Governor
State of Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Maura Healey is the 73rd Governor of Massachusetts. In 2022, she became the state's first woman and first openly LGBTQ person elected to the position.
In her first year as Governor, Healey has already delivered on key promises to help Massachusetts become a leader in clean energy, a more affordable and equitable place to live, and a great place for businesses to operate.
On her first day in office, Governor Healey appointed the nation's first cabinet-level Climate Chief and created the Office of Climate Innovation & Resilience to coordinate policies across all of state government to address the climate crisis. Governor Healey has also prioritized education and workforce development by making free school meals for K-12 students permanent and creating a free community college program for residents ages 25 and older. She has made historic investments in apprenticeships and other career pathways. Governor Healey also delivered on her promise to make Massachusetts more affordable by cutting taxes for the first time in 20 years, including creating the most generous Child and Family Tax Credit in the county. Her tax cuts package puts money back into the pockets of families, renters, seniors and others who are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. She also recently introduced the $4 billion Affordable Homes Act, which would be the state’s largest housing investment in history, to create tens of thousands of homes and lower costs.
Healey previously served two terms as Massachusetts Attorney General, first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. In her role as the People’s Lawyer, she took on difficult issues impacting Massachusetts residents, including the opioid epidemic, the climate crisis, escalating health care costs, and student loan debt. Earlier in her career, Healey was a litigation partner at an international law firm.
Healey grew up the oldest of five siblings in an old New England farmhouse. She and her siblings were raised by their mother, Tracy, who worked as a nurse at the local elementary school. Her stepfather, Edward, who later joined the family, was a teacher and local union president. He coached her high school basketball team and instilled a lifelong love of the sport. Healey attended Harvard College, where she captained the basketball team, and then spent two years as a 5’4” starting point guard on a professional basketball team in Austria.
For much of her career, she’s been the only woman in the room and has taken every opportunity to elevate other women. She is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ rights, women’s health, and women’s equality in general, especially in sports.
Governor Healey lives in Arlington, Massachusetts with her partner, Joanna Lydgate.
Saturday, October 19, 2024
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM ET