Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush and cousin of former President George W. Bush, is projected to lose the crowded Republican Maine gubernatorial primary. Former U.S. assistant Secretary of State Robert Charles won the primary Friday after the June 9 race advanced to ranked choice voting. Despite his name recognition, Bush was on track to earn just 19.8% of the votes by Tuesday night, falling significantly short to Charles, who was on track to win 37.9% of the vote. Charles will
face off against Democrat Hannah Pingree in November. Throughout his campaign, Bush sought to distinguish himself from his family dynasty — a difficult sell under a Republican Party that has been dramatically transformed under President Donald Trump. When he launched his campaign last fall to replace outgoing Gov. Janet Mills (D), Bush branded himself as a business-oriented political outsider and “a fanatic Maine optimist,” focusing his message on economic growth and job creation, slashing income and property taxes, and auditing state government. In one radio
ad played in Maine earlier this year, he addressed potential voter apprehension around his family name head-on. “I’m Jonathan Bush,” he said. “Now hold on, I know what you’re thinking — not another Bush. I get it. But hear me out: I might be different than what you’re expecting. First, I’m not low energy anything.” As the 57-year-old son of a banker and member of the Bush family, Jonathan Bush’s political roots in Maine trace back decades. The Bush family’s compound in Kennebunkport — an
oceanfront home known as Walker’s Point Estate — has notably been in their family for well over a century. Charles, meanwhile, worked in the administrations of three Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. He has repeatedly vowed to work with the Trump administration and investigate alleged fraud in the state if elected in November.
Jonathan Bush, Maine GOP primary, ranked choice voting, Robert Charles, Hannah Pingree, Janet Mills, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Walker's Point Estate, Kennebunkport, Donald Trump
So basically another Bush lost? Figures.
Ranked choice voting always feels like a loophole to me. Like wait, if he got votes, why doesn’t that count the same way? Either way 19.8% is rough.
I don’t even know who Hannah Pingree is but I guess she’s just the Democrat. Also Jonathan Bush saying “not low energy anything” sounds like he was trying to meme his way out of a dynasty problem… and it still didn’t work. Maine politics is wild.
Isn’t Walker’s Point Estate in Kennebunkport like… the old money house? Like how are you gonna call yourself a business outsider when you’re literally from that family compound. Plus the article says Charles will investigate fraud if elected, but I swear those investigations never go anywhere. Maine’s gonna end up with some reality TV style feud again.