Maine Governor Race 2026: Pingree vs. Charles

Maine's race to succeed term-limited Gov. Janet Mills (D) is a three-way contest, and the counting rules matter: Maine nominates by ranked choice, but two Maine Supreme Judicial Court opinions keep ranked-choice voting out of the general election for governor. The top vote-getter in November wins outright, even without a majority. Hannah Pingree (D) is a former state House speaker and the daughter of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree. Robert "Bobby" Charles (R) is a former naval intelligence officer who headed the State Department's narcotics and law enforcement bureau under President George W. Bush and now leads a Washington lobbying firm. Rick Bennett (I), a former chair of the Maine Republican Party who left the GOP in 2025, pitches himself as the alternative to both parties: "My jersey says Maine."

The four debates turned on costs. Pingree would double the homestead exemption to $50,000, spend $100 million a year on housing, and explore shifting some property tax burden onto nonresident second-home owners; Charles wants a $100,000 exemption for residents, an income tax cut phased in over four years, about $1 billion in first-year spending reductions, and a temporary gas tax suspension; Bennett would expand the Property Tax Fairness Credit and back first-time buyers' down payments. On energy, Pingree ties rising prices to Charles's support for Trump's Iran war and tariffs, Charles, who said at the final debate that he opposes both, argues Pingree "owns this issue." Pingree also backs a public insurance option and a plan to keep birthing clinics open.

The money favors Pingree. She has raised more than $4.2 million to Charles's $1.8 million and Bennett's $923,000, and the Republican Governors Association support Charles predicted has not materialized; a PAC formed by Republican donors to help Charles has instead spent $70,000 boosting Bennett. The Democratic Governors Association's Pine Tree State Prosperity had more than $8 million in future bookings in mid-September, against none from national Republican groups. In mid-September Pingree had nearly $1.2 million on hand to Charles's $395,000. With Bennett polling in single digits, the three-way field has not cut into Pingree's double-digit lead, and she is a clear favorite.