Westbrook, MAINE – Republican Governor Paul LePage is poised to handily win a shot to run for his third term, all without even appearing on the ballot. That’s because the Republican candidates for governor – Mary Mayhew, Shawn Moody, Garrett Mason and Ken Fredette – have all fashioned themselves as the second-coming of the governor, spending most of the past several months embracing his most extreme policy positions and fighting to out-LePage one another in the eyes of his voters.
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Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett issued the following statement in response:
“Regardless of which Republican prevails, Paul LePage is the real winner of this extreme primary. Shawn Moody, Mary Mayhew, Garrett Mason, and Ken Fredette have spent the past several months embracing LePage’s failed policies and pledging to be four more years of his Administration. That tactic may help them win the primary, but in the long-run it’s bad for Maine.
That’s because at a time when our economy lags the nation’s, when the opioid crisis rages on unabated, when childhood poverty and hunger have increased, and when people still lack affordable, accessible health care, the last thing we need is four more years of LePage’s backward policies.
“This election is about change. It’s about a new direction. Maine’s Democratic candidates have shown they are ready to move our state forward for hardworking families. The Republicans have only offered more of the same.”
Here’s what others are saying:
“The four Republicans running to replace Gov. Paul LePage are all vowing to carry on his legacy…” – Portland Press Herald
“They all seek to represent themselves as LePage’s heir…all will be running as continuations of what he’s done in office.” – University of Political Science Professor James Melcher
“All four Republican candidates rightly might be called the ghosts of Paul LePage.” – Mount Desert Islander
“Republican Candidates Compete to Out-LePage Each Other” – Free Press
Even the candidates know it’s true:
Shawn Moody “has everything LePage going for him.”
Garrett Mason: “The next four to eight years will give us the opportunity to press the gas pedal on Gov. LePage's accomplishments.”
Mary Mayhew “said she was proud of the work she and LePage did…and said she intends to make sure those priorities remained firmly in place.”
Ken Fredette “said his run for governor is based on a theme of ‘Stay The Course,’ meaning follow the economic policies championed for seven years by his party and Gov. Paul LePage.”
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