2026 Maine gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Maine gubernatorial election
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Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Janet Mills
Democratic



The 2026 Maine gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the 76th governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic governor Janet Mills, who was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, is constitutionally term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term. This election will coincide with a U.S. Senate election, U.S. House elections for Maine's two congressional districts, and various other state, county, and local elections. The primary elections will be held on June 9, 2026. [1]

Contents

Background

Incumbent governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, was re-elected with 55.69% of the vote in 2022 over Republican former governor Paul LePage. Mainers have not elected consecutive governors from the same party since Republican Burton M. Cross succeeded fellow Republican Frederick G. Payne following the 1952 election. Conversely, Mills's 2022 re-election, held under Democratic president Joe Biden, was the first time Mainers had elected a governor from the same party as the president since Republican John R. McKernan Jr. was re-elected under Republican president George H. W. Bush in 1990.

A sparsely populated state in New England, Maine is one of the most rural states in the nation and is considered to be moderately blue, having voted for every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992. In 2024, the state voted for Kamala Harris by seven points. Both houses of the Maine Legislature are controlled by the Maine Democratic Party, and Maine's two congressional districts are held by Democrats. A Republican has not received a majority of the vote in a gubernatorial election since 1962, when incumbent Republican John H. Reed received 50.08% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

  • Rachel Talbot Ross, state senator (2025–present) and former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2022–2024) [10]

Declined

Endorsements

Troy Jackson
U.S. senators
State legislators
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
Angus King III
U.S. senators

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of July 15, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Shenna Bellows (D)$529,044.05$187,397.90$274,291.15
Troy Jackson (D)$400,409.94$79,504.97$221,479.97
Angus King III (D)$434,359.93$182,406.40$237,978.53
Kenneth Forrest Pinet (D)$605.00$306.46$298.54
Hannah Pingree (D)$542,588.29$39,195.48$398,263.21
Source: Maine Ethics Commission [26]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Formed exploratory committee

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Withdrawn

Declined

  • Rick Bennett, state senator, former President of the Maine Senate, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 (running as an Independent) [37]
  • Ray Richardson, political analyst and radio host [15]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of July 15, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Kenneth Capron (R)$0.00$0.00$0.00
Robert Charles (R)$325,293.78$26,186.69$290,117.75
David Jones (R)$149,330.00$1,860.35$111,694.65
James Libby (R)$5,055.00$416.89$4,638.11
Owen McCarthy (R)$192,167.00$19,602.07$141,589.93
Robert Wessels (R)$28,273.37$15,178.40$13,094.97
Source: Maine Ethics Commission [26]

Independents

Declared

Filed paperwork

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of July 15, 2025
CandidateRaisedSpentCash on hand
Richard Bennett (I)$202,900.00$39,503.00$166,326.79
Alexander Murchison (I)$0.00$0.00$0.00
Source: Maine Ethics Commission [26]

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [41] Likely DSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [42] Likely DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [43] Lean DSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [44] Lean DSeptember 11, 2025

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures . Retrieved May 23, 2025.
  2. ↑ Pendharkar, Eesha (March 26, 2025). "Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows officially announces bid for governor". Maine Morning Star . Retrieved March 26, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Attorney Jason Cherry announces 2026 gubernatorial bid". WCSH . August 4, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hilton, Annmarie (May 19, 2025). "Former Senate President Troy Jackson enters race for governor". Maine Morning Star . Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ Everett, Burgess (May 6, 2025). "King of Maine? Angus King III launches governor bid". Semafor .
  6. 1 2 "Angus King III leads Democrats in the 1st poll of 2026 Maine governor's race". WGME . June 3, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  7. ↑ Flisiuk, Francis (June 10, 2025). "Hannah Pingree announces campaign for Maine Governor". WMTW . Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ Lawlor, Joe (August 15, 2025). "Dr. Nirav Shah says he's considering run for Maine governor". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Wagner, Will (September 1, 2025). "Dr. Nirav Shah shares details about possible gubernatorial run". WABI-TV . Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  10. ↑ Gagnon, Matthew (May 15, 2024). "The race for Maine governor in 2026 has begun". Bangor Daily News . Archived from the original on November 11, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  11. ↑ @JoeBaldacci (March 30, 2025). "Many, many nice people have asked if I was interested in running for Governor. I have no plans to do so because I am supporting my friend and former colleague and former Senate President Troy Jackson for Governor" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Kobin, Billy (May 20, 2025). "Jared Golden will run for reelection in Maine's 2nd District in 2026". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  13. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (May 6, 2025). "Angus King's son will run for governor as a Democrat in 2026". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ Goldmacher, Shane (September 3, 2025). "Dan Kleban Joins Maine Democratic Primary, Seeking to Unseat Senator Susan Collins" . Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  15. 1 2 Shepherd, Michael; Klobin, Billy (December 2, 2024). "The famous names and familiar faces considering a run for Maine governor". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  16. ↑ Burns, Christopher (May 21, 2025). "Bernie Sanders endorses Troy Jackson for Maine's next governor". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved May 21, 2025.
  17. ↑ Brodey, Sam; Pindell, James (June 10, 2025). "Fresher faces, same names: Meet New England's new crop of politicians' relatives who are looking at elected office". Boston Globe . Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  18. 1 2 O'Brien, Andy (July 21, 2025). "Help Us Put a Working Class Candidate in the Blaine House". Maine AFL-CIO . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  19. ↑ Tusinski, Dylan (September 1, 2025). "Bernie Sanders backs Graham Platner, Troy Jackson at Labor Day rally in Portland". Lewiston Sun Journal . Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  20. 1 2 3 Graham, Gillian (May 19, 2025). "Troy Jackson announces run for Maine governor". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  21. ↑ Stockford, Griffin (May 19, 2025). "Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson running for governor in 2026". News Center Maine . Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Teamsters Joint Council 10 [@NewEnglandTeamsters] (May 20, 2025). "Maine Teamsters Endorse Troy Jackson for Governor: Teamsters Local 340 joined major unions today to back Troy Jackson's campaign for Governor of Maine". Facebook . Retrieved August 13, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ↑ "Platner and Jackson endorsed by Maine State Nurses Association". WMTW-TV . September 18, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Troy Jackson for Governor - Maine". Our Revolution . Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  25. ↑ Everett, Burgess (May 6, 2025). "King of Maine? Angus King III launches governor bid". Semafor . Retrieved August 13, 2025. He's also candid about his easy endorsement from one of the state's most popular politicians: his father, who just won a third term in the Senate and served two terms as governor.
  26. 1 2 3 "Maine Ethics Commission - Candidates" . Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Ken Capron announces run for Maine governor in 2026 race". WCSH . May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  28. ↑ Kobin, Billy (April 15, 2025). "He served under George W. Bush. Now he's running for Maine governor". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  29. ↑ Cover, Susan (May 20, 2025). "Falmouth Republican launches bid for Maine governor in 2026". Spectrum News . Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  30. ↑ St Pierre, Ariana (May 22, 2025). "Sen. James Libby running for governor of Maine". WGME-TV . Retrieved May 22, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Businessman Owen McCarthy joins Gubernatorial race". WABI-TV . June 11, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  32. ↑ Kobin, Billy (August 5, 2025). "Former fitness executive Ben Midgley joins Maine Republican governor's race". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved August 6, 2025.
  33. ↑ Patten, Sam (February 24, 2025). "Contenders for the Blaine House in 2026 Start Lining Up". The Maine Wire . Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  34. ↑ Kobin, Billy (July 14, 2025). "Jonathan Bush takes next step in potential run for Maine governor". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  35. 1 2 3 Ohm, Rachel (June 29, 2025). "Republican field for 2026 Maine governor's race slow to take shape". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Steven Christopher Sheppard -- Maine Campaign Finance". Maine Campaign Finance. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "State Sen. Rick Bennett launches gubernatorial campaign for 2026". WCSH . June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  38. ↑ Johnson, Drew (September 24, 2025). "Longtime Portland lawmaker enters race for Maine governor as an independent". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  39. ↑ Cover, Susan (April 18, 2025). "Republican focused on fighting crime launches bid for Maine governor". Spectrum News . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  40. ↑ Billings, Randy (May 15, 2025). "Hannah Pingree to step down from Mills administration". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  41. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  43. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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