University of Massachusetts Department of Political Science/YouGov
20%15%10%5%0%
14%
Republican
Peter Durant
Republican candidate for Governor in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Republican Governor nominee?
$61.4K
SEP 8, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Massachusetts Republican Governor nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0%chance to win
$61.4KSEP 8, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleState Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationMassachusetts
BackgroundConstruction manager
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EducationNortheastern University (bachelor's degree)
Notable personal detailsPeter J. Durant is a Republican member of the Massachusetts State Senate representing the Worcester and Hampshire district, assuming office on 2023-11-29. He previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 6th Worcester district (2011–2023) and has served in local government in Spencer, Massachusetts, including on the Spencer Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen. Outside government, he has owned a small business and worked as a construction manager focused on building automation and energy-efficiency projects, and he earned a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University.
SourcesShowHide
malegislature.govsenatordurant.comen.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgelectionstats.state.ma.usballotready.orglegistorm.commultistate.usmass.govwamc.orgupload.wikimedia.orgcommons.wikimedia.orgmassgop.comtwstalker.comarchives.lib.state.ma.usgovinfo.govoutside.vermont.govarxiv.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgmassfiscal.orgwcvb.comtrackbill.comfastdemocracy.comspectrumnews1.comwbur.orgcbsnews.comboston25news.comcommonwealthbeacon.orgwbjournal.comopen.pluralpolicy.comthetruthaboutguns.comleicesterma.orgfacebook.comx.combostonherald.comballotpedia.orgmasslive.cominstagram.comprogressivemass.comcongress.govsenate.govfinance.senate.govhistory.house.govnga.org
Political Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates lowering tax burdens and opposing new taxes while supporting reductions to the sales tax and measures to help small businesses; he has fought to suspend the gas tax and seeks to reduce fees and regulations to improve affordability. His record includes perfect scores from taxpayer and small-business advocacy groups.
Healthcare
Peter Durant’s public record emphasizes limiting mandates and protecting medical exemptions, and he has sponsored legislation related to vaccination policy and Medicaid exemptions. His campaign priorities focus on affordability and fiscal restraint rather than proposals for major public expansions like single‑payer or a public option.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports restricting state benefits and shelter access for recently arrived migrants and wants to amend Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law to limit emergency assistance to residents or those who have lived in the state for a set time. He frames the influx of migrants as a fiscal burden on taxpayers and supports capping or limiting state shelter placements to reduce that burden.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Peter Durant has opposed legislative measures to expand abortion access in Massachusetts and has supported regulatory measures restricting abortion-related practices. His record includes votes and public statements opposing the 2020 budget amendment that would have codified expanded abortion access, and he has sponsored or co-sponsored bills to regulate abortion-inducing drugs.
Climate & Energy
Supports expanding local power generation including nuclear plants and has opposed recent state clean-energy legislation; emphasizes energy independence and market-oriented solutions such as suspending the gas tax and favoring local power infrastructure over aggressive regulatory decarbonization. Positions focus on reliability, affordability, and reducing reliance on imported energy rather than rapid phase-out of fossil fuels or Green New Deal–style mandates.
Public Safety & Guns
Peter Durant emphasizes support for law enforcement and victims, expresses concern about recent restrictive state gun laws criminalizing lawful owners, and has sponsored legislation to change aspects of Massachusetts’ post‑2024 gun restrictions (including nonresident semiautomatic hunting rules).
Latest News
AINews Summary
Last updatedSep 2, 2026
Peter Durant is being mentioned in coverage of the Massachusetts governor’s race, where outside spending and campaign ads are shaping the contest. The latest reporting focuses more on Maura Healey and Republican-backed efforts than on Durant specifically, so his role in the race is not clearly detailed in the summaries provided. Overall, the news points to a competitive race with heavy outside involvement and broader debates over policy and campaign tactics.
malegislature.gov+43
Articles
CNCable News Network6 months ago
Analysis: Trump’s 2024 showing raised GOP hopes in blue states. Now he’s in retreat
Neutral
NNNBC News6 months ago
AI-generated ads are trickling into political campaigns, sparking big worries
Neutral
PPPortland Press Herald7 months ago
Can gerrymandering be stopped? | Opinion
Neutral
TBThe Boston Globe3 months ago
A dark money group is running to Healey's aid
Neutral
Latest Polls
Recent polling results and the candidate's current average in the race.
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising