Maine's Political Scene: A Wild Ride

Maine's political landscape is proving to be quite the rollercoaster. Let's dive in and see what's been happening.

Republican Governor Candidates

• 2018 vs. 2026: None of the Republicans who ran for governor in 2018 are jumping back into the ring for 2026.
• Fresh Faces: The Republican side is filled with fresh faces, mostly unknown and inexperienced.

Democratic Governor Candidates

• Progressive Wing: The progressive wing is making its presence known, with all leading candidates fitting this mold.
• Graham Platner's Rise: Shows that the progressive wing might not have as many big names ready to step up.

Jared Golden's Surprise

• Not Running for Governor: Decided not to run for governor, which wasn't a huge shock.
• Bowing Out of Re-election: Cited the divisive nature of politics as his reason.

Paul LePage's Congressional Run

• Second District: Former governor Paul LePage has decided to run for Congress.
• Republican Nomination: Seems to have the Republican nomination in the bag, as no other major Republicans are challenging him.

U.S. Senate Race

• Senator Susan Collins: Don't expect her to suddenly change her mind about re-election.
• Heating Up: The Senate race is already heating up and is set to be one of the most expensive and hard-fought races ever.

Gubernatorial Race

• Ranked-Choice Voting: With a variety of lesser-known candidates and ranked-choice voting, anything can happen.
• Potential Surprises: Might not get as much attention as the Senate race, but it could be far more interesting and surprising.