Attorney General of Massachusetts · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Massachusetts attorney general race?
Andrea Campbell has the strongest record in the Massachusetts attorney general race. Andrea Campbell scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Andrea Campbell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mike Walsh (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Andrea Campbell
On the ballot as Andrea Joy Campbell
57 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 63
Republican
Mike Walsh
On the ballot as Michael C. Walsh
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 56
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Andrea Campbell
- Unresolved2026-03
In March 2026 Auditor Diana DiZoglio publicly accused her of breaking the Rules of Professional Conduct by phoning the auditor directly while their offices were opposed in litigation; Campbell's office said the call did not connect.
Where it stands: Accusation made in an auditor press release; no bar counsel, Board of Bar Overseers or court action reported as of Oct. 9, 2026.
Sources: GBH News (State House News Service), March 25, 2026, CommonWealth Beacon, April 7, 2026
- On the record2026-02 to 2026-05
In 2026 moved to strike Auditor Diana DiZoglio's lawsuit to audit the Legislature and backed legislative leaders; after a Supreme Judicial Court order in May 2026 she let the auditor hire a special prosecutor.
Sources: Boston Herald (State House News Service), May 12, 2026, Lowell Sun, March 23, 2026
- On the record2026-08
In August 2026 would not commit to debating Republican Michael Walsh; the Herald reported in September she will not debate him, and none was scheduled as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Sources: Newburyport Daily News (State House News Service), Aug. 15, 2026, Lowell Sun (Boston Herald), Sept. 14, 2026, NBC Boston, Sept. 30, 2026
- Credit2026-09-30
Released on Sept. 30, 2026 the state's investigation of clergy abuse in the Worcester, Springfield and Fall River dioceses, finding more than 270 clergy abused nearly 1,000 children since the 1950s.
Source: WBUR, Sept. 30, 2026
- Credit2026-08-26
Joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in a $17.1 billion settlement with Meta in August 2026, worth up to $516 million to Massachusetts if approved.
Sources: Berkshire Eagle (State House News Service), Aug. 26, 2026, Boston Herald (State House News Service), Aug. 26, 2026
Mike Walsh
- On the record2026-07-10
The Ballot Law Commission disqualified him in June 2026 after invalidating over 1,000 signatures; a Superior Court judge vacated that on July 10 for lack of jurisdiction, keeping him on the ballot.
Sources: WCVB, July 10, 2026, Lowell Sun (Boston Herald), Sept. 14, 2026
- On the record2026-07-13
On July 13, 2026 Supreme Judicial Court Justice Frank Gaziano denied the Ballot Law Commission's appeal, keeping him on the primary ballot; the objection had not been sent by certified mail as the law requires.
Sources: Boston Globe, July 13, 2026, GBH News (State House News Service), July 13, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Andrea Campbell. State campaign finance disclosures are on file (Ballotpedia summary of required disclosures). No OCPF enforcement action naming her was found in the agency's 2009 to 2026 action list.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. State campaign finance disclosures from his 2022 campaign are on file (Ballotpedia summary). In 2026 the Ballot Law Commission removed him over invalid signatures; a court vacated that for lack of jurisdiction (Record), no finding against him personally.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael C. Walsh
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Andrea Campbell. No public record found.
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Andrea Campbell. Per the Boston Herald (Sept. 14, 2026) she will not debate Michael Walsh and declined a GBH radio request; NBC Boston reported no attorney general debate scheduled as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Sources: Lowell Sun (Boston Herald), Sept. 14, 2026, NBC Boston, Sept. 30, 2026, Newburyport Daily News (State House News Service), Aug. 15, 2026
Mike Walsh. Has publicly renewed his invitation to debate the attorney general (Boston Herald, Sept. 14, 2026); no debate has been scheduled.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Andrea Campbell. Boston city councilor 2016 to 2022 and attorney general since Jan. 4, 2023 with no formal censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Andrea Campbell. Has held sworn public office since 2016. No misuse-of-office finding and no action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Andrea Campbell. Attorney general since Jan. 4, 2023 (first term not yet complete); Boston City Council 2016 to 2022, including a term as council president; former deputy legal counsel to Gov. Deval Patrick.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. General-practice litigator in Massachusetts for about 15 years, Suffolk University law graduate. No government service.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael C. Walsh
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Andrea Campbell. Sitting attorney general. In September 2026 issued a report on clergy abuse in three dioceses with specific recommendations and backed legislation to ease survivors' legal claims.
Source: WBUR, Sept. 30, 2026
Mike Walsh. Published positions in general terms: enforce the legislative audit law, oppose state zoning mandates, fight utility rate increases.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael C. Walsh, 2026 Candidate Connection survey
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Andrea Campbell. Two channels: press conferences and regular Boston Public Radio appearances. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Boston Herald (State House News Service), May 12, 2026, Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey; publishes campaign positions.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael C. Walsh
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Andrea Campbell. Born in Boston and a 2000 graduate of Boston Latin School; represented a Boston council district.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. Born and raised in Lynnfield.
Source: Ballotpedia, Michael C. Walsh
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Andrea Campbell. Heads the attorney general's office since 2023; office size not documented in an opened source. No campaign finance finding.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andrea Joy Campbell
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Andrea Campbell. Her office's 2026 clergy abuse investigation found more than 270 clergy abused nearly 1,000 children; in August 2026 a multistate Meta settlement she joined guaranteed Massachusetts about $366 million.
Sources: WBUR, Sept. 30, 2026, Berkshire Eagle (State House News Service), Aug. 26, 2026
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Andrea Campbell. No public record found.
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Andrea Campbell. No public record found.
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Andrea Campbell. Part of a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general that reached a $17.1 billion settlement with Meta in August 2026.
Source: Berkshire Eagle (State House News Service), Aug. 26, 2026
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Andrea Campbell. No public record found.
Mike Walsh. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Massachusetts attorney general race?
Andrea Campbell has the strongest record in the Massachusetts attorney general race. Andrea Campbell scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Andrea Campbell's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mike Walsh (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Massachusetts attorney general race in 2026?
Andrea Campbell (Democratic, incumbent), Mike Walsh (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Andrea Campbell a good candidate for Attorney General?
Andrea Campbell scores 57 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Mike Walsh a good candidate for Attorney General?
Mike Walsh has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Massachusetts race scored, and the Massachusetts 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.