Bobby Charles leads Republican field in Maine gubernatorial race despite controversial status

Bobby Charles leads the Republican primary for Maine governor with 36% support, but faces deep intra-party resistance. None of his five rivals will commit to supporting him if he wins, citing electability concerns. Charles's campaign uses an aggressive digital strategy, while rivals Jonathan Bush (20%) and Garrett Mason (13%) are backed by millions in ad spending. The race is marked by escalating attacks and an ethics complaint against Charles.

Charles polling lead

• ▪No other candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary received more than 4% support in the Pan Atlantic Research poll.
• ▪According to the Pan Atlantic Research poll, 22% of likely Republican primary voters remain undecided.
• ▪Bobby Charles receives only 7% of second-choice votes, indicating that Republican voters tend to either strongly support or oppose him.
• ▪Bobby Charles leads the Republican gubernatorial primary field with 36% of first-choice votes, according to a Pan Atlantic Research poll.
• ▪Jonathan Bush is in second place with 20% support, followed by Garrett Mason with 13%.

Digital advertising strategy

• ▪Bobby Charles's campaign has used AI-driven digital advertising as part of its strategy.
• ▪Bobby Charles has run a dual-track campaign combining traditional small events with modern digital advertising.
• ▪Rival candidate Jonathan Bush has booked at least $1.5 million in advertising, with an additional $340,000 in outside spending supporting him.
• ▪A super PAC supporting Garrett Mason has spent approximately $3 million on advertisements for his campaign.
• ▪Over the last three months, Bobby Charles's campaign has spent over $47,000 on advertising on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Intra-party electability concerns

• ▪Opponents and some Republican lawmakers have questioned Bobby Charles's electability in a general election in Maine, a state that leans Democratic.
• ▪At a May 7 debate that Bobby Charles skipped, none of his five Republican rivals raised their hands when asked if they would support him as the nominee.
• ▪On May 22, 2026, Bobby Charles released a plan aimed at stopping the "Islamification" of Maine.

Rival candidate attacks

• ▪Bobby Charles has referred to his rivals Jonathan Bush, Garrett Mason, and Ben Midgley as the "'Three Amigos' and 'Never Trumpers'".
• ▪Ben Midgley's campaign filed an ethics complaint alleging Bobby Charles's team created an anti-Midgley website without proper disclosure.
• ▪Candidate Jonathan Bush accused Bobby Charles of descending into "slimy gutter politics" and described him as a "taxpayer-funded Washington DC lobbyist."

Republican establishment divisions

• ▪Garrett Mason has been endorsed by nearly 50 current and former Maine lawmakers.
• ▪Much of former Governor Paul LePage's inner circle has supported Ben Midgley's campaign for governor.
• ▪Former Governor Paul LePage has not officially endorsed a candidate in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Faith community support

• ▪Carroll Conley, former head of the Christian Civic League of Maine, has worked to connect Bobby Charles with faith leaders.

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