Bobby Charles of Leeds is the first Republican to formally announce a run for governor in next year’s election, and he’s promising to take action in the same way as President Trump.

“I’m going to tell you, if you liked the first 90 days of Trump, if you liked the first two weeks of Trump, you would love the first few weeks of my administration, because we are going to flip this thing on its head,” said Charles

Charles has worked in the administrations of three Republican presidents – Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush and George W Bush.

He was the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs during the George W. Bush administration.

Charles also served as the Office of Domestic Policy deputy associate director during the George H.W. Bush administration, as well as a temporary appointee during President Ronald Reagan’s first term in the White House.

In addition, he was chief council for a congressional House subcommittee in the late 1990s.

In another bold statement, Charles says he will eliminate Maine’s income tax.

“We will get the income tax out of the state, and we will, we will bring businesses back,” Charles said. “We will become the 10th state without an income tax.”

Charles also says he’ll improve education and tackle the drug trafficking and overdose crisis in Maine.

He’s the first Republican to announce a run for governor next year, while UMaine System board member Owen McCarthy says he’s exploring a run.

Charles joins Democratic Maine Secretary of State Shanna Bellows as the first candidates to replace term limited incumbent Democratic Governor Janet Mills in the 2026 election.