FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 6, 2026

Contact: Lauryn Fanguen, [email protected], 240-354-2571

MAINE GOP GOVERNOR'S RACE ROUNDUP - March 6

Another week in the circus that is the Republican primary for governor: more outside anti-choice Trump billionaire spending and GOP infighting, desperate new ads, and candidates continuing to race to the right. Here's what you need to know from the week:

FOLLOW THE MONEY: GARRETT MASON'S MAGA BILLIONAIRE BESTIE

Garrett Mason has an out-of-state MAGA billionaire parachuting in to boost his candidacy.

The PAC ad buy backing Mason has steadily increased and now totals $1.7 million as of Friday morning. That's by far the largest outside spending in the race- more than double the combined spending from the next two Republican candidates, Jonathan Bush and Bobby Charles.

Mason's billionaire backer, Richard Uihlein, is an Illinois-based anti-abortion extremist who gave $49 million to Donald Trump and MAGA affiliated PACs in 2024 and has supported far-right, anti-choice candidates like Ted Cruz, Lauren Boebert, Josh Hawley, and now Garrett Mason.

Bobby Charles is continuously attacking Masonfor the spend, but no response so far from the podcaster. Does Mason think he can duck questions about this all primary?

Republican infighting is our favorite show. Here at Maine Dems, we're sitting back, grabbing snacks, and turning the volume all the way up

NEW JONATHAN BUSH AD RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Jonathan Bush launched a new ad touting his record as a businessman - a stark contrast to the reality of his record in business shrouded in allegations of misconduct, harassment, and failure.

Bush was forced to resign as CEO of Athenahealth amidst reports of unprofessional behavior and poor management. Now he wants to be governor? Maine Democratic Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson said it best:

"Being governor shouldn't be a consolation prize for a failed and controversial business career. Jonathan Bush was pressured to resign from the company he founded in Massachusetts. Now Bush wants Mainers to trust him with our jobs and economy. His questionable record as an out-of-state executive makes it clear that he is trying to reinvent himself for political gain, but us Mainers won't fall for it."

REPUBLICANS RACE TO THE RIGHT

Bobby Charles and Garrett Mason are tripping over themselves for Donald Trump's endorsement.Charles is celebrating and co-signing Trump's every move. Mason is still gushing over Trump's State of the Union Address, in which the president dismissed Mainers' real concern about rising prices and affordability, nearly a week after the speech.

Reminder: Trump may play well with a Republican primary electorate, but he quickly becomes a liability in a general election. Whoever squeaks out this primary will be tied to Trump and the MAGA agenda.