Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
9.0%
38.6%
23%
17.2%
10.4%
G. Mason
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
$151.8K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusiness executive
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
GenderMale
LocationMaine
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BackgroundBusiness executive
Notable personal detailsBen Midgley is a Republican candidate for Governor of Maine and a business executive in the fitness industry. He is a former president of Planet Fitness and a founding partner and former CEO of Crunch Franchising. He is based in York County and has described himself as a political outsider focused on lowering costs and emphasizing parental rights in education.
SourcesShowHide
benforgovernor.commainepublic.orgen.wikipedia.orgmidgleyexposed.comcentralmaine.combangordailynews.comwagmtv.comthemainewire.comccrcme.comoctagonai.cowabi.tvmainemorningstar.comwmtw.commaine.govpreti.comdata.ddhq.iomidmainechamber.comreddit.comstrongermaine.orgbenforhallowell.comben-for-governor.medium.comtoppodcast.commainerighttolife.orgscience.goven.wiktionary.orgpodcasts.apple.comstudylib.netballotready.orglinkedin.comfoxnews.comabcnews.go.comcbsnews.comwashingtonpost.combostonglobe.comstatic.foxnews.comstatic.votesmart.orghiring.usatoday.comnga.orghistory.house.govcongress.govfec.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports cutting wasteful state spending, reducing government growth and regulation, lowering costs for families and delivering tax relief to working families and seniors. Prioritizes supporting small businesses and attracting investment to create jobs while opposing subsidies that benefit special interests.
Healthcare
The candidate emphasizes reducing state spending, redirecting resources toward law enforcement and addiction treatment, and increasing oversight of Department of Health and Human Services personnel; healthcare proposals focus on cost control and targeted programs rather than expanding government-run coverage. Campaign materials and interviews emphasize fiscal restraint and reallocating existing funds to priority areas such as veterans’ care and addiction treatment. Public statements call for personnel accountability at DHHS and stress limiting spending growth in MaineCare/Maine’s health budget
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger enforcement of immigration laws, opposes sanctuary cities, favors reducing public benefits for undocumented immigrants, and endorses deporting individuals who break the law (including violent criminals).
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports restrictions on abortion, opposing late-term abortion and opposing requiring MaineCare to cover abortion costs, while acknowledging Maine is unlikely to be a fully pro-life state and saying some "guardrails" could be put in place.
Climate & Energy
Ben Midgley’s campaign emphasizes lowering electricity costs and supporting policies to reduce cost of living, but does not present detailed climate or energy policy proposals on the campaign site. Public statements focus on economic impacts of energy prices rather than explicit commitments on emissions targets, renewable development, or fossil-fuel policy. Available materials frame energy as a cost issue within a broader pro-business, ‘common-sense’ platform rather than a specific climate agenda.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate describes himself as a proud defender of the Second Amendment, pledges to protect gun owners’ rights, oppose efforts that would restrict law-abiding Mainers, and says he would veto legislation that targets those rights. He frames his public-safety priorities around supporting law enforcement and protecting residents’ ability to defend themselves.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 12, 2026
Ben Midgley is in the news because he is running in Maine’s Republican governor primary, where ranked-choice voting will decide the nominee. In the latest reported first-round count, he was in third place with 20.1% of the vote, behind Bobby Charles and Jonathan Bush, and the final result may not be known until ranked-choice tabulation is completed. Midgley also formed an alliance with fellow candidate David Jones, with both urging supporters to rank the other second. He drew attention earlier at the state party convention, where he won a non-scientific straw poll.
benforgovernor.com+41
Articles
BDBangor Daily News2 days ago
Use the BDN's ranked-choice simulator to see who could win Maine's gubernatorial primaries
Neutral
PPPortland Press Herald1 month ago
Republican candidates for Maine governor just forged another alliance
Positive
BDBangor Daily News1 month ago
How to watch Maine's GOP gubernatorial debate tonight
Neutral
BDBangor Daily News2 months ago
Maine GOP projects unity around crowded gubernatorial field at convention
Positive
Polls
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising