Maura Healey
Although originally from New Hampshire, Maura Healey has made a name for herself in neighboring Massachusetts: initially, as the first out Attorney General in the country, and now in her bid to become the state’s first elected female governor, and the first out lesbian governor in the country. “I didn’t grow up expecting to run for office,” she tells GO, “but the work put me in a place where I thought I could make a difference.” And Healey has been making a difference throughout her career. As Civil Rights Chief, she brought the first successful challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) to the Supreme Court, paving the way for marriage equality in the United States. As Attorney General, she was inspired by work that impacted people’s lives, whether that meant fighting for justice for those impacted by the opioid epidemic or protecting immigrants from xenophobic policies. Her own experience as a lesbian strengthens her resolve to advocate for new policies, and to include underrepresented voices. “I want to help people to believe in our democracy, in government, in looking out for each other and realizing that it’s not a zero-sum game,” she says. The significance of this election is not lost on Healey: being the first lesbian governor of Massachusetts would set a precedent for the future. But always, she embraces her most authentic self. –AB
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