A Maine gubernatorial candidate is running as a political outsider. His last name is Bush
A Maine Gubernatorial Candidate Reclaims the Bush Name
A Maine gubernatorial candidate is running - For over 40 years, members of the Bush family have held political office across the U.S., a streak that seemed to end in 2023 when George P. Bush, former Texas Land Commissioner, stepped down. Yet Jonathan Bush, running for governor of Maine, aims to revive that legacy. As the nephew of former President George H.W. Bush and cousin of George W. Bush, he’s vying to stand out in a competitive GOP primary and position the state as a key battleground in the 2026 election.
Family Roots in Maine
Jonathan Bush’s ties to Maine run deep, with generations of his relatives summering there, engaging in charitable work, and building lasting connections. The town of Kennebunkport, home to the family’s seaside estate, features Bush family portraits in local businesses. A prominent children’s hospital in Portland bears the name of Barbara Bush, the former first lady. These links underscore the family’s historical presence, but Jonathan’s campaign seeks to redefine their political identity.
Positioning as an Outsider
Despite his heritage, Jonathan Bush is framing himself as a disruptor, not a traditionalist. In a campaign ad, he emphasizes, “I’m Jonathan Bush. Now hold on, I know what you’re thinking—another Bush? I get it. But hear me out: I might be different than what you’re expecting. First, I’m not low energy anything.” The ad subtly nods to his cousin Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign, which faltered under Donald Trump’s anti-establishment critique.
“Mainers don’t want an insider right now, they’ve got an allergy to somebody who’s part of the system. They feel like the system has betrayed them. So, when they hear the name Bush, they imagine somebody who’s sort of all wired up,” Bush explained in an interview with CNN.
Jonathan, 57, highlights his private sector experience, contrasting it with the GOP establishment’s focus on Washington, D.C. He grew up in Manhattan but moved to Maine as an adult, emphasizing he never lived in Texas—the family’s political stronghold—and has no ties to the federal capital. His campaign launched in Belfast, a coastal town where his co-founded healthcare tech firm, Athenahealth, once employed over 900 people.
Political Dynasties in the Spotlight
The Maine governor’s race is one of several 2026 contests scrutinizing public sentiment toward political dynasties. Bush argues his personal narrative and call for change in Augusta’s Democratic leadership are resonating. Recent polls show rising support for him, though he remains behind frontrunner Bobby Charles. However, the Republican Party’s realignment around Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement has complicated his bid.
Over the past two decades, the Bush family has increasingly clashed with Trump’s brand of politics. The former president’s early attacks on George W. Bush and the Iraq War, coupled with bitter disputes during Jeb Bush’s 2016 primary run, have shaped the family’s reputation. Even Billy Bush, Jonathan’s younger brother, became a symbol of the Trump era with his role in the “Access Hollywood” scandal that nearly derailed the former president’s first campaign.
Political science professor Mark Brewer of the University of Maine noted that Jonathan’s position is “a tough spot.” “You’re not only a Bush, which obviously he is,” Brewer said. “Most people may think of Bush and its place within the Republican Party. It’s more of the kind of typical establishment wing of the Republican Party that’s been challenged by Trump’s populist movement.”