MAINE GOP GOVERNOR’S RACE ROUNDUP — March 13

MAINE GOP GOVERNOR'S RACE ROUNDUP - March 13

Another chaotic week on the Republican gubernatorial campaign trail saw candidates scrambling for Donald Trump's favor and clashing in a contentious debate. MDP will discuss and define the GOP field during a press call on Monday the 16th at 10 am.

RSVP hereand read about what you need to know from the week below

THE TRUMP FACTOR

Republicans are tripping over themselves to appeal to Donald Trump, who many believe will be the kingmaker in the Republican primary.

So much so that Bobby Charles skipped the first Republican debate to be in Washington, D.C., speaking with Trump's teamabout "the four polls that put [him] up above the field and the need to unify the Republican Party."

When Garrett Mason was asked about seeking Trump's endorsement, he told NEWS CENTER Maine's Phil Hirschkorn:

"Absolutely. I mean, I think we all are. I mean, listen, politics is politics, right? And President Trump has a 99.8% success rate when he endorses a candidate, so I think ignoring that is probably to somebody's own detriment."

The rest of the Republican field made it clear they agree - praising Trump on the debate stage every chance they got.

While Trump's endorsement may help in a Republican primary, it quickly becomes political baggage in a general election in Maine. Trump's harmful policies have led to rising costs, including higher gas pricesand health care premiums, for Mainers.

GARRETT MASON DOUBLES DOWN ON ANTI-CHOICE, MAGA PAC SPENDING

Garrett Mason can't escape questions about his MAGA, anti-choice billionaire backer, Illinois-based Richard Uihlein, who has poured more than $1.7 million into the race on Mason's behalf.

Mason is unapologetically embracing the PAC spending, saying, "I'm grateful for the support."

Mason tried to dismiss criticism as a partisan attack, despite Bobby Charles being first to call him out on this online, but he couldn't dodge the issue during the Republican debate.

When challenged by David Jones, Mason again celebrated the spend, saying that "Maine Republicans should be thrilled that people like that want to spend in Maine."

Uihlein is an anti-choice extremist who bankrolls far-right candidates across the country. But it makes sense that Mason has his support - he spent decades attacking abortion rights and reproductive health care.

MDP PRESS CALL: GOING ON OFFENSE

On Monday, March 16 at 10 am, the morning of the filing deadline, the Maine Democratic Party will host a press call outlining the state of the gubernatorial race.

Maine Democratic Party executive director Devon Murphy-Anderson will discuss the increasingly extreme Republican primary as candidates compete to prove their loyalty to Trump and the MAGA agenda of cutting health care and raising costs.

Press planning to attend must RSVP here.