Hannah Pingree is the heavy favorite in Maine governor’s race, Times/Press Herald/Siena poll finds
A new public poll released Thursday gives Hannah Pingree a commanding lead in Maine's gubernatorial race, but the contest remains far from settled with four months until Election Day.
The survey, conducted by Siena College in partnership with the New York Times and the Portland Press Herald, shows Pingree, a Democrat and former speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, capturing the support of half of likely voters. Republican Bobby Charles trails at 36 percent, while independent Rick Bennett sits at 8 percent.
The poll, which questioned 608 Maine voters between June 19 and 26, is the first public survey released since the June primaries. It carries a margin of error of 4.8 percentage points.
Bennett, a former Republican who left the party when he launched his gubernatorial bid a year ago, appears to be drawing support from across the political spectrum. Twelve percent of independent voters favor him, compared to 6 percent of Republicans and just 3 percent of Democrats. When respondents were asked to choose only between Pingree and Charles, Pingree's lead widened to 15 percentage points, suggesting Bennett is pulling slightly more from Pingree's potential voters than from Charles'.
"I've been watching the race closely, and Bennett's presence is definitely complicating things," said Dennis Reeves, a retired pastor from Sanford who identifies as an independent. The former Republican, who changed his voter registration after the 2016 election, said he plans to support Pingree despite policy disagreements. "Not because I necessarily agree with her on many things, but because I won't support anyone who supports Trump."
Pingree, who currently serves as an administrator in Governor Janet Mills' administration, has made opposition to President Donald Trump a centerpiece of her campaign. Charles, meanwhile, has embraced alignment with the president. Bennett voted for Trump in 2016 but has distanced himself from the administration in recent years and has not made the president a major campaign topic.
The candidates also diverge on the issue of transgender athletes in school sports, which is expected to appear on the November ballot as a statewide referendum. Bennett voted against legislation aimed at restricting trans athletes from competing on teams matching their gender identity, while Charles has expressed support for the proposed ban.
Kirsten McQuillan, a real estate broker from Sidney and a registered Democrat, said she backs Pingree but values pragmatism over strict party loyalty. The 50-year-old said she has voted for Republicans in the past, including U.S. Senator Susan Collins in 2020. She sees the gubernatorial race as an opportunity to address pocketbook issues.
"I like her presence," McQuillan said of Pingree. "She has a good commanding presence and is trustworthy. In this crazy political environment, we need someone who has their head on straight and has commonsense values."
On the Republican side, supporters point to different priorities. Daniel Deveau, a retiree from Cyr Plantation in Aroostook County, said high energy costs are driving his vote. He believes Charles's plans to reform the Public Utilities Commission and expand natural gas infrastructure will resonate in rural Maine.
"Now you have an independent in there, so who knows what's going to happen," Deveau said. "But I'm optimistic Bobby's message will connect with people up here."
The poll suggests Pingree performs strongest with independent voters, pulling 47 percent of their support compared to Charles's 31 percent. Nine percent of independents remain undecided.
Maine has a long history of electing independents to high office. Senator Angus King, who served as governor from 1995 to 2003, continues to hold one of the state's Senate seats as an independent. Recent gubernatorial races have consistently featured independent candidates, though their success has varied. In 2010, independent Eliot Cutler nearly won with 36 percent of the vote, finishing just behind Republican Paul LePage, who won with 38 percent. Four years later, independent candidates again appeared on the ballot.
For some voters, the decision comes down to character over policy. Reeves, the Sanford voter, said he disagrees with Pingree's stance on transgender athletes but sees the race through a different lens.
"Obviously I'm going to have to vote for somebody I don't totally agree with," the 78-year-old said. "I'm going to make my decision based on character and their willingness to follow the law and follow the Constitution."
The race now moves toward its final stretch, with Bennett's candidacy potentially reshaping the electoral map in ways that could benefit either major party candidate.
