Massachusetts lieutenant governor candidate ends campaign after arrest

Key points

• Shawn Oliver, Republican candidate for Massachusetts lieutenant governor, suspended his campaign after his arrest in a suspected drunk-driving crash.
• Police said Oliver, 42, was arrested on suspicion of operating under the influence and other charges after a crash late Saturday.
• Running mate Mike Minogue said he asked Oliver to suspend his campaign and would seek his resignation if elected.

Shawn Oliver, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Massachusetts, announced on Sunday that he was suspending his campaign, hours after he was arrested in a suspected drunk-driving crash. Oliver is a New Bedford city councilor and a corrections officer.

Police said Oliver, 42, was arrested after a crash late Saturday in which a vehicle struck several parked vehicles before turning over. He was taken to a hospital for injuries.

Charges and police account

Police spokesperson Holly Huntoon said in an email that Oliver was arrested on suspicion of operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding. The New Bedford Light first reported the arrest.

There is no excuse for driving under the influence.

— Mike Minogue

Reaction from running mate

Mike Minogue, the Republican gubernatorial candidate and Oliver's running mate, said he asked Oliver to suspend his campaign immediately and that, if elected, he would formally request Oliver's resignation. Oliver said in a post on X that he was ending his campaign because the election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters.

New Bedford's Democratic mayor, Jon Mitchell, called the allegations deeply concerning and said the public deserves to hear from Oliver about what happened. Oliver has been placed on restricted work duty at his job at the Massachusetts Treatment Center while the facts are reviewed, according to a state corrections spokesperson.