September 2026 in Maine was dominated by the race for governor and the U.S. Senate contest, alongside new state laws targeting sweepstakes gambling. Below is a roundup of what Maine news outlets reported across politics, health care, the economy, and public safety.
2026 Governor's Race
Rick Bennett is running as an independent candidate for Maine governor, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
Anita Charles denounced her brother, Republican candidate Bobby Charles, while he defended his record, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
Bobby Charles's sister endorsed Hannah Pingree for Maine governor, WABI reported. (WABI)
Maine's governor candidates discussed their plans for addressing housing costs, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
Bill Cohen endorsed Rick Bennett for Maine governor, WABI reported. (WABI)
Chris Christie campaigned for Bobby Charles in Lewiston as Maine's gubernatorial race entered its final stage, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Maine's GOP nominee was criticized by his sister over ties to Dennis Hastert, the National Memo reported. (National Memo)
2026 U.S. Senate Race
Women who remember life before Roe v. Wade are turning away from Susan Collins, Salon.com reported. (Salon.com)
Democrats questioned Collins about a vote related to the Epstein case, Spectrum News reported. (Spectrum News)
Sen. Susan Collins and challenger Troy Jackson sparred over tariffs, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Jackson traveled to New York for a $13,500 fundraiser as financial questions followed his Senate campaign, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Troy Jackson downplayed his ties to socialists after previously receiving backing from the Maine DSA and Hasan Piker, the New York Post reported. (New York Post)
State Government & Policy
A Maine lawmaker said a new ICE facility is coming to the state, though ICE declined to comment, WABI reported. (WABI)
Sen. Collins's bill to combat Lyme disease is headed to the president's desk, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Windham Rep. Bagshaw is seeking a federal review of voter-record changes and said Bellows's office has yet to produce requested records, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Cutler, a convicted sex offender and former candidate for Maine governor, will return to jail, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Health & Human Services
A bipartisan group of lawmakers sent a letter urging state funding for Penobscot Community Health Care, WABI reported. (WABI)
A nurse sued Central Maine Healthcare alleging six years of incorrect wages, on behalf of hundreds of others she says were also underpaid for extra time worked, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
An advocacy group is pushing DHHS to change its rules on MaineCare provider inspections and payments, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
Officials said 900 residents could lose full MaineCare coverage under federal immigration restrictions, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
Gov. Mills called for the reinstatement of 20 disciplined nurses at CMMC, WABI reported. (WABI)
A Trenton daycare owner said DHHS's closure of the daycare is retaliation against a whistleblower amid an ongoing federal case against the state, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Economy & Business
Gorham officials are considering a permanent ban on data centers, WGME reported. (WGME)
Maine is rolling out Workforce Pell, letting students use millions in federal grant dollars for workforce training programs lasting eight to 15 weeks, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
Cooper Flagg opened a card trading store in Bangor, newscentermaine.com reported. (newscentermaine.com)
Maine enacted two new laws to end sweepstakes casinos, iGamingFuture reported. (iGamingFuture)
Maine's minimum wage will increase to $15.70 per hour in 2027, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
MegaBonanza exited both Indiana and Maine, iGamingFuture reported. (iGamingFuture)
Public Safety & Environment
Maine's Office of Cannabis Policy will distribute 12,000 free lockable cannabis storage bags this fall to reduce children's and pets' access to cannabis products, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
The Littlefield Dam removal in Auburn is complete, finishing on time and under budget as a government-funded environmental project, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
Drier conditions in the Northeast and cuts to federal resources have raised officials' concerns about Maine's wildfire-fighting capacity, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
Lewiston-Auburn has continued to see dozens of immigration arrests in 2026, including a bank employee arrested on September 3, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
A Maine beach used drones to ward off sharks, the Boston Globe reported. (The Boston Globe)
A family attorney demanded prosecution of an ICE agent involved in a Biddeford shooting as the Maine attorney general's investigation remains open, the Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Notable & Culture
A tipi built by two prominent Massachusetts Native Americans was erected on Woodstock's Bartlett Island over the summer and has drawn visitors and questions, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
The 7 Lakes Alliance land trust raised $3 million in just over a month to buy and preserve the Belgrade Scout camp, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
A Maine lobsterman caught a 1-in-100-million cotton candy lobster, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
Douglas Rooks explored Ken Curtis's legacy in a new book, WABI reported. (WABI)
This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.
