Copyright The Boston Globe
Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue, who has already poured at least $1.5 million of his own money into his campaign, is preparing to run his second primetime television advertisement — a full year before the election. The 30-second ad, the second since he announced his run in October, is part of a $1 million ad buy and is slated to appear during this week’s Patriots game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to his campaign. “My whole life, I’ve taken on the tough jobs,“ Minogue says in the ad, which his campaign said will air on broadcast and cable as well as streaming services. ”If you’re looking for somebody who will reduce the cost of living and fix this state — just call me ‘Somebody.’” Advertisement The spot highlights the Hamilton Republican’s past summer job digging pools, and his time deployed as a US Army platoon leader during Operation Desert Storm. At the end, he writes “Somebody” on an adhesive name tag and sticks it on his shirt. A Republican megadonor and medical device businessman, Minogue is a relative political newcomer. He joined former Baker administration officials Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve in the field of Republicans hoping to take on Governor Maura Healey next year. In addition to the $1.5 million of his own money he’s put into his campaign, Minogue raised more than $373,000 from donors during his first month in the race, according to campaign finance reports and his campaign. According to his campaign, he also made good on his pledge to personally match every dollar donated in the first month. Advertisement In October, he spent $1.1 million on ads alone, filings show. The Minogues have a family foundation that supports military veterans, faith-based education, and health care innovation, according to its website. They have five children. Minogue has supported Republican candidates both in and out of the state, including former governor Charlie Baker; past, and likely future, US Senate nominee John Deaton; and former congressional candidate and auto parts magnate Rick Green, according to federal campaign filings. In February alone, he contributed more than $400,000 to the Republican National Committee. Last October, he and his wife, Renee, hosted a high-dollar fund-raiser for the GOP presidential ticket in Gloucester, headlined by now-Vice President JD Vance. The Minogues have given locally, too. They’ve supported the Republican state committee, and Medley Long III, a Republican who ran to replace former state Representative Jerald Parisella on the North Shore. He and his wife, Renee, also maxed out a donation to onetime mayoral hopeful Josh Kraft, a Democrat who ended his campaign to unseat Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her @samanthajgross.
