MEMO: State of the Maine Governor’s Race: Hannah Pingree Is the Proven Leader Maine Needs

To: Interested Parties

From: Chris Sloan, Political Director DGA

Date: July 8, 2026

State of the Maine Governor’s Race: Hannah Pingree Is the Proven Leader Maine Needs

Introduction

With the general election matchup set, Hannah Pingree is in a commanding position to be elected Maine’s next governor – and the Democratic Governors Association is behind her 100 percent. While Maine is an independent-minded state where elections can be unpredictable, we believe that Pingree is uniquely positioned to beat Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett and hold the Blaine House for Democrats. Maine voters are looking for leadership that will lower costs, protect access to affordable health care and rural hospitals, strengthen public education, defend abortion rights, and keep moving Maine forward. And they want a governor who will be fearless when it comes to standing up to Donald Trump’s attacks on Mainers’ jobs, health care, and freedoms. That is exactly what Hannah Pingree has done throughout her career serving Mainers and what she will do as governor.

Hannah Pingree is the Problem Solver Maine Needs

Hannah Pingree is a lifelong Mainer, a mom, and a proven leader with a track record of delivering results. From serving as Speaker of the Maine House to leading Governor Mills’ Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, she brings the experience, energy, and common-sense leadership Maine needs right now. Whether working to lower costs, strengthen communities, or rebuild after devastating storms – Hannah shows up, listens, and gets things done. On Day One, Hannah will hit the ground running by working to bring down the cost of housing, expand access to affordable health care, lower energy costs, and stand up to the Trump administration. A proven fighter and problem solver, Hannah has the common sense leadership needed to move Maine forward.

Republicans Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett Are Out of Step with Maine

Bobby Charles is too extreme, too anti-choice, and too out-of-touch to be Maine’s next governor. Charles is running to end abortion rights, take away MaineCare, create economic chaos, and sell out Maine to Donald Trump. Even Republicans have publicly said that Charles is too extreme for Maine and called his agenda an economic disaster that would “tank” the state’s economy. But Charles isn’t the only Republican in the race. Rick Bennett is a lifelong Republican who is running as a third party candidate. Bennett served as Republican Party Chair under Paul LePage, ran for Senate as a Republican, and served as a Trump elector. He has a long record of taking toxic conservative positions in the legislature – including voting for so-called Right to Work bills, supporting defunding Planned Parenthood, opposing and undermining MaineCare expansion, and weakening Maine’s child labor laws.

Both Charles and Bennett’s deeply partisan, Republican records are out of step with Mainers and are major liabilities for them in a general election.

Both Charles and Bennett Have Toxic Records on Health Care

At a time when Donald Trump and Republicans in Washington are raising health care costs, Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett would both make things worse. Nearly 400,000 Mainers rely on MaineCare to get health care – and the program is very popular. According to recent polling, “half of likely voters (50%) believe that Maine’s next governor should expand MaineCare to cover more Mainers. 34% of respondents believe that MaineCare should be maintained at its current coverage levels.” Yet Charles has repeatedly campaigned on cutting the program and kicking Mainers off of it. Bennett has a long record of opposing MaineCare expansion, tried to sabotage the ballot initiative to expand the program, and opposed the Affordable Care Act.

CONCLUSION:

This November, Mainers will send Pingree to the Blaine House because they will reject Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett’s out-of-touch views on issues ranging from health care to their support for Donald Trump’s agenda that is raising costs on Maine families. Maine voters, especially the notable population of unenrolled voters and party-splitters, closely evaluate each candidate’s vision for Maine as they make their decision for governor. This makes every election in Maine unique, and we cannot take anything for granted. Hannah Pingree’s strong history of standing up for Mainers and her mission to cut costs is a sharp contrast with her Republican opponents and will propel her to victory on Election Day.