State Sen. Peter Durant is mulling a bid for governor

A Republican state senator who has emerged as a top critic of the state’s handling of the migrant shelter crisis is considering a run for governor.

Sen. Peter Durant of Spencer told WBUR he thinks the party could win back the governorship in 2026 — and he wants to determine if he’s the best candidate.

“I think that the state of Massachusetts would be best served by someone who isn't an extreme person on the right or the left — but somebody who can work with anyone, can work across party lines, and can be friendly to an administration that's on their side of the ticket,” Durant said.

Durant represents a largely rural district in Worcester County. He won his seat in a special senate race in 2023 after 12 years as a state representative.

Any Republican challenger would take on Gov. Maura Healey, assuming she runs for a second term. Durant and others in the state GOP see Healey as vulnerable because of her role overseeing the state’s emergency shelter system.

The shelters have been the source of numerous challenges and scandals, with the arrival of thousands of migrants to Massachusetts at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. And recently, the governor has had to crack down on security at the shelters, amid reports of criminal activity.

Durant acknowledged that his support for President Trump could pose a hurdle with state voters. Massachusetts has a long history of electing moderate Republicans to the corner office. None of the three surviving GOP governors — Charlie Baker, Mitt Romney and Bill Weld — have supported Trump.

Political science expert Jerold Duquette said an affinity for the president doesn’t bode well for Republicans here.

“With Trump in the White House, Republicans in Massachusetts just have a giant drag that is going to be very hard to overcome,” he said. “You would need somebody who's running as a ‘Republican in name only,’ and can totally disassociate themselves from the Republican party.”

Durant said he’ll likely decide whether to run by late spring.

Also considering a bid for Massachusetts governor is former Baker administration official Mike Kennealy. And Republican John Deaton, who recently lost his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, has suggested he's keeping his political options open.

State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr lauded Durant for his service in the Legislature.

"He would bring a lot to the table as a candidate for higher office," Tarr said in a statement. "Our party has a number of qualified people considering a run for the Corner Office in 2026."