PORTLAND, Maine – Republican candidates for governor squared off Tuesday night in a televised primary debate hosted by WMTW Maine’s Total Coverage, with anchor Jon Chrisos moderating the forum ahead of Maine’s June 9, 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary.

The debate featured Jonathan Bush, David Jones, Garrett Mason, Owen McCarthy, Ben Midgley and Robert Wessels. One Republican candidate, Bobby Charles, did not appear — an absence that became a recurring issue as candidates discussed taxes, spending, welfare reform and childcare.

The debate centered heavily on Maine’s affordability crisis, with candidates taking aim at Augusta’s growing budget, high taxes, welfare spending, DHHS oversight and regulations they said are crushing families and small businesses.

Candidates Pressed on Cutting Maine’s Budget

One of the sharpest exchanges came when candidates were asked whether it was realistic to cut as much as $2 billion from the state budget.

Bush said that level of reduction would be “impractical in the first year,” but argued Maine must shrink government over time by growing the private economy.

“What we need to do, we’re so far out over our skis with little programs,” Bush said. “If we actually bring back the entire regime, making it simple for anyone and affordable for anyone, you don’t need all these programs.”

Bush said Maine’s tax and regulatory system has made it impossible for regular Mainers to grow businesses.

Jones said he believed Maine could cut roughly $1.5 billion in spending but warned that no Republican governor could deliver major reforms without a Republican Legislature.

“If we don’t have the House and we don’t have the Senate, we can all sit here and make all the promises in the world,” Jones said. “We can’t do anything unless we have their help.”

Mason pointed to the explosion in state spending since he served in the Legislature.

“The last budget I voted on when I was in the legislature was under seven billion dollars,” Mason said. “We are now looking at something north of twelve billion dollars.”

Mason said Maine could quickly eliminate a long list of taxes, including the streaming tax, tobacco tax, franchise tax, paint tax and mattress tax.

“I am the only one on this stage who has actually delivered on a promise to reduce your income tax,” Mason said.

Wessels said the state should end government help for non-citizens, cut unfilled positions, downsize the Department of Education and stop taxpayer funding for nonprofits.

“We need to find and remove fraud that we’re seeing in DHHS,” Wessels said.

Midgley said welfare reform should be the first major step.

“The biggest expense you can cut is helping to get folks off our welfare system by giving them a step-up program,” Midgley said.

He argued that cutting taxes would ultimately increase state revenue by putting more money back into the economy.

Child Care Costs Take Center Stage

The debate then shifted to childcare, with a question from WABI News Director Jon Small, who asked whether Maine should do more to reduce costs, expand access or support providers.

Bush blamed state mandates and bureaucracy for making childcare harder to provide.

“We today in Maine, if you want to babysit for four children at your house, you need a 200-page application, and you get in-person inspections twice a year,” Bush said.

He rejected the idea of a state-sponsored childcare program, calling it “the worst idea I’ve ever heard for growing our economy.”

Jones cited the case of Trenton daycare provider Betsy Grant, saying she gave up her license because of pressure from DHHS.

“The rules and regulations are just way too restrictive,” Jones said. “The pressure on daycares is unbelievable.”

Mason agreed, saying providers are forced to deal with repeated inspections and administrative burdens that drive up costs.

“There’s snack inspection, there’s recess inspection,” Mason said. “It is the regulations and the cost associated with those that are killing childcare.”

McCarthy said the issue is personal for him as a father of young children.

“Parents can’t afford to pay more, and childcare providers need to make more money to survive,” McCarthy said.

He said the business community has identified childcare as a major workforce issue and called for private-market solutions.

Midgley said many areas of Maine do not have enough childcare options and families are stuck on waitlists.

“It can cost you as much as a mortgage to pay for childcare in the state,” Midgley said.

Wessels said childcare providers are businesses being squeezed by regulation, energy prices and labor costs.

“These things are connected,” Wessels said. “It is hard to do business in Maine.”

Bobby Charles’ Absence Draws Attention

Charles’ absence from the debate became a running undercurrent.

During the childcare discussion, Mason questioned where Charles stood on the issues.

“You guys wonder where Bobby is on all these things?” Mason said. “I don’t know. It’s hard to know.”

WMTW later showed results from viewer polling conducted during the debate, noting that Charles still appeared among the candidates receiving support despite not being on stage.

Ranked-Choice Voting and Lightning Round

The debate closed with a lightning round on ranked-choice voting, absentee voting, favorite state parks and vacation spots.

Asked whether they would rank other Republicans on their ballots, several candidates said yes, while Jones answered, “Maybe.”

Bush argued Republicans need to use the system as it exists.

“Republicans need to play the game that’s laid, not fold our arms and take away our marbles and then lose,” Bush said. “If I’m not your first, make me your second.”

Candidates also discussed whether they vote absentee or in person, with most saying they prefer voting in person but would use absentee voting if needed.

The lighter closing questions touched on favorite Maine destinations, including Baxter State Park, Camden Hills State Park, Popham Beach, Range Pond and North Haven Island.

But the central theme of the debate remained clear: the Republican candidates argued Maine is becoming unaffordable because of high taxes, excessive spending and a state bureaucracy they say has grown too powerful under Democratic control in Augusta.