The three candidates running for Maine governor have agreed to participate in four televised debates this fall ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
The campaigns of independent Rick Bennett, Republican Bobby Charles and Democrat Hannah Pingree confirmed that all three will participate in the following debates:
- News Center Maine/ Maine State Chamber of Commerce − Thursday, Oct. 1
- Maine Public/ News Center Maine/ Portland Press Herald − Thursday, Oct. 8
- WGME CBS 13/ FOX 23 − Tuesday, Oct. 13
- WMTW − Wednesday, Oct. 14
Bennett and Pingree had previously agreed to the debates, while Charles announced Tuesday he will also participate.
Charles and Bennett have also signed up for a fifth debate, hosted by WABI and WAGM on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Pingree’s campaign has not confirmed participation.
The three are vying to replace Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat nearing the end of her second term.
Pingree, who was endorsed by Mills in May, has led so far in polling and fundraising. A former speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and official in Mills’ administration, Pingree had raised more than $3 million as of the latest campaign finance reporting deadline in July — more money than the other two combined.
A July poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center found 49% of likely voters said they would support Pingree, 35% said they’d support Charles and 6% said they would vote for Bennett. One percent said they would vote for another candidate, and 8% were undecided.