Shawn Oliver, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, suspended his campaign on Sunday following his arrest on drunken-driving charges connected to a multi-vehicle rollover crash late Saturday in New Bedford.
The 42-year-old candidate, who also serves as a New Bedford city councilor and state corrections officer, was charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding and a marked lanes violation, police told local and national news outlets.
Rollover Collision in New Bedford
According to the New Bedford Police Department, officers responded around 11:40 p.m. Saturday to Dartmouth Street, where an sport utility vehicle had overturned after hitting multiple parked cars. Five vehicles in total were involved in the incident, leaving two of the parked cars with extensive damage, CBS News reported. Oliver was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment of his injuries before investigators placed him under arrest Sunday morning, officials said.
Police records cited by the New York Post indicated Oliver was released from custody later Sunday morning ahead of a scheduled court arraignment on Monday.
Calls to Step Down from Running Mate
Oliver’s running mate, Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue, moved swiftly to push the candidate out of the race. In a public statement posted on X, Minogue said he was “extremely disappointed” and emphasized that “there is no excuse for driving under the influence.”
“Shawn is lucky to be alive and lucky that no one innocent was hurt,” Minogue wrote, noting that he had spoken with Oliver directly. “I am asking him to suspend his campaign immediately, and when elected, I will formally ask for his resignation.”
Hours later, Oliver announced he would yield to the pressure and halt his candidacy. “This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters,” Oliver said in a statement on social media, expressing gratitude to his supporters while asking for privacy for his family.
The Massachusetts Republican Party endorsed the decision to end the bid. Amy Carnevale, a spokesperson for the state party, said in a statement that “lives were put at risk and that is never acceptable,” while commending Oliver for accepting accountability for the incident, according to CBS News.
Professional Repercussions and What Follows
The crash prompted immediate scrutiny at both the municipal and state levels. Democratic Mayor Jon Mitchell of New Bedford described the allegations as “deeply concerning” and said city residents deserve a full explanation from the Ward 3 councilor.
At the state level, the Massachusetts Department of Correction confirmed to ABC News and Fox News that Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty pending an administrative review. Oliver works as a correction officer at the Massachusetts Treatment Center, a medium-security facility housing civilly committed individuals and convicted sex offenders.
The sudden upheaval leaves the Republican ticket in disarray fewer than three weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Minogue faces incumbent Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, while Oliver had been slated to challenge incumbent Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. A spokesperson for Healey declined to comment on the arrest, CBS News reported. It remains unclear how Oliver’s withdrawal will affect the printed ballots as early voting approaches.
