Former State Department official Bobby Charles runs for Maine governor
The gist
Republican Bobby Charles, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state, is on Maine's November ballot for governor.
The seat is open, and forecasters rate it heavily favored for Democrats.
How it unfolded
- May 6, 2026The Maine Monitor and the Bangor Daily News' Maine Focus published a report on Charles' record as head of a State Department bureau under President George W. Bush, which watchdogs say failed.
- Jun 8, 2026Maine held midterm primaries, with the Republican field including former U.S. State Department official Bobby Charles.
- Nov 3, 2026Charles won the Republican primary after a ranked-choice voting tabulation involving eight candidates; he had led by 17 points but took only 37.9% of the vote.