State

Governor

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The governor is Maine's chief executive: proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes laws and appoints judges and department heads.

Open seat: Governor Janet T. Mills is not on the ballot. Ranked-choice voting is used in general elections for federal offices only, so this race is decided by plurality. Two declared write-in candidates filed for this office.

Candidates Compare by issue

Rick Bennett

Independent

State senator · Oxford

The gist

Proposes applying the Property Tax Fairness Credit directly to bills.
Proposes lower down payments for first-time homebuyers.
Supports moving Maine toward universal health coverage.
Supports creating a Maine Generation Authority for renewable power.
Proposes expanded workforce training and apprenticeships, including AI retraining.
Opposes suspending the state gas tax this winter.
Supports requiring photo ID to vote.

More about Rick

View sources (2)

Proposes applying the Property Tax Fairness Credit directly to bills.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“I will apply the Property Tax Fairness Credit directly to tax bills instead of making families wait for a refund”
Proposes lower down payments for first-time homebuyers.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“I will reduce down payments for first-time homebuyers, provide direct mortgage assistance to make monthly costs more manageable”
Supports moving Maine toward universal health coverage.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“reducing administrative waste, and moving Maine toward universal coverage”
Supports creating a Maine Generation Authority for renewable power.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“support a Maine Generation Authority so more of the value from Maine-made renewable energy stays here and lowers bills for Maine ratepayers”
Proposes expanded workforce training and apprenticeships, including AI retraining.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“expand workforce training and apprenticeships, invest in innovation, and prepare Maine for AI by retraining workers”
Opposes suspending the state gas tax this winter.
GOP governor nominee Bobby Charles proposes using Rainy Day Fund for heating costs
News coverage · Maine Public · Sep 28, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“suspending it just means the bill comes back bigger in the spring”
Supports requiring photo ID to vote.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Rick Bennett, independent for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Sep 22, 2026 · Lightning round: answered Yes · mainepublic.org
“Should it be necessary to provide a photo ID in order to vote?”

Robert B. Charles

Republican

Former U.S. Naval Intelligence officer · Leeds

The gist

Pledges to abolish the state income tax.
Pledges to dismantle drug cartel networks operating in Maine.
Proposes refocusing schools on reading, math and science.
Proposes using $207 million in reserves for heating costs.
Supports temporarily suspending the state gasoline tax.
Pledges to enforce stricter policies on homelessness.

More about Robert

View sources (3)

Pledges to abolish the state income tax.
Bobby on the Issues
Campaign website · Bobby Charles for Maine Governor Campaign Committee · bobbyformaine.com
“He pledges to abolish the state income tax, slash unnecessary regulation, and cut the red tape that stifles economic growth”
Pledges to dismantle drug cartel networks operating in Maine.
Bobby on the Issues
Campaign website · Bobby Charles for Maine Governor Campaign Committee · bobbyformaine.com
“As Governor, Bobby Charles will dismantle cartel networks operating inside and across our borders.”
Proposes refocusing schools on reading, math and science.
Bobby on the Issues
Campaign website · Bobby Charles for Maine Governor Campaign Committee · bobbyformaine.com
“Bobby Charles’ plan is to refocus on core subjects: reading, math, and science”
Proposes using $207 million in reserves for heating costs.
GOP governor nominee Bobby Charles proposes using Rainy Day Fund for heating costs
News coverage · Maine Public · Sep 28, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“the Republican said the state should use $207 million of the $1 billion in Maine state government's Rainy Day Fund”
Supports temporarily suspending the state gasoline tax.
GOP governor nominee Bobby Charles proposes using Rainy Day Fund for heating costs
News coverage · Maine Public · Sep 28, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“Suspend the state gas tax now.”
Pledges to enforce stricter policies on homelessness.
Bobby Charles for Maine Governor
Campaign website · Bobby Charles for Maine Governor Campaign Committee · bobbyformaine.com
“he will fight to reduce crime, enforce common-sense policies on homelessness, cut burdensome taxes, and hold government accountable”

Hannah M. Pingree

Democratic

Former Speaker of the Maine House · North Haven

The gist

Proposes $100 million a year for housing development.
Proposes raising the Homestead Exemption for resident homeowners.
Proposes a state-backed public health insurance option.
Pledges to veto legislation that undermines voting rights.
Proposes free full-day Pre-K for every 4-year-old.
Supports making free community college permanent.
Proposes directing the PUC to reject unjustified utility rate hikes.
Opposes requiring photo ID to vote.

More about Hannah

View sources (3)

Proposes $100 million a year for housing development.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“investing $100 million annually in housing development and preservation”
Proposes raising the Homestead Exemption for resident homeowners.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“I'll increase the Homestead Exemption to provide meaningful property tax relief for year-round resident homeowners.”
Proposes a state-backed public health insurance option.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“I'll create a public health insurance option — a state-backed plan putting patients before profits”
Pledges to veto legislation that undermines voting rights.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“As Governor, I will veto any legislation that undermines voting rights”
Proposes free full-day Pre-K for every 4-year-old.
Building Maine's Future Through Great Public Schools
Campaign website · Hannah Pingree for Governor · hannahforgovernor.com
“Make free, full-day Pre-K available to every 4-year-old in Maine whose family wants it”
Supports making free community college permanent.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · mainepublic.org
“making free community college permanent so workers can quickly access in-demand jobs”
Proposes directing the PUC to reject unjustified utility rate hikes.
Maine's Next Chapter: A State You Can Afford to Call Home
Campaign website · Hannah Pingree for Governor · hannahforgovernor.com
“Require the PUC to penalize poor service, reject unjustified rate hikes”
Opposes requiring photo ID to vote.
Your Vote 2026 profile: Hannah Pingree, Democrat for governor
Candidate questionnaire · Maine Public · Apr 17, 2026 · Lightning round: answered No · mainepublic.org
“Should it be necessary to provide a photo ID in order to vote?”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 9 issues covered in this race.