Maine Republican Governor nominee?
22dHigh ImpactA new Maine poll shows Robert Charles at 36% in the GOP governor primary, with Jonathan Bush at 20%, reinforcing Charles’s 80% market price as the June 9 primary nears.
80%0%
High Impact22d
Robert Charles
0%80%
A new Maine poll shows Robert Charles at 36% in the GOP governor primary, with Jonathan Bush at 20%, reinforcing Charles’s 80% market price as the June 9 primary nears.
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
$151.8K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age65 years old (Aug 23, 1960)
GenderMale
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LocationMaine
BackgroundAttorney
EducationDartmouth College (A.B.)
Notable personal detailsRobert Bruce “Bobby” Charles is an American lawyer and Republican political figure who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs from 2003 to 2005. He has worked in federal policy and legal roles and is President and Managing Member of The Charles Group, LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm. In April 2025, he announced a campaign for Governor of Maine in the 2026 election.
SourcesShowHide
history.state.govcharlesgroupllc.combangordailynews.comen.wikipedia.orgwbur.orgmainepublic.orgreference.orgwabi.tvradiopatriot.netvoterobertwessels.comnga.orgpredictionedge.comoctagonai.cothemainewire.comdata.ddhq.iogovinfo.govlldc.mainelegislature.orgfiles.eric.ed.govbobbyformaine.comprnewswire.comjustthenews.commainedems.orgdemocraticgovernors.orgthird-news.comamac.usseekingalpha.comccrcme.comballotready.orgfoxnews.comapnews.comcbsnews.comseattletimes.comwashingtonpost.comdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgcongress.govfec.govcommons.wikimedia.orgupload.wikimedia.orghistory.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
The candidate advocates major tax cuts and deregulation, including abolishing the state income tax and cutting regulations and fees to spur job growth and economic opportunity. Policy messaging emphasizes reducing tax burdens on businesses, seniors, and working families as central to his economic plan.
Healthcare
The candidate emphasizes strengthening oversight of MaineCare and addressing alleged fraud while supporting increased addiction recovery and mental health services. His campaign platform focuses heavily on tax cuts and government accountability but provides limited specific proposals on health coverage expansion or the Affordable Care Act.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes strict enforcement at Maine’s borders, supports close cooperation with federal immigration authorities (ICE), seeks rapid removals of people in the country illegally, and proposes measures to tighten the state’s northern border and accelerate immigration case processing. His public materials link immigration enforcement to combating drug trafficking and public-safety threats.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate identifies as pro-life and has pledged to pursue restrictions on abortion, including supporting an abortion ban and opposing taxpayer-funded abortions. He has publicly framed his position as opposing reproductive rights and backing policies to limit access to abortion in Maine.
Climate & Energy
The candidate opposes mandated electric vehicle requirements and characterizes aggressive climate mandates as impractical for Maine; his campaign emphasizes cutting regulations and taxes that he says harm industries and consumers. Policy language favors rolling back regulatory burdens and prioritizing economic and energy choices for Mainers rather than adopting aggressive emissions mandates.
Public Safety & Guns
Opposes red-flag style firearm confiscation measures and emphasizes support for law enforcement and public safety; criticizes new fees on concealed-carry permits and frames policy toward strengthening police and reducing crime rather than expanding gun restrictions.
Latest Insights
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
22dHigh ImpactCharles is now trading at 80% to win the Republican nomination after a new Bangor Daily News poll put him at 36%, far ahead of Jonathan Bush at 20%. That kind of leader gap is tradable because it reinforces Charles as the clear frontrunner with the June 9 primary approaching.
80%0%
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
22dHigh ImpactCharles’s nominee price jumped from 80% to 59% in the last hour, and a new Bangor Daily News poll has him leading the Republican field with 36%, well ahead of Jonathan Bush at 20%. That makes him a much stronger favorite in the June 9 primary and narrows the path for the rest of the field.
59%21%
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 12, 2026
Robert Charles is a leading candidate in Maine’s Republican governor primary. Recent reporting says he is ahead in first-round vote totals and polling, with ranked-choice tabulation still to come next week. He also skipped both televised debates ahead of the primary, while rivals continue to attack him with ads and try to close the gap.
history.state.gov+39
Articles
BDBangor Daily News2 days ago
Use the BDN's ranked-choice simulator to see who could win Maine's gubernatorial primaries
Positive
BDBangor Daily News8 days ago
Letter: Opponents are attacking Bobby Charles because he’s winning
Positive
PPPortland Press Herald14 days ago
National donors are backing Garrett Mason for governor. Will Republican voters?
Positive
BDBangor Daily News1 month ago
How to watch Maine's GOP gubernatorial debate tonight
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Polls
Maine Republican Governor nominee?
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
38.6%
23%
17.2%
10.4%
9.0%
G. Mason
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising