Maine gubernatorial candidates enter final week of campaigning before Election Day
With one week until Maine's gubernatorial primary, candidates are making their final push. In the seven-way Republican race, Bobby Charles leads with 37% in a recent poll. The five-way Democratic primary is a dead heat between Troy Jackson and Nirav Shah at 28% each. Candidates are forming alliances to leverage the state's ranked-choice voting system, which will delay final results past election night.
Final week campaign activities
▪Democratic candidates Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah, and Shenna Bellows released statements opposing the possible closure of a birthing center in Damariscotta.
▪Democratic candidate Angus King III pledged to visit all 16 counties in 24 hours as part of a "Build a Better Maine" tour.
▪Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush toured Volk Packaging in Biddeford on June 2, 2026, as part of a statewide campaign sweep.
▪The campaign for Republican Garrett Mason is focusing on knocking on doors and calling voters in the final week.
Republican primary polling results
▪Seven candidates are running for the Republican nomination for governor of Maine.
▪In the same UNH poll, Jonathan Bush is in second place with 18% support, followed by Ben Midgley at 11%.
▪A University of New Hampshire poll shows Bobby Charles leading the Republican primary field with 37% support.
Democratic primary candidate standings
▪A University of New Hampshire poll shows Troy Jackson and Nirav Shah tied for the lead in the Democratic primary, each with 28% of the vote.
▪Five candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for governor of Maine.
Ranked choice voting strategy
▪Due to ranked-choice voting, state election officials do not expect to declare a winner for either party on election night.
▪Republican candidate David Jones publicly demonstrated his ballot choices, ranking himself first but refusing to rank frontrunner Bobby Charles.
▪Republican candidate Robert Wessels is encouraging his supporters to rank Jonathan Bush second on their ballots.
▪Democratic candidates Hannah Pingree, Shenna Bellows, and Troy Jackson are encouraging their supporters to rank all three of them on the ballot.
Candidate policy positions
▪Republican candidate Garrett Mason, a former state Senate majority leader, is promoting his legislative experience.
▪Republican candidate Jonathan Bush has criticized a new packaging law and a paid family leave program, calling them government overreach.
▪Democratic candidate Angus King III is campaigning on plans to address rising costs, housing shortages, and workforce needs.
▪Ben Midgley's campaign stated that Republican voters want to eliminate fraud, end illegal immigration, lower taxes, and end "woke ideology" in schools.
Early voting procedures
▪Voters can cast their ballots early at local town offices and city halls through Thursday, June 4, 2026.
▪Election officials advise voters to use drop boxes or hand-deliver their ballots rather than mailing them.
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