AUBURN, Maine – A gubernatorial debate that opened with promises of structure and civility quickly slid into sharp personal attacks, with Democratic candidate Troy Jackson repeatedly invoking former state Rep. Deqa Dhalac as he accused Republican Bobby Charles of “race baiting,” and later branding The Maine Wire “the main liar” during a blowup over fraud and corruption allegations.
The debate was moderated by Andy O’Brien, communications director for the Maine AFL-CIO, and Carol Conley, the retired executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine. The moderators laid out the rules at the start: strict time limits, no moderator fact-checking, eight questions with alternating response order, opening and closing statements, and no prepared notes. With the moderators explicitly declining to fact-check, the candidates were left to police one another’s claims, a setup that encouraged escalation and made credibility itself a central battleground.
Charles won a coin toss and opened the night by arguing Maine is “in a state of peril,” citing overdose deaths, fentanyl deaths, rising costs, illegal immigration, and what he described as a collapse in public integrity. He tied those problems to years of one-party Democratic control and repeatedly linked Jackson to Gov. Janet Mills, describing Jackson’s long tenure in Augusta as part of the reason Maine has drifted into crisis.
Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, answered by arguing Charles’ campaign is built on division and degradation, particularly toward Lewiston and immigrant communities. Jackson framed Charles as a Washington-connected figure who talks like an outsider while pushing policies Jackson said would devastate Maine’s finances, including Charles’ plan to eliminate the state income tax.
Deqa Dhalac dispute resurfaces early
The argument over Deqa Dhalac surfaced early and returned repeatedly. Jackson accused Charles of targeting Dhalac and blamed Charles for creating an environment of harassment that, in Jackson’s telling, pushed her out of office. Jackson recalled Charles’ reaction to Dhalac quitting the Legislature and said Charles responded with “Mission accomplished,” presenting it as evidence that Charles was pleased to see her leave and would use power to intimidate opponents rather than lead.
Charles later pushed back by arguing the Dhalac controversy centered on what he described as conflicts of interest, saying that while Dhalac served in the Legislature she was also number two at Gateway Community Services, which he said received millions in state money. Charles framed that as a basic ethics issue, rejecting Jackson’s characterization of the dispute as racial.
Immigration and ICE enforcement sharpen the divide
On immigration, Charles drew a bright line between legal immigrants and illegal immigrants, arguing illegal immigration is draining resources and straining schools and public safety. Jackson said Maine needs immigration because it is an aging state, supported legal immigration, and said he opposes illegal immigration, while accusing Charles of using immigration as a political weapon and repeatedly labeling his rhetoric “racist” and “race baiting.”
ICE enforcement produced some of the most volatile moments of the night. Jackson claimed ICE violated constitutional protections and accused federal agents of breaking the law. He said he would take aggressive action as governor to protect civil rights and rein in enforcement he believes is abusive. Charles defended ICE as operating constitutionally, argued enforcement is based on law enforcement databases and legal standards, and criticized what he described as Democratic policies that block coordination between state, local, and federal agencies.
The exchange repeatedly broke into shouting and audience reaction, prompting reminders from moderators that the event was supposed to remain civil.
Affordability and taxes: Jackson warns of property tax shock
When the debate moved to affordability, Jackson argued for property tax reform and a “fair tax system,” and emphasized policies he said would lower costs in prescription drugs, nursing homes, childcare, and broader household expenses. He attacked Charles’ proposal to eliminate the income tax, arguing it would gut revenue sharing and drive property taxes higher.
Charles argued Maine’s government is bloated and unaccountable, promised to eliminate the income tax over four years, and said the state must roll back mandates and regulations. He argued Democratic leadership has driven budget growth and cost increases and said the only way to restore affordability is to return money to taxpayers and focus on outcomes rather than expanding programs.
Fraud and corruption exchange turns into media war
The corruption segment became the most explosive, not only because of the allegations raised, but because the candidates began attacking the credibility of reporting itself. Charles argued fraud concerns are credible and said he wants investigations followed by indictments, prosecution, and sentencing. He compared Maine’s allegations to a large Minnesota case and claimed a similar structure is at work here.
Jackson countered by defending his record and pointing to Ethics Commission decisions he said cleared him. But he escalated beyond policy rebuttal and aimed directly at the press scrutiny itself. In the transcript you provided, Jackson said the accusations were “all coming from the main liar over there,” and claimed it had “once again been not reporting accurately,” using the phrase as a blunt attack on The Maine Wire.
Charles, in response, praised outlets he said pursues FOAA requests and do accountability reporting, and in that portion of the debate, Charles was referring to The Maine Wire when discussing FOAA work.
In response to the unprovoked lash out at the Maine Wire, Editor in Chief of the Maine Wire, Steve Robinson took to social media to responded by saying, “Troy Jackson admitted to violating the Federal Housing Administration loan agreement that he signed for a house in Augusta. He lied about his primary residence so he could get a lower interest rate than an honest Mainer would have gotten. When we caught him in the lie, he responded by admitting over and over and over again that he did not honor the FHA loan agreement, and then he swore again that he was lying to skate through the toothless ethics commission. Mainers know who the Maine Liar is. No amount of dark money from corrupt labor unions will salvage his extinguished political career.”
Closing statements: unity versus the “American Dream”
Jackson closed by warning against division, arguing Maine cannot solve real problems if leaders drive communities apart. Charles closed by arguing Maine’s current failures belong to Democratic leadership and ended with a story about Somali teenagers in Lewiston who, he said, still believed in the American Dream, presenting that belief as what he wants for every child in Maine.
But the night’s defining political undercurrent may have been less about policy than power: Jackson repeatedly framed Charles as a candidate who celebrates political enemies being pushed out, highlighting Deqa Dhalac and the “Mission accomplished” remark, while Charles framed Jackson as the face of a governing class that has avoided accountability for years and his 25 years of service has condoned the fraud and failed Mainers.
