Bobby Charles
Candidate, Governor (ME) · Republican · Maine
Bobby Charles is the 2026 Republican nominee for Governor of Maine, a former Assistant Secretary of State for counter-narcotics and Navy Reserve intelligence officer campaigning on cutting crime, cutting taxes, and government accountability.
Profile last updated Sep 7, 2026 · Center Field Politics
Summary
First-time statewide candidate with a federal national-security and counter-narcotics background running a law-and-order, tax-cutting platform.
Recent Action
Won the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary; reported about $1.3M raised through mid-July 2026.
Where They Stand
Stances on the issues many voters care most about. Where a candidate has not given a clear answer we mark it "Mixed / Partial" or "Unclear" rather than guess. Positions are drawn from official records and bias-labeled news sources; they are descriptive only and are never scored.
Environment—Opposes37
Climate protections and regulation versus fewer climate-related regulations on industry.
Favors expanding natural gas, hydropower, and biomass while ending renewable-energy subsidies; ties housing affordability to cutting energy costs.
Healthcare—Opposes3
Expanding healthcare coverage for all versus expanding market-based, private insurance.
Proposes cutting state DHHS spending sharply; does not support single-payer or expanded public coverage.
Second Amendment—Opposes5
New firearm regulations versus no new firearm regulations.
Strong Second Amendment advocate; pledges to repeal Maine’s red-flag law and opposes new firearm restrictions as due-process infringements.
Immigration—Opposes37
Pathways to citizenship versus a closed-border approach.
Calls for strict immigration enforcement and dismantling drug-cartel networks operating in Maine.
Roe v. Wade—Opposes611
Protecting access to abortion versus restricting access to abortion.
Describes himself as unapologetically pro-life, has called abortion "abhorrent," celebrated Dobbs, and pledged to reverse Maine’s late-term abortion law and end public funding for abortion.
National Security—Unclear117
Whether diplomacy or military strength should be the primary national-security priority.
Re-checked after the Feb 2026 U.S./Israel strikes: Maine Democrats attribute support for "Trump’s war in Iran" to him, but no direct statement from Charles on the strikes was located in this pass (he was not among candidates quoted in Maine media roundups that week). Left Unclear rather than inferred from party or Trump alignment alone.
Party Loyalty
No voting record yet; loyalty cannot be measured.
Follow the Money
Republican nominee in the 2026 Maine governor’s race, filed with the Maine Ethics Commission (not the FEC): about $1.3M raised through mid-July 2026, including roughly $220K in personal loans, with about $180K cash on hand. Raised $1.3M for the 2026 cycle (2026 cycle (through Jul 14, 2026 reporting period)), filed with Maine Ethics Commission.
Total raised (cycle 2026): $1,300,000 · Outside influence: Low
Sources
- Bobby for Maine — Official campaign site
- AP — State policy coverage
- Bobby for Maine — Issues
- Maine Policy Institute — Candidate interview: Bobby Charles
- Bearing Arms — Bobby Charles interview on Second Amendment
- Maine Beacon — Pingree faces off against anti-choice rivals on abortion
- Portland Press Herald — Where Maine governor candidates stand on key issues
- Portland Press Herald — Pingree dominates fundraising (Charles totals)
- Maine Monitor — Charles declined voluntary personal financial disclosure
- Wikipedia — Robert B. Charles (biography / service history)
- Maine Democrats — Statement on Charles as GOP nominee
- Portland Press Herald — Coverage of gubernatorial race and Charles platform
- Maine Ethics Commission (campaign finance)
- Wikipedia — Robert B. Charles