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New Bedford Ward 3 Councilor Shawn Oliver announced Thursday that he is running for lieutenant governor alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve.
“The Commonwealth does not need more career politicians,” Oliver said following the announcement at Merrill’s on the Waterfront. “We are people who want change, like everybody in this room.”
Oliver said he had been closely following the Republican primary for governor, looking for a candidate with the experience, vision, and values to turn the state around.
Oliver, 43, is a correction officer with the Massachusetts Department of Correction. He was first elected to the City Council in 2023 and ran unopposed for a second term last year. In August 2025, he joined the Republican Party, and in February he was elected chair of the New Bedford Republican City Committee.
During his City Council election campaign, Oliver faced criticism after an organizer with the Coalition for Social Justice — which was backing his opponent at the time — drew attention to “hateful” content posted on his personal Facebook page between May 2019 and February 2022. Three of the six images cited by the organization, which Oliver has not denied posting, were aimed primarily at transgender people and their advocates.
In a November 2025 interview with The Light — when the newsroom invited all municipal candidates to introduce themselves — Oliver said his first term focused on public safety and “rein[ing] in spending with the out-of-control budget.” He added that he planned to “continue that service” in a second term.
Now, his decision to join a statewide ticket raises new questions about his political trajectory and timing. Oliver acknowledged that many people were surprised by the move but said his goals have remained the same since his reelection.
“The only thing that is different is that I am not waiting,” he said. “Now we need leadership at the Statehouse and I am glad to join Brian Shortsleeve who has a mission to do it.”
Shortsleeve, 53, is a Marine veteran who attended Harvard College on a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship and later worked in venture capital. In 2015, he joined former Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration as chief administrator of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Shortsleeve said he first met Oliver last spring during a visit to New Bedford.
“We met with a lot of local businesses. We met with the fishermen,” he said, adding that they discussed ways the state could improve life in the city.
In October, Shortsleeve donated $1,000 to Oliver’s unopposed City Council reelection campaign.
“Shawn is a star. He’s got backbone, he’s got conviction,” Shortsleeve said. He added that Oliver understands the importance of supporting working-class residents and small businesses and making the state more affordable.
Shortsleeve said the two are aligned on key priorities, particularly affordability.
“It’s a focus on making this state more affordable for families,” he said. He pointed to proposals such as removing state-mandated fees from electricity bills and rolling back the state income tax as steps that could ease costs for working families.
On immigration, Shortsleeve has taken a hardline stance. On his campaign website, he describes Massachusetts as a “magnet state for illegal immigrants” and calls for ending the state’s sanctuary policies.
He has also said he would seek to roll back the Lunn v. Commonwealth decision, in which the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that law enforcement officials cannot detain individuals solely based on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.
Oliver said he wants to give back to the community while helping bring balance to state government. He added that he plans to continue representing Ward 3 as he has for the past 3 1/2 years. “But now I am going to represent them in a different way too.”
The primary will be held on Sept. 1 with Mike Minogue, Mike Kennealy and Brian Shortsleeve running for governor on the Republican ticket.
“What are my chances of winning? Don’t get Shawn Oliver on a ballot man!” Oliver said, laughing. “My chances are really good.
“This ticket has the soul to actually turn this state around. I’m grateful for this partnership. I’m grateful for the support that he’s shown our community thus far. And I can’t wait to bring common sense and character back to Beacon Hill.”
Email Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org.
Oliver mocked trans people online repeatedly.
He joined the GOP at the height of the Epstein files scandal.
So often, to the point where it’s almost a rule, many conservative public figures attack the LGBTQ community to cover up for personal failings.
No, we don’t need another hater in government.
Can Oliver still serve the people of Ward 3 while working full time as a CO and campaigning for a statewide office? I’m curious if he’ll be missing council meetings.
Is this the guy who, when Shane Burgo was up for the Chair of City Council, met for a non-political lunch with local GOP heavy weights, like our own local seeker of Trump’s affections, the former Sheriff Hodgson, that produced a smear campaign against Burgo as truthful as Haitians eating the cats and dogs? Just curious.
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