BOSTON — Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue, fresh off his dominant performance at the MassGOP Convention, is blowing past primary debate challenges to take direct aim at Democratic Gov. Maura Healey.

“Maura Healey has spent three years driving up energy and housing costs, failing to support the audit, and making it harder to live and work in Massachusetts, and she can’t ignore her disastrous record,” Minogue said in a Friday news release. “For three years, Maura Healey has had the opportunity to lead, but families are still struggling to get ahead. Young people can’t afford to start their lives here, seniors can’t stay, and the cost of living keeps climbing.”

Minogue’s campaign is calling on Healey to commit to two debates before Labor Day on topics focusing on affordability, government accountability, economic growth, and public safety. The campaign is also calling for experienced independent moderators to run the debate and that it be aired on accessible formats for the entire voting public. The campaign also is calling for “truthful and professional discourse on issues focused on problem solving.”

“Massachusetts is at a crossroads. This election is about whether we continue down a path of a one-party system that works for the political establishment or whether we chart a new course with leadership that restores common sense and solves problems for the citizens,” Minogue added. “With absentee ballots starting in September, side-by-side presentations are a critical part of understanding that choice, and voters shouldn’t have to wait until the last minute to be informed.”

But Minogue is catching flack from multiple angles for challenging Healey to debates while snubbing numerous requests from fellow Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve, who made the ballot with just more than 15% of the vote at the convention. Minogue earned earned 70.3% of votes from delegates.

“News flash to Mike Minogue: he has a primary opponent and he should stop ducking his own party’s debates,” the Massachusetts Democratic Party posted to X in response to Minogue’s challenge.

MassDems Chair Steve Kerrigan expanded on this in his own tweet, adding that Minogue and Shortsleeve will “bring President Trump’s agenda to Massachusetts,” if elected.

“We should lead by example on this, @EdMarkey,” added Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Seth Moulton in a post to X in response to MassDems.

Markey did not respond to Moulton’s post.

As for Shortsleeve, he’s again calling for a GOP primary debate, this time in a bit of a sarcastic response to Minogue’s challenge to Healey.

“I accept Mike Minogue’s debate challenge, and up the ante to four debates, one for each month between now and the primary,” Shortsleeve said in a written statement provided to The Boston Herald. “Primary voters deserve to have a real discussion about Maura Healey’s failed policies, defend their records, and tell voters how they’ll turn the state around.”

But Minogue’s campaign is hitting back on the criticism. The campaign says he has already stood on stage with Shortsleeve and former candidate Mike Kennealy “multiple times” for Q&A sessions across the state.

“Delegates spoke loudly, with an overwhelming 70% saying they want Mike Minogue to take on Maura Healey,” said a Minogue campaign spokesperson.

“That’s exactly what Mike is doing because Gov. Healey cannot hide her record of making Massachusetts unaffordable. We cannot afford to wait. The real question here is — will Gov. Healey accept Mike’s invitation for two debates before Labor Day?” they said.

Healey’s campaign team, in response to a Herald request for comment on Minogue’s challenge, referred to Kerrigan’s statement and did not answer whether she would accept or decline the challenge.

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