Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue is betting that flavored nicotine pouches can help him win over voters. Judging by the reaction from residents online, the campaign pitch may be leaving a bitter taste.
Minogue has promised to bring flavored Zyn products back to Massachusetts, describing the restriction as an example of excessive government regulation. “It’s absurd someone has to drive over state lines to purchase flavored ZYN when unflavored is legal,” he told The Boston Globe. His campaign has even sold merchandise resembling a Zyn container.
A viral r/Massachusetts discussion questioned why the Republican has elevated nicotine pouches while voters remain concerned about housing, affordability, energy costs, and other statewide problems. One resident dismissed Minogue as “so fake,” while another offered a blunt two-word assessment: “What a tool!”
Others were surprised that the proposal apparently resonates with some voters. A commenter identifying themselves as a blue-collar worker wrote, “It’s astounding how many people I’ve talked to are voting for him solely because of bringing back flavored tobacco.” Another joked, “Imagine Zyn being the single voter issue that decided your vote.”
Massachusetts Voters Question Minogue’s Priorities
The issue is more complicated because financial disclosures reportedly show Minogue holding stock in several tobacco companies. Philip Morris International owns Swedish Match, the company behind Zyn. His campaign said the investments are held in managed accounts and that Minogue does not control them day to day.
Minogue also could not reverse the restriction by himself. Massachusetts’ flavored-tobacco prohibition was established through a 2019 state law signed by former Republican Governor Charlie Baker. Changing it would require action from the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
Not every resident supported the ban. One commenter argued, “Let consenting adults do whatever intoxicant they want,” while another said flavored products should never have been prohibited. Even some of those residents, however, said the promise would not persuade them to vote for Minogue.
For critics, the controversy is less about choosing a preferred Zyn flavor and more about whether a nicotine product deserves such a prominent place in a campaign for governor.
