba Valley Medical Center as he campaigned in Shirley. Healey, seeking reelection, made a stop at a Newton bakery as both candidates courted voters in October.
SHIRLEY, Mass. — The closure of Nashoba Valley Medical Center has become a point of attack in the Massachusetts governor’s race, with Republican nominee Michael Minogue blaming incumbent Democrat Maura Healey for the loss of the hospital during her tenure as attorney general.
At a community forum Friday at an American Legion hall in Shirley, Minogue said Healey was responsible for the closure. The nearby hospital shut down in 2024 amid the collapse of Steward Health Care, leaving residents in the area facing a gap in medical care.
Steward’s collapse drew blame from multiple quarters, including scrutiny of the company’s former chief executive. Minogue’s remarks directed responsibility toward Healey, who was attorney general at the time. The available account of the forum did not include Healey’s response to his accusation.
The Shirley stop offered Minogue an opportunity to focus on a local concern in a region described as more politically competitive than reliably Democratic parts of the state. The hospital’s closure remains a tangible community issue as voters weigh the candidates’ records and arguments.
Healey was also campaigning over the weekend, speaking with customers at Bettina’s Bakery in Newton on Saturday. The campaign stops came as the two candidates sought to connect with voters across communities with distinct concerns.