Donald Trump is not running for governor of Massachusetts in 2026.

In fact, he will not be running for president in 2028 either.

But that has not stopped Democrat Party leaders from attacking him as though Trump were challenging Gov. Maura Healey for re-election. He is not, but three Republicans are.

Part of the strategy emanating from the Democrat State Committee is to taunt the three GOP candidates over their past support or ties to Trump in the belief that it will damage them.

One of the three will emerge as the GOP nominee for governor and be running against Healey in overwhelmingly Democrat and progressive Massachusetts.

And Democrats also want to know if the three would accept a Trump endorsement or—Heaven forbid—have Trump come to Massachusetts and campaign for them.

They have so much hatred toward Trump that they believe they can use some of it to tarnish their Republican opponents.

The hate Trump-by-association strategy may work. Kamala Harris trounced Trump in Massachusetts in the 2024 election by gathering 2,126,518 votes (61.2%) to Trump’s 1,251,303 votes (36%).

But that was then. This is now. Trump since then has accomplished many things and may not be quite the burden that Democrats make him out to be.  He could even be an asset.

Healey, as she seeks re-election, has problems. She is going to be a tougher sell the second time around.

The three Republicans running are Brian Shortsleeve of Barnstable, Mike Kennealy of Lexington and Mike Minogue of Hamilton.  All three are accomplished  businessmen who have not run for office before.

Of the three, Minogue appears to be the closest to the Trump administration. Not only has he contributed to Trump, but also hosted a Massachusetts fundraiser Vice President JD Vance.

There is no sign at this point that any of the three will seek Trump’s support. However, if elected, they have said that they would meet and work with Trump to protect the interests of the state, something Healey has refused to do.

If turnabout is fair play, as the phrase goes, it would behoove the Republicans to begin tying Healey to such Democrats like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Waltz.

Healey, after all, supported, endorsed and campaigned for all three of them– Biden, the worst president in history; Harris, who ran the worst presidential campaign in history; and Gov. Tim Waltz of Somali, Minnesota who will be lucky if he is not indicted.

Healey worked with Harris when they both were attorneys general and reportedly was on Harris’ short list for U.S. Attorney General had Harris been elected.

Republican should ask Healey if she will seek Harris’ endorsement and campaign support the way Democrats are asking the Republicans about Trump.

They could also ask the same about Joe Biden, who Healey also supported and campaigned for.

If they are aggressive enough, they could also bring up Waltz, especially as he is mired in controversy over some $9 billion in federal childcare, education and food subsidies that have gone missing, mostly through enterprises conducted by the state’s Somali immigrant population.

Waltz, after all, is the past chairman of the Democrat Governors Association, which is dedicated to electing Democrat governors, like Healey. Healey is chair of the association’s Women Governors Fund.

Healey praised Waltz’s character and said she was “thrilled” when Harris picked Waltz as her vice-presidential running mate.  She called Waltz a person of “deep integrity” and “a champion for working families” who would be “an outstanding” vice president.

Does Healey still support Waltz?

Just asking.

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

Gov. Maura Healey. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald).

GOP gubernatorial candidates (L-R) Brian Shortsleeve, Mike Kennealy, and Michael Minogue. (Herald file photos)