Republicans Charles, Democrat Pingree vie for Maine governor

Pingree, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, edged out Dr. Nirav Shah, former Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Angus King III in the Democratic primary.

Shah is a former principal deputy director and an interim director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. King is the son of Sen. Angus King, I-Maine.

Charles, an attorney and former Navy intelligence officer, defeated Jonathan Bush, the nephew of former Republican President George H.W. Bush, businessman Ben Midgley among others.

State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, after edging out the party's endorsed candidate, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, in the ranked choice voting tabulation.

He will face former Republican Gov. Paul LePage in a congressional swing seat that is a priority target for both parties nationally in the fall midterms. Republicans are optimistic about flipping the seat held by Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who opted not to seek reelection. President Donald Trump has won the district three times.

The Maine Republican Party issued statements criticizing both Dunlap and Pingree and congratulating Charles on his primary victory, vowing to take back the governor's office.

“Bobby’s campaign embodies the issues that are at the forefront of Mainers’ minds because of the Democrats' terrible leadership in Augusta," the GOP statement said. "Maine doesn't need another failed insider. As Bobby has said throughout his early campaign, we need to cut taxes and spending, get the crime off our streets, and enact common sense statewide."

Charles immediately launched attacks on Pingree over her record in Congress and comparing her to outgoing, term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.

"Maine has had the same failed leadership for too long," Charles wrote on social media. "I’ll cut income taxes, cut property taxes, and end needle giveaways. As a former federal investigator, I’ll open the books and hold every corrupt politician accountable, no matter their party. It’s time for a change."

Charles and Pingree will both face state Sen. Rick Bennett, who will also be on the November ballot running as an independent.

Maine is one of only two states that use ranked-choice voting, and the system factored heavily in the gubernatorial and congressional primary races, as well as several down ballot contests.

Because no one picked up more than 50% of the vote in either crowded June 9 primaries, the state began retabulating voters' second and third choices to determine the most votes. There were several delays in the process over the past week, including issues with transferring ballots from local governments to the state elections office.

Republicans blasted the lengthy process of choosing gubernatorial candidates and Thursday vowed to push to eliminate ranked choice voting if they win back the governor's office.

"Maine voters expected better," Charles said in remarks Thursday. "They deserved to know who won their primary on election night, not more than a week later. The ranked choice voting system, as currently structured, is simply too slow and too complicated. It is breaking down trust and integrity in our electoral process, and that is unacceptable."