Reminder: Republican Gubernatorial Candidates and Rick Bennett Are Against the ACA and MaineCare Expansion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2026 

Contact: Lauryn Fanguen, lfanguen@mainedems.org, 240-354-2571

 

Reminder: Republican Gubernatorial Candidates and Rick Bennett Are Against the ACA and MaineCare Expansion 
 

Augusta, Maine — The Affordable Care Act has ensured that nearly 65,000 Mainers have gained affordable, quality health care through the marketplace and expanded access to affordable care across the state. But many of the Republican candidates for governor and former Republican Rick Bennett opposed the law then and continue to oppose MaineCare expansions, which was made possible through the ACA.
 

Maine Democratic Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson released the following statement: 

“For tens of thousands of Mainers, the Affordable Care Act and MaineCare expansion aren’t politics — they’re the reason we can see a doctor, afford our prescriptions, and take care of our families. But Maine Republicans and former Republican Rick Bennett spent years trying to tear down health care, including opposing the ACA. Without the ACA people with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage, reproductive health care like contraception and maternity care would be harder to access, and thousands of working Mainers would lose coverage altogether. Mainers deserve a governor who will expand access to affordable health care and that clearly eliminates Rick Bennett and the Republicans.” 
 

Because of the ACA:

• Nearly 65,000 Mainers have health coverage through the marketplace.
• Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage or charge more because of pre-existing conditions.
• Preventive services, including cancer screenings and annual checkups, are covered without out-of-pocket costs.
• Coverage includes maternity care, childbirth, and access to contraception.
• MaineCare expansion has extended coverage to more working Mainers across the state, especially in rural communities.
   

Despite these Benefits:

• Rick Bennett called the Affordable Care Act the “hallmark of government inefficiency and overreach” and a “burden.”
• Garrett Mason repeatedly opposed MaineCare expansion while serving in the legislature.
• Jonathan Bush and Bobby Charles have praised Donald Trump’s budget agenda, which has driven up ACA health care premiums and made health care more expensive for Mainers.  
  
   

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