Maine Gubernatorial Primary Sees Political Dynasties Compete
This month, Maine’s ranked gubernatorial primary saw two notable political families face off.
On the Republican side, Jonathan Bush, who is related to former President George H.W. Bush, was eliminated after the sixth round of counting.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic front, Angus King III, the son of Senator Angus King (D-Maine), was knocked out in the initial round.
The main contenders set to fill the role of term-limited Democratic Governor Janet Mills are Democrat Hannah Pingree, who is the daughter of former Maine House Speaker and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), and Republican Bobby Charles, as confirmed by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office on Friday.
Jonathan Bush is also known as the younger brother of Billy Bush, a former host on “Access Hollywood” and “Extra.” He gained attention as the founder of healthcare software company AthenaHealth, from which he was ousted in 2018 after the company was acquired by an activist investor.
His campaign faced challenges, including allegations related to an incident involving his ex-wife and unflattering remarks made to a female colleague caught on camera.
Although coming from a political lineage, Bush attempted to position himself as a political outsider aimed at disrupting Maine’s liberal policies. His defeat marks the end of the Bush family’s direct involvement in politics, with George P. Bush being the last member holding office until retiring in 2023.
In addition to Bobby Charles—who has previously served as assistant secretary of state under Jonathan and George W. Bush—Republican candidates in the primary included former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, along with Robert Wessels, a former selectman, and businessmen Owen McCarthy, David Jones, and Ben Midgley.
On the Democratic side, Pingree and King III were competing against candidates like Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, among others.
Angus King III previously worked in President Clinton’s White House before returning to Maine to launch Peaks Renewables, an energy company, which he left last year to focus on his gubernatorial aspirations.
Ranked-choice voting has been in use in Maine since voters approved it through a referendum in 2016. This system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference; if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and the second choices of those who supported them are considered until someone achieves a majority.
