Bobby Charles, a Republican candidate for governor of Maine in 2026, discussed his platform focusing on cutting crime, taxes, and improving education. Charles highlighted Maine’s drug crisis, citing 10,000 overdoses last year, and his extensive experience in counter-narcotics and law enforcement. He criticized the state’s declining education system, noting Maine’s drop from 4th to 49th in national rankings. Charles also proposed eliminating the income tax and reducing the state budget by half to address the affordability crisis, particularly for seniors and young adults struggling with high property taxes and rental costs.