A recent report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy revealed that Susan Collins’ stances could’ve cost Mainers $700 million dollars. The bulk of that is just from greenlighting Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and does not count the costs from tariffs, price hikes in gas and fuel, or many other factors. Bobby Charles, the Republican nominee for governor, supported Trump’s OBBB, his war in Iran, and is a big fan of Trump’s tariffs.
The OBBB skyrocketed health care premiums to unaffordable levels for many Mainers, but the Iran war and the subsequent spike in gas prices are having just as much of an impact. Not only has it become prohibitively expensive to commute in a state that requires driving for nearly everything, but the worst is yet to come as heating oil prices rise 74% ahead of winter. The energy price jump has also spiked the price of all goods. The result? Many Mainers face the risk of freezing, going hungry, or being stuck with a commute they can’t afford.
Then there’s the impact of Canadian tariffs on Maine businesses, particularly lumber and energy. Maine’s economy has always relied on trading with our northern neighbors, and Trump’s dangerous trade war with one of our closest allies has put access to energy at risk and even made things like paper products more expensive.
What has our long-time senator done about Mainers being priced out of life? Susan Collins directly caused the health care fallout from the OBBB, but she has also not taken her chance to vote on the War Powers Act and end this conflict we cannot afford, likely because of her husband having stock with defense contractors, and based on recent ProPublica reporting, it seems Susan Collins has been engaging in significant corruption when it comes to defense contracts. As for tariffs, she’s not taken action or spoken up in any large way, other than to thank Canada for an exception on Maine lobster.
What has the GOP nominee done? Support and greenlight this Trump economy that’s hurting Maine families.
Charles also has his own problems: with a long history as a lobbyist, he’s worked with and worked for the Association of Mature American Citizens, whose goal is to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67-70, blocking seniors from receiving Social Security benefits for years. And while not directly tied to costs, Bobby Charles tried to invite ICE to Maine polling places and recently made a statement about Flock cameras being necessary, showing that he will absolutely put an authoritarian agenda over our well-being.
Collins quietly puts her money first, while Bobby Charles is a loud sycophant for Trump’s extremist agenda. Together, they are a choice our state (and our country) cannot afford.
