Businessman Owen McCarthy, 37, threw his hat into the widening ring for Maine governor on Wednesday, asserting the launch of his bid for the Republican nomination by way of a press launch and marketing campaign commercial.
“Once I go searching Maine at the moment, it’s turn out to be completely unaffordable for working class individuals – my individuals,” McCarthy says in his introductory advert. “These individuals get up every morning, put in an sincere day’s work, however need to struggle simply to make ends meet. It doesn’t need to be this fashion.”
The Patten native is the primary in his household to attend school and graduated from the College of Maine earlier than incomes his MBA from the Harvard Enterprise Faculty. The corporate he co-founded, MedRhythyms, gives neuropathic help by way of know-how.
Whereas he’s the fifth candidate to formally announce his candidacy for the GOP nod, McCarthy is the primary to model himself as an out of doors to politics. The 2026 gubernatorial race is his first gambit in electoral politics.
If elected, McCarthy pledges to stimulate Maine’s financial system, steadiness the state price range, “legalize” housing by peeling again the pink tape, and repair the state’s failing colleges by placing higher emphasis on the talents the rising technology wants for the roles of tomorrow. The son of a logger and a lunch-lady, McCarthy proudly presents his humble origins as proof of what grit and dedication can produce.
Earlier this 12 months, McCarthy launched an exploratory marketing campaign and has taken half in multi-candidate boards. He’s married, lives in Gorham, and has two younger kids.