Ahead of Massachusetts businessman Jonathan Bush entering the Maine governor’s race today at the site of AthenaHealth, the medical technology company he was pushed out of running in 2018, under a cloud of scandal and accusations of mismanagement, Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman offered the following reactions:

“Maine doesn’t need leadership from an out-of-state corporate executive with family connections to right-wing political administrations who threatened jobs, health care, and fundamental rights and freedoms in our nation. Mainers need a governor who understands what the working people of our state need is to have a fair shot at getting ahead. We don’t need a governor who thinks that taking care of business is more important than taking care of families or making sure that the economy and the government both treat ordinary people fairly and protect their dignity and freedom.

“Like the other candidates already running for the GOP’s nomination for governor, Jonathan Bush is out of step with Maine people on how to tackle the issues that matter most to them: affordable food, child care, health care, housing, and utilities; protection of fundamental rights including bodily autonomy and other basic freedoms like the ability to speak freely and without fear of government oppression. Fortunately, with a strong field of experienced, energetic, and principled candidates running in the Democratic primary, I’m confident Maine will have a compelling and inspiring alternative to whoever prevails among the GOP’s assortment of extremists and elitists.”

Here’s what you need to know about Jonathan Bush and the underwhelming Maine GOP gubernatorial primary:

  • Bush’s ties to Maine are under scrutiny — Bush is a “long-time summer person” who founded his businesses in Massachusetts.

  • Bush has a checkered past, resigning under pressure as CEO of AthenaHealth in 2018 after disturbing reports of his mismanagement and personal misconduct came to light.

  • Maine’s GOP gubernatorial primary “has been slower to build momentum” and is full of “names but no front-runners” running as MAGA candidates. As Portland Press-Herald columnist Jim Fossel notes, the Maine Republican Party is in chaos, “treading water ever since former Gov. Paul LePage left office” and is facing calls for a “complete and total overhaul.”


 

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