Melcher said this is the type of year where an independent — he mentioned state Sen. Rick Bennett, a former Republican who dropped his party affiliation to run for governor — could break through.

It’s easy to find 10 Maine politicians to watch in this year of transition, but it’s hard to game out who will stand out — or be left standing — at the end of 2026

Matt Gagnon discusses the significant political landscape of Maine in 2026, highlighting the open gubernatorial seat, where both parties and independents like Rick Bennett are vying for the position.

Mainers deserve a leader who is focused on solutions, not sides.

At a weekend rally in support of Somali Americans, the state senator from Oxford impressed me.

Hundreds of people rallied in Lewiston on Saturday in support of the state's Somali community, a response to President Donald Trump's recent comments that Somali immigrants are "garbage" that he doesn't want in the country.

Maine independent gubernatorial candidate Rick Bennett talks about housing and political platform while attending winter festival in Farmington

The candidates’ positions on the president and his agenda will play a role in their campaigns, and foreshadow what the next administration in Maine will look like.

I’ve known Maine State Senator Rick Bennett — now an independent candidate for governor — since high school. His subsequent success has never surprised me. What has been gratifying is reconnecting decades later over a shared passion: strengthening American democracy.

Bennett can see through the two-party haze. That’s rare.

At a Thursday campaign event with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Maine Sen. Rick Bennett from Oxford denounced the two-party system, making the case for his independent bid for governor.

AUBURN, Maine — Some state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Janet Mills to call the Legislature into a special session next month to deal with the consequences of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Rick Bennett of Oxford is a state senator and independent candidate for governor.

State Senator Rick Bennett. Independent for Governor of Maine. Why He Left the GOP. Vacationland as a Bellwether for the Independent Movement. The Massive Drop in Canadian Tourism. Trump vs Governors. Leadership After The Charlie Kirk Assassination.

In Maine, a cold-weather state, many of the school buildings are older, and have been built to hold heat in during harsh winters, rather than provide air circulation and cooling. Rick Bennett sponsors a bill to require temperature standards in schools.

While the election for Maine’s next governor is still more than a year out, several candidates have already made day one pledges to support a cause that’s been stalled by the current governor: tribal sovereignty. 

Today, experts from across the state are gathering in Bangor for the Maine Affordable Housing Conference to discuss the future of housing. It could not come at a more urgent time.

Thanks to private funding and the passage of bipartisan legislation, thousands more Maine students will benefit from overnight outdoor educational experiences in the 2025-26 school year 

JAY — The Brett M. Staples Brain Disorder Awareness Coalition convened community leaders and healthcare professionals July 23 to promote understanding and advocacy around serious brain disorders in Maine.

The Maine Legislature largely opted to maintain the status quo regarding campaign finance regulations this year, rejecting attempts to expand clean elections, require more transparency into who is spending in elections and ban direct corporate contributions to candidates.  

The most common reasons cited by lawmakers, who voted down many of these bills in committee before the proposals even reached the chambers, were the tight budget year and that the plans didn’t get to the root causes of money in politics.