You might not know it, but he Maine Senate race isn’t the only political contest happening there. The 2026 GOP primary gubernatorial election is a crowded field with seven candidates. We had a chance to talk to the top four front runners about the Second Amendment.
The Maine primary election for the governor’s race is June 9. Early voting started on May 10. There are seven viable candidates running for the top executive spot in Vacationland: Jonathan Bush, Bobby Charles, David Jones, Garrett Mason, Owen McCarthy, Ben Midgley, and Robert J. Wessels. We got a chance to talk about the Second Amendment and the all-important moose hunt with Bush, Charles, Mason, and Midgley.
According to multiple polls, these are the top four candidates in the race. The interviews were all conducted in April and May and none of the candidates got the questions in advance.
Some of the topics covered in the interviews include:
- The Maine moose hunt
- Studies on lead ammunition use
- The Second Amendment
- So-called “red flag” laws
- So-called “large-capacity magazine” bans
- So-called “safe storage” mandates
- The so-called “ghost gun” bans/regulations
- Restoration of gun rights to non-violent felons
- So-called “assault weapons” ban
Sections of the below quotes have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Jonathan Bush
“The Second Amendment is the canary in the coal mine. It’s not the coal mine.” — Jonathan Bush
Johnathan Bush is a business man best known for being the former CEO and co-founder of Athenahealth. Bush is a father of seven and describes himself as a veteran and entrepreneur. He said he was moved to run for governor because he wasn’t pleased with seeing what has happened to Maine. Deregulation and maximizing liberties seem to be among his primary goals.
In our conversation he showed a strong support of the Second Amendment and was animated about some of the topics discussed.
I’m a free country guy. I want to be the governor so that I can, every single day, make people more free and more able to take home more of their money to do what free people want to do with it.
I think in Maine, we’ve attracted some lovely people from states that don’t have guns or that are restrictive in lots of ways. … We got a lot of people that came up from New York City, for example, during Covid, and they’ve, they’ve taken it as an article of faith that goodness correlates with controlling other people and (… they’re) virtue signaling. And they’ve gotten into the Second Amendment in a way that’s increasingly concerning.
Bobby Charles
“This goes not just for guns, but for everything. I think there is too much government in our face. We need to get rid of all the government regulations.” — Bobby Charles
Bobby Charles is an attorney who has worked in national-level government positions. Charles interned at the White House during the Reagan Administration, clerked at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and worked for President George H.W. Bush. Charles was born in Virginia but was raised in and calls Maine home.
What does Charles have to say about the Second Amendment?
I don’t even know how to put it in words I’ve written (about it) for years and years. 18 years ago, I helped set up a group called AMAC, the Association of mature American citizens. They’re the conservative alternative to AARP. I have probably written 15 articles on the Second Amendment, defending every aspect during that period of time.
Right off the top, I can tell you, we’re going to get rid of this red flag law. It’s an abomination. I mean, my God, just the signs on my yard could create … the “uncomfortable” situation that allows people to then come take my guns. …
Everything about my view of the Second Amendment is freedom-oriented. I am all about expansion. There aren’t limits. I mean, I don’t know many Mainers that want to own a tank and a cannon, but if they do, I’m not particularly against that.
I think the reality is we have some federal laws that we subscribe to, and we should, but I have had the great joy, even here in the state of Maine, with people of the proper permitting to shoot machine guns — and I think it’s fascinating. Look, those people who understand our history, and I am a particularly history-oriented person, and who understand the great outdoors and understand the role of guns in both should be 100 percent supportive of gun rights, period.
Garrett Mason
“Article One, Section 16, is very clear that the right to keep and bear arms ‘shall not be questioned.’ And in my opinion, it’s even more direct than the federal Second Amendment. And that’s pretty simple to me.” — Garrett Mason
Garrett Mason is a Maine businessman and politician. Mason comes from a family of legislators and served in the Maine senate for a number of years. While in the senate, he was also the majority leader. Currently Mason serves in county government and owns and operates a business with his wife.
What does Mason have to say about the Second Amendment?
The Maine constitution is pretty clear. Article One, Section 16, is very clear that the right to keep and bear arms “shall not be questioned.” And in my opinion, it’s even more direct than the federal Second Amendment. And that’s pretty simple to me.
I think that the Maine constitution and the federal constitution very clearly dictate that you cannot prohibit people from owning guns. I’ve been very, very pro-Second Amendment, making sure people have the right to defend themselves, but also that they have the right to have a weapon to hunt with. I don’t know that you’d find a better friend of the Second Amendment than me, and my voting record proves that …
For many people when they hear the Second Amendment, they think — I think the left — particularly, has really driven into people’s mind that it’s about hunting, and that’s not really what it’s all about. Of course, that’s part of it, but it’s about defending yourself from a tyrannical government. That’s why the Second Amendment was put into place …
I would warn people to be very cautious when they start hearing a gun rights advocate talk about what the Second Amendment is, because I haven’t heard one yet articulate it appropriately or correctly. if I could say one thing to voters, buyer beware and make sure you’re getting your information from all sources before you make a decision.
Ben Midgley
“Bottom line, I back the Second Amendment.” — Ben Midgley
Ben Midgley is a business man from Maine. He has a unique background in that he dropped out of college and readily admits that he’s been on government food stamps. Those trials have not held Midgley back, as he went on to become the president of a top fitness company — Planet Fitness — and also spent 15 years as the CEO and a founding partner of Crunch, another fitness franchise.
What does Midgley have to say about the Second Amendment?
I think we were the only candidate in our opening announcement in running for governor (discussed the Second Amendment), which we did in front of TV cameras on August 5. I mean, bottom line, I back the Second Amendment. So whether you’re a hunter or a sportsman or somebody who just wants to protect your home and your family, I’m going to have your back period. That’s what we said day one. That’s where we stand right now, that’s where we’re going to stand …
We’re talking about the Second Amendment here, right? Your goal and your job is to defend that. It’s one of the most important amendments we have, and Maine has a long history of responsible gun ownership, and I think if you start to bend on that … what’s next to fall in terms of the amendment(s)? Like I said in the beginning, we’re going to back the Second Amendment, one way or another. Whether you’re a hunter or sportsman, you just want to protect your home and your family, and you can count on me for that.
If you’d like to learn more about the candidates and their views on other topics, there have been a number of high-quality programs that included many, if not all of them. Some that we can recommend:
- Maine gubernatorial Republican primary debate 2026 by WMTW-TV
- Maine Republican Primary Gubernatorial Interviews by PBS and Your Vote
- Voice of the Voter: Republican Governor Primary Debate by NEWS CENTER Maine