Michael C. Walsh, a Republican attorney from Lynnfield, is running for Massachusetts attorney general in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic incumbent Andrea Joy Campbell, according to the state’s official candidate list.

In a Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire, Walsh identified government accountability, consumer protection and coordination with prosecutors and law enforcement as priorities.

“I believe the office should be an independent guardian of the law, not simply the lawyer for state government,” he said.

Background and experience

Walsh said he was born and raised in Lynnfield and has practiced at Walsh & Walsh LLP since 2011, where he is a partner. He described his work as including state and federal litigation, constitutional and administrative law, criminal defense and representation of military clients.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Suffolk University at 17 and his law degree at 21. A university profile identifies him as Suffolk’s youngest undergraduate graduate and the youngest member of its 2010 law school class.

Walsh said he subsequently earned a master of laws degree in Global Law and Technology from Suffolk in 2014.

He also cited service on the Lynnfield Housing Authority as experience with public housing, budgets and government accountability.

Outside his professional work, Walsh said he helps teach his sister’s two children civics and history and has a golden retriever named Moe.

Zoning and local control

Walsh said he favors local control over zoning but would enforce the MBTA Communities law as interpreted by the Supreme Judicial Court.

The court rejected Marshfield’s challenge to the law on Sept. 18, including its Home Rule Amendment argument, according to the attorney general’s office.

Walsh disagrees with that ruling. He also contends that portions of the regulations exceed the Legislature’s authorization and said he would require state agencies to remain within their statutory authority.

Utility rates and consumer protection

“The Attorney General should be the ratepayer’s lawyer,” Walsh said.

He said he would intervene aggressively in major Department of Public Utilities rate cases, challenge unnecessary or imprudent costs and scrutinize utility capital spending and procurement.

Walsh described affordability as the largest consumer-protection challenge, citing utility bills, healthcare costs, hidden fees and complicated contracts.

He also proposed using consumer complaints to identify recurring problems that warrant broader investigations, enforcement and public reporting.

Legislative audit

Walsh said the attorney general should help resolve legal questions surrounding the legislative audit approved by voters in 2024.

“The voters gave a clear mandate: audit the Legislature,” he said. He argued that the office should help those questions reach a prompt judicial resolution.

Responses were collected through a Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire and excerpted or paraphrased for length. Policy positions and biographical claims are attributed to Walsh unless independently supported by the linked sources.