Campaign Finance Reports Show Spending Leaders in Maine's 2026 Gubernatorial Race
Campaign finance reports for Maine's 2026 gubernatorial race show Republican Jonathan Bush ($2.6M) and Democrat Hannah Pingree ($2.1M) as fundraising leaders ahead of the June 9 primaries. However, neither leads in polls. Significant spending comes from candidates' own funds and outside PACs, which have poured over $4.6 million into the race, notably supporting candidates like Garrett Mason (R) and Troy Jackson (D).
Campaign fundraising totals
▪Democrat Hannah Pingree leads her party's fundraising with $2.1 million raised.
▪Other top Democratic fundraisers include Angus King III ($1.9M), Shenna Bellows ($1.8M), Nirav Shah ($1.2M), and Troy Jackson (~$1M).
▪Republican Jonathan Bush leads his party's fundraising with $2.6 million raised for the Maine gubernatorial race.
Candidate self-financing
▪Nearly half of Republican Jonathan Bush's $2.6 million in fundraising consists of loans he made to his own campaign.
▪Democrat Angus King III loaned his own campaign $700,000 in May 2026.
▪Republican candidates Ben Midgley and Bobby Charles have loaned their campaigns $750,000 and $220,000, respectively.
Outside PAC spending
▪Political action committees (PACs) have spent more than $4.6 million on the Maine governor's race in the last two months.
▪The Restoration of America PAC Maine has spent $1.8 million since April 1, 2026, to support Republican Garrett Mason.
▪Maine Dream Inc. spent $1.2 million supporting Republican Jonathan Bush, while the Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund spent nearly $500,000 for Democrat Hannah Pingree.
Polling versus fundraising leaders
▪A recent University of New Hampshire poll showed Democrats Troy Jackson and Nirav Shah tied for the lead with 28% support each.
▪Fundraising leaders Jonathan Bush (R) and Hannah Pingree (D) have not led in public polling for their respective primaries.
▪The June 9, 2026 primaries will decide the candidates for the November election to succeed outgoing Governor Janet Mills.
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