Rick Bennett

Recent media appearances

None found as of Nov 9, 2026

Top articles

1. Portland Press HeraldMaine governor's race will be a 3-way contest in NovemberJun 3, 2026
2. Bangor Daily NewsWe asked Maine's gubernatorial candidates how they'd fix the state's housing crisis. Here's what they said.Apr 29, 2026

Overview

Rick Bennett is a longtime Maine state senator from Oxford and a former chair of the Maine Republican Party. He unenrolled from the Republican Party when he announced his run for governor and describes himself as a business leader who has led company turnarounds. pressherald.com bennettforgovernor.com

Bennett qualified for the November 2026 ballot as the only unenrolled candidate for governor, setting up a three-way race. pressherald.com

Platform

• Proposes a state-backed guarantee so qualified first-time buyers can put down much less than 20 percent.bennettforgovernor.com
• Proposes a statewide audit to find where housing projects stall in permitting.bennettforgovernor.com
• Proposes reviewing and lowering the authorized return on equity for investor-owned utilities.bennettforgovernor.com
• Proposes creating an Office of Inspector General and a Maine Tax Accountability Act for tax breaks.bennettforgovernor.com
• Proposes a Medical Debt Relief Program with a one-time $2 million investment.bennettforgovernor.com