Queen City Clash: Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson Grills GOP Gov Candidates in Bangor Debate

All eight of Maine’s Republican gubernatorial candidates gathered for the first time in Bangor on Tuesday evening for A Clash in Queen City, the debate hosted by The Maine Wire and moderated by Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson.

Each of the candidates argued that they should be the one to take Maine’s crown out of the gutter and fix the mess left by Gov. Janet Mills (D) in the sold-out Cross Insurance Center.

Though some of the Republican hopefuls have debated before, this is the first time that all eight of those who will appear on the ballot competed on the same stage.

Robert Wessels, Sen. James Libby (R-York), David Jones, Bobby Charles, Garrett Mason, Owen McCarthy, Jonathan Bush, and Ben Midgley all had the opportunity to present their views to Mainers — both those lucky enough to secure tickets before the event sold out and those who watched the event as it was streamed to online viewers.

Candidates responded to questions about their individuals weaknesses as general election candidates, how they would deal with Maine’s epidemic of corruption and fraud, and how they would protect Mainers from exploitation by transnational organized crime.

You can watch the debate here — and stay tuned to the Maine Wire Facebook page and X feed as we post highlights from the debate.

Background on Candidates

Robert Wessels was the first candidate to submit his completed petition to appear on the ballot. Wessels is a businessman running as a political outsider. He previously served on Paris, Maine’s Select Board, and promises to prioritize supporting families and parents, growing businesses, and controlling government spending. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

James Libby is a Republican State Senator from Cumberland serving his fourth term in the state legislature. He grew up in Groveville and has decades of experience working in the campaigns of prominent Republicans, including Ronald Reagan. He promises to address the tax burden, energy policy, and the state’s educational standards if elected. You can watch his interview with the Maine Policy Institute here.

David Jones is a realtor and developer from Falmouth and the owner of one of Maine’s oldest continually operated businesses. He established the Make Maine Great Again political action committee in 2016 and was an early supporter of President Donald Trump. He promises to cut taxes through welfare reform and an audit of Augusta and vows to revitalize Maine’s economy. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

Bobby Charles has experience serving in federal office during George W. Bush’s administration, where he served as the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. He also held positions in the administrations of George H. W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. He promises to address the foreign drug cartels in the state and advocates for ending the state income tax and getting politics out of schools. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

Garrett Mason previously served as Maine’s Senate Republican Leader. He has framed his political experience as an asset, giving him “institutional knowledge” of Augusta. He previously ran for governor in 2018. He also has corporate experience as a partner at Dirigo Public Affairs, a lobbying and public affairs firm. He believes that experience gives him a perspective both as a political insider and as a private citizen. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

Owen McCarthy is the co-founder of the successful medical device company MedRhythms and serves on the Board of Trustees of the UMaine System. He grew up in a working-class household and has focused on keeping the state affordable for other working Maine families. He has advocated for tax cuts and rolling back regulations that burden businesses in the state. He has also promised to address Maine’s addiction crisis. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

Jonathan Bush is a healthcare CEO and founder of Athenahealth, as well as a father of seven children. He is the cousin of George W. Bush and nephew of George H.W. Bush. He has focused on making Maine affordable so those who grew up in the state can stay. He has criticized Mills’ soft-on-crime policies and failed approach towards addressing addiction. He promises tax cuts, as well as policy changes to make it easier to run a business or build a home in Maine. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.

Ben Midgley is a political outsider and founder and former CEO of Crunch Franchising, a successful fitness business. He has highlighted his personal struggle, from living on food stamps to business success. He has promised to address growing crime driven by illegal immigration, electricity and housing costs, the lack of parental input in the education system, and Chinese-operated illegal marijuana grows across the state. You can watch his one-on-one interview with Steve Robinson here.