You might call it the return of the alpha male.

In this case there are three of them, one of whom will be nominated to take on progressive Democrat Gov. Maura Healey in 2026.

They are Brian Shortsleeve, 52, of Barnstable, Mike Kennealy, 45, of Lexington, and Mike Minogue, 56, of Hamilton.

All three are confident, hard charging and assertive and successful businessmen who want to bring their leadership style and experience to the State House and “save” the state.

Shortsleeve and Minogue are veterans—Shortsleeve as a U.S. Marine officer who served in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the breakup of Yugoslavia, as well as in the Persian Gulf. Minogue is a West Point graduate who served as an infantry platoon leader in Operation Desert Storm.

Although the three are Republicans, they are the type of men the Democrat Party mocked, shunned and kicked out of the party over their “toxic masculinity.”

Now, with the party in such shambles, Democrats are wishing they had them back.

But it is too late.

No alpha males can be found in the Motherland of Massachusetts where five of six statewide office holders at the State House, from governor on down, are women.

And it is only a matter of time before a woman shows the sixth–—Secretary of state Bill Galvin—out the door.

But it is not the gender that counts.

What counts is the job the person holding the office is doing.

All three Republicans understand that it will be a difficult task to unseat Healey, who is seeking a second four-year term even though the state seems to be spiraling downward.

And judging from the comments and the commitments made by the three challengers, Gov. Healey and her policies are not doing very well, which is why so many businesses and people are leaving the state.

High taxes, the high cost of living and the lowering of the quality of life in the state are forcing businesses and people to leave. The only new arrivals have been illegal immigrants seeking the state’s generous welfare benefits.

“Massachusetts needs a rescue mission,” Shortsleeve said. And  he believes it needs a Marine like him to lead it.

“It’s going to take a Marine to clean up this mess,” he aid.

That, essentially is Shortsleeve’s message, enhanced with his discipline, business success, government experience, energy, confidence and a vow to bring transparency to state government.

“Maura Healey lacks transparency in everything she does,” Shortsleeve said, as witnessed by her refusal to release the background check on LaMar Cook, her Western Massachusetts deputy director who was arrested on drug and gun charges.

He also chided her for, among other things, refusing to support the audit of the Legislature by state Auditor Diana DiZoglio even though 72% of the voters approved it.

Shortsleeve made his remarks during a “Boston Bros,” Inside Lowell podcast interview last week conducted by Jim Campanini, former editor of the Lowell Sun, and yours truly.

It is expected that the other two candidates will also be interviewed on the weekly podcast in the coming weeks.

The Republicans, and the public, should be pleased that they have three strong and well qualified candidates running for governor. Only one of them can win the GOP nomination.

However, one of the three could agree to step aside and run for lieutenant governor. Being alpha males that is just about impossible.

But who knows?

“I know both Mikes,” Shortsleeve said. “They’re both good guys.”

Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas can be reached at: peter.lucas@bostonherald.com