Maine gubernatorial candidates trade barbs on first day of general campaign

PORTLAND (WGME) — It’s now a three-way race for the Blaine House.

After more than a week, the ranked choice tabulation was run very early Friday morning, with Hannah Pingree declared the winner for the Democrats, and Bobby Charles the winner for Republicans.

Moving forward, Independent Rick Bennett is also in the governor’s race.

As a moderate, Bennett could draw votes from both parties.

If Friday is any indication, the next four and a half months will be contentious, with the three candidates pointing fingers at each other.

Charles criticized ranked choice voting and says if elected, he will end it.

“Maine voters deserve to know the results of their elections on the day that they cast their vote,” Charles said.

Pingree disagrees, saying election officials made sure every vote counted.

“Maine’s election officials did their job, and they did it right,” Pingree said.

The two nominees traded jabs Friday.

“The Democrats have just nominated an insider,” Charles said. “A deep Augusta insider.”

Republican candidate for governor Bobby Charles (WGME)

It was Charles’ own primary opponents who labeled him a Washington insider.

“I will say it’s ironic that Bobby Charles is talking about positive change,” Pingree said.

Then there’s State Senator and former head of the Maine Republican Party Rick Bennett, running as an Independent.

Charles calls him a Democrat.

Pingree calls him a Republican.

“I think the choice here is clear,” Bennett said. “We have Hannah Pingree, who I respect, but she’s a continuation of the Mills administration. She was in charge of housing policy. We still have a housing crisis. Bobby Charles, as you know, has spent most of his life in the bureaucracy in Washington and then lobbying for corporate interests in Washington. Maine people are tired of a political system that puts the parties first and results second.”

Independent candidate for governor Rick Bennett (WGME)

Charles says he wants to bring integrity to the State House.

“You either want change, integrity, lower taxes, the drug traffickers out of here, the needles out of here, the energy costs down,” Charles said. “No more fraud. I am sick and tired of all the things we’re putting up with. In my view, a betrayal of trust and a betrayal of integrity.”

Pingree says Congressional Republicans and the President are the ones making life difficult for Maine families.

“This is about healthcare that we can afford, whether you’re in a rural hospital in Houlton or urgent care in Portland. It is about Maine’s potential,” Pingree said. “A real future for our kids and the people who are working all across Maine just to get by. It’s also about continuing to stand up to Donald Trump. His attacks, his wars, his economic chaos that is making life harder for every single Mainer every single day.”

As an Independent, Bennett did not have to compete in a primary.

Also, unlike the primary, there is no ranked choice in the general election for state races, so no ranked choice this fall in the governor’s race.