As Republicans battle for Maine’s gubernatorial nomination, the race is emerging as a test of whether a traditional New England Republican can still compete in a GOP increasingly shaped by President Donald Trump.At the center of that debate is Jonathan Bush, a healthcare entrepreneur and nephew of former President George H.W. Bush, whose candidacy has become a symbol of the tension between the Republican Party’s old establishment wing and its MAGA-dominated present.Bush is one of seven Republicans competing in the June 9 primary to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. The crowded field also includes former Assistant Secretary of State Bobby Charles, former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, businessman David Jones, University of Maine trustee Owen McCarthy, former fitness executive Ben Midgley, and small business owner Robert Wessels.
But while Bush has tried to carve out a lane as a business-oriented outsider with moderate instincts, early polling suggests Republican primary voters are gravitating toward candidates more closely aligned with Trump-style politics. A recent University of New Hampshire poll found Charles leading the field with 37% support, followed by Bush at 18% and Midgley at 11%. Another poll modeling Maine’s ranked-choice voting system showed Charles ultimately defeating Bush 59% to 41% after redistributed ballots.
