2026 Maine gubernatorial election

Incumbent Democratic governor Janet Mills was re-elected with 55.69% of the vote in 2022 over Republican former governor Paul LePage. Maine has not elected consecutive governors from the same party since Republican Burton M. Cross succeeded Republican Frederick G. Payne after 1952. 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. 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 • Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State (2021–present) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014 • Troy Jackson, former President of the Maine Senate (2018–2024) and candidate for Maine's 2nd congressional district in 2014 • Angus King III, energy executive and son of U.S. Senator and former governor Angus King • Hannah Pingree, former director of the Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2008–2010), and daughter of U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree • Nirav Shah, former principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023–2025) and former director of the Maine CDC (2019–2023) Failed to qualify • Kenneth Pinet, retired hotel worker Withdrawn • Jason Cherry, attorney and independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024 (running for state representative) Declined • Joe Baldacci, state senator (2020–present) and brother of former governor John Baldacci (running for U.S. House, endorsed Jackson) • Jared Golden, U.S. representative from Maine's 2nd congressional district (2019–present) • Dan Kleban, brewer (ran for U.S. Senate) • Adam Lee, car dealer Endorsements {{Endorsements box ;U.S. senators • Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent) ;U.S. representatives • Ro Khanna, CA-17 (2017–present) Fundraising Polling ==Republican primary==

Candidates Declared • Jonathan Bush, healthcare executive and nephew of former president George H. W. Bush • Robert Charles, lawyer and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State • David Jones, real estate executive and independent candidate for governor in 2006 • Garrett Mason, former majority leader of the Maine Senate and candidate for governor in 2018 • Owen McCarthy, University of Maine System trustee • Ben Midgley, former CEO of Crunch Fitness • Robert Wessels, former Paris selectman Failed to qualify • Ken Capron, retired accountant (endorsed Bush) • Steven Sheppard, rapper Declined • Rick Bennett, state senator, former President of the Maine Senate, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 (running as an Independent) • Laurel Libby, state representative from the 90th district (2022–present) and the 64th district (2020–2022) • Shawn Moody, entrepreneur, nominee for governor in 2018, independent candidate for governor in 2010 (initially formed exploratory committee) • Ray Richardson, political analyst and radio host Endorsements Fundraising Polling == Independents ==

Candidates Declared • Rick Bennett, state senator (1996–2004, 2020–present), Republican nominee for in 1994 and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 • John Glowa, retired environmental specialist • Derek Levasseur, former police officer and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 Filed paperwork • Alexander Murchison, mechanical engineer Endorsements Fundraising == General election ==