Super PACs Pour Nearly $9 Million Into Maine Gubernatorial Primary Race

Super PACs have spent $8.6 million on Maine's gubernatorial primary, a historically high amount for a primary that rivals the candidates' own $12 million in spending. The Restoration of America PAC, funded by megadonor Thomas Klingenstein, accounts for over half the total. A tactic called "red boxing" is being used to coordinate messaging, and $1.8 million has been spent on attack ads, mostly targeting GOP frontrunner Bobby Charles.

Super PAC primary spending surge

• ▪High levels of PAC spending during party primaries is a recent development, though PAC spending has surpassed candidate spending in recent general elections
• ▪Political action committees have spent $8.6 million on Maine's gubernatorial primary election as of June 3, 2026
• ▪In the 2010 Maine gubernatorial race, PACs spent $3.6 million compared to $15.5 million by candidates
• ▪The $8.6 million in PAC spending for the primary is approaching the $13.7 million spent by outside groups during the entire 2022 gubernatorial race

Red boxing coordination tactic

• ▪The Maine Ethics Commission, the state's campaign finance regulator, is evaluating ways to discourage the practice of "red boxing"
• ▪Some candidates use a tactic called "red boxing," posting messages on their websites to signal desired advertising content to allied PACs

Restoration of America PAC

• ▪Other top-spending PACs include The Maine Dream ($1.1M), Working Mainers First ($751k), Maine Conservation Voters PAC (~$700k), and 314 Action ($640k)
• ▪The Restoration of America PAC has spent $4.7 million, accounting for more than half of the total PAC primary spending
• ▪The Restoration of America PAC is funded by Republican megadonor Thomas Klingenstein and is backing former state Sen. Garrett Mason

Attack ads targeting Bobby Charles

• ▪Over 80% of the $1.8 million in negative ad spending has been directed at Republican candidate Bobby Charles, a reported frontrunner
• ▪Of the total PAC spending, $1.8 million has been spent on attack ads

Candidate campaign spending totals

• ▪The 12 candidates vying to replace Gov. Janet Mills have spent a combined total approaching $12 million
• ▪Republican candidate Jonathan Bush leads all candidates in campaign spending with $2.4 million
• ▪Other top-spending candidates include Democrats Hannah Pingree ($1.8 million), Angus King III ($1.7 million), and Shenna Bellows ($1.5 million)