As the week unfolds, one may notice the absence of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey at the State House. Known for her itinerancy since assuming office in 2023, Governor Healey has taken her activities on a journey, the destination for which remains undisclosed.
The latest contribution of Governor Healey to the state was her enactment of a sweeping $60.9 billion state budget for Fiscal Fear 2026, signed into effect last Friday. Following this, she joined in the annual Fourth of July celebrations, enjoying the fireworks from Boston’s Esplanade, an idyllic location overlooking the Charles River.
After this dazzling spectacle, Governor Healey excused herself from the public eye, handing over the reins of the state to Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll for the week. The State House News Service noted that Healey’s fast action on the state budget set a record – it was the quickest by any Massachusetts governor in a quarter of a century.
Before bidding goodbye to the State House, Governor Healey managed to pare down the budget by approximately $130 million. This was her final act before gathering her personal items into a suitcase and passing the proverbial keys of the State House to Deputy Governor Driscoll.
As for the pressing query of Governor Healey’s whereabouts, her team offered a slightly vague answer – the governor is spending a few days away with her family. It is commonly known that Healey’s partner is Joanna Lydgate, who is often addressed as the ‘First Partner’ or the ‘First Lady’ by the media and their children.
During Healey’s initial year in office, her multiple excursions were a subject of criticism by media and political opponents alike. The backlash led her staff to declare that the governor’s itinerary would not be released beforehand due to security reasons.
However, to address public demand for transparency while ensuring Healey’s safety, an amendment was made to the travel declaration protocol. As per the revised policy, information about the governor’s journeys could be requested and shared, albeit retrospectively.
In the scenario that Lt. Gov. Driscoll also proceeds to take some time away from the state, the duty of governance falls on the Secretary of State. At present, William Galvin occupies this role and would step in as the acting governor.
Interestingly, this exchange of roles has been witnessed earlier in Healey and Driscoll’s administration. There has already been an occasion where both Healey and Driscoll left the state concurrently, leading to William Galvin assuming the position of the acting governor.