Amid jabs, Republican gubernatorial candidates talk healthcare, education

May 8, 2026 - 11:55

Republican candidates hoping to succeed Governor Janet Mills clashed Thursday night on healthcare and education, offering distinct plans even as they united behind cutting MaineCare and targeting what they called "wokeness" in schools.

The debate, the second televised event this week, saw the field move beyond the tax cuts and spending reductions that dominated Tuesday's discussion. Healthcare emerged as a flashpoint, with most candidates agreeing the state's Medicaid expansion under Mills has grown too costly. Several proposed rolling back eligibility or imposing work requirements, arguing the program crowds out private insurance and strains the budget.

On education, the candidates took sharp aim at school curricula. Multiple contenders pledged to ban certain books and limit discussions of race and gender in classrooms, framing these as matters of parental rights. One candidate said schools should focus on "reading, writing, and arithmetic, not social engineering."

The tone was more pointed than the earlier debate, with candidates interrupting each other and trading accusations over past votes and business dealings. One contender was pressed on a failed venture, while another faced questions about a controversial ad.

Despite the clashes, all agreed on the need to lower the state's high energy costs and reduce the tax burden. The primary is set for June, with the winner facing the Democratic nominee in November.