Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
10.4%
37%
23%
15.5%
7.9%
Republican
Garrett Mason
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
$168.1K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age41 years old (Jun 19, 1985)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
LocationMaine
BackgroundPolitician
EducationPensacola Christian College — B.A. (marketing) (2006)
Notable personal detailsGarrett Paul Mason is a Maine Republican politician and businessman. He served in the Maine Senate (2010–2018), including as Senate Majority Leader (2014–2018), and later served as an Androscoggin County Commissioner (appointed 2021; elected in 2022 and 2024). He has also worked in sports management and in public affairs/government relations, and has run for governor in 2018 and again in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgmasonformaine.commainepublic.orgpressherald.comlegislature.maine.govmainelegislature.orgapnews.comthemainewire.comvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgccrcme.comwikihandbk.comstanfordvotes.orgmaine.govthecounty.mewmtw.comsunjournal.commainedems.orgbangordailynews.comspectrumlocalnews.comnew.centralmaine.comcentralmaine.comandroscoggincountymaine.govnewscentermaine.comwgme.commainemorningstar.comfairvote.orgmshale.comyoutube.comfacebook.cominstagram.comballotready.orgwikidata.orgcollins.senate.govking.senate.govjustfacts.votesmart.orgfec.govgovinfo.govsenate.govdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgnga.orghistory.house.govdocuments.ncsl.orgcdn.ballotpedia.org
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates significant reductions to Maine’s personal income tax, including continuing reductions with the goal of eventual elimination, and supports tax-cutting policies intended to keep more money with families and businesses. He has also proposed refundable tax credits tied to family savings accounts for children. Overall his public positions emphasize major tax cuts and pro-growth, small-government fiscal priorities.
Healthcare
Garrett Mason has repeatedly opposed Medicaid expansion in Maine and has said he would seek to repeal or block implementation of expansion. He has stated that health care is not a human right and has argued Medicaid expansion risks fiscal problems and benefits hospitals/insurers over taxpayers.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities and indicates deputies may check documentation and contact Border Patrol for people without papers. Has said local agencies do not themselves enforce immigration laws but will involve federal authorities when individuals lack documentation. Positions emphasize enforcement and cooperation with federal immigration enforcement rather than expanded asylum access or regularization pathways.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate identifies as pro-life and opposes abortion except to save the life of the mother, opposes state funding for abortion providers, and supports state (10th Amendment) control over abortion regulation.
Climate & Energy
Garrett Mason has promoted policies prioritizing lower energy costs for businesses and supported shifting Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) trust fund money toward ratepayer rebates rather than efficiency programs; he has expressed support for renewable energy development while opposing carbon-fee style taxation.
Public Safety & Guns
Opposes bans on so-called assault weapons and argues that gun restrictions primarily burden law‑abiding citizens rather than addressing the people who use weapons unlawfully. Has received top pro‑gun ratings from the NRA. Questioned proposals to arm school personnel and expressed skepticism about additional gun controls during legislative debate.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 15, 2026
Garrett Mason is running for the Maine Republican nomination for governor, and the race is still unsettled. He has been campaigning on his legislative experience, tax cuts, and school choice, with support from national donors aligned with Donald Trump. In the primary count, Mason finished well behind the leaders in first-round voting, and ranked-choice tabulation is still determining the final nominee. He has also been part of the crowded field debating and campaigning across the state ahead of the nomination contest.
en.wikipedia.org+42
Articles
BDBangor Daily News1 month ago
Use the BDN's ranked-choice simulator to see who could win Maine's gubernatorial primaries
Neutral
PPPortland Press Herald2 months ago
National donors are backing Garrett Mason for governor. Will Republican voters?
Positive
BDBangor Daily News2 months ago
How to watch Maine's GOP gubernatorial debate tonight
Neutral
BDBangor Daily News3 months ago
Maine GOP projects unity around crowded gubernatorial field at convention
Neutral
Polls
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Garrett Mason for Maine Republican Governor nominee?
Bangor Daily News opinion contributor
Elected official
A Bangor Daily News opinion contributor endorsed Garrett Mason for governor
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising