BIDDEFORD — Candidates running for governor are making their final pitches to voters with just one week to go until Election Day.
Republican Jonathan Bush toured Volk Packaging in Biddeford Tuesday as part of a statewide sweep that included a radio appearance, visiting paper mill workers and stopping by a wood products facility.
As he has throughout the campaign, Bush took aim at what he considers to be government overreach, particularly when it comes to regulating businesses. He criticized a new packaging law and the state’s paid family and medical leave program.
“Each one of these things, when accumulated, kills our economy,” he said. “It kills our soul as a state.”
Bush is one of seven candidates running to be the Republican who moves on to the November election for the open seat for governor.
Recent polling shows Bush surging but still lagging far behind frontrunner Bobby Charles. A recent University of New Hampshire poll has Charles at 37%, followed by Bush at 18% and Ben Midgley at 11%.
On Monday, Republican David Jones filled out a large cardboard “ballot” at a State House news conference, ranking himself first followed by Midgley, Owen McCarthy, Bush, Garrett Mason and Robert Wessels.
He did not rank Charles, criticizing him for not participating in all public debates.
“Trust matters, and at this point, Robert Charles has not earned mine,” he said.
The Charles campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Lauren LePage, campaign manager for Midgley, said in a statement that he is spending the final days of the campaign reaching out directly to voters.
“Republican voters want to eliminate fraud and government corruption, end illegal immigration, lower taxes and cost-of-living, and end woke ideology in our schools,” she said.
Mason said his campaign is knocking on doors and calling voters to make sure they remember to vote. A former state Senate majority leader, Mason is touting his legislative experience as a reason voters should choose him.
“I’m the only candidate in this race with a record of conservative accomplishment in the Maine Legislature,” he said. “I believe voters are looking for someone who can be ready on day one and won’t need on-the-job training.”
Republicans aren’t the only ones with big decisions to make. Five candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination.
The UNH poll shows Troy Jackson tied with Nirav Shah, with both earning 28% of the vote. They are followed by Shenna Bellows, Hannah Pingree and Angus King III.
King pledged to visit all 16 counties in 24 hours on Monday as part of a “Build a Better Maine” tour where he’s highlighting his plans to address rising costs, housing shortages and workforce needs, according to his campaign.
Jackson, Shah and Bellows all released statements opposing the possible closure of a birthing center in Damariscotta, with some of them planning to speak in person at a public meeting Tuesday night.
Pingree toured Casco Bay islands over the weekend, speaking to residents about “affordable housing, small schools and community infrastructure,” according to her campaign’s Facebook page.
As candidates in both parties enter the final stretch, they are encouraging voters to embrace ranked choice voting and, in some instances, creating alliances.
Pingree, Bellows and Jackson — all of whom have served in the Legislature — have encouraged their supporters to rank all three of them on the ballot.
And on the Republican side, in addition to Jones’ Monday announcement, Wessels is encouraging his supporters to rank Bush second on their ballots.
State election officials say because of ranked choice voting, it’s unlikely that election night results will produce a winner for either party. That means all ballots will be transported to Augusta for a ranked choice count several days after June 9.
Voters should also be aware that they can vote early at local town offices and city halls through Thursday. Election officials warn against mailing ballots back in, advising voters to use drop boxes outside many municipal buildings or handing them in in person.
Like many Republicans, Bush is not a fan of ranked choice voting. But he encourages voters to rank the candidates on Tuesday.
“Ranked choice voting is sickening for people, it’s frustrating, it feels like the game has been rigged,” he said. “But because that is the game, we should all, I believe, play the game.”
