Health care entrepreneur Jonathan Bush, a member of one of the country’s famous political families, appears set to launch his run for Maine’s Republican gubernatorial nomination on Wednesday at the company he brought to Belfast.
Bush has been making noise in Maine politics for more than a year and has been formally exploring a run for governor since July. His cousins, former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, headlined a fundraiser at the family compound in Kennebunkport in August.
The would-be candidate is a compelling but odd fit for Republicans in the era of President Donald Trump. Bush called Trump “personally troubled” in an interview last year and worked against him during the 2024 primaries. He grew up in New York City and spent summers in North Haven while growing up, moving permanently to Cape Elizabeth in 2021.
“Mainers want a leader who will shake up the status quo in Augusta. They want a proven job creator who will make sure our kids don’t have to leave the state to achieve the American Dream,” Bush said in a statement. “I can’t wait to gather with friends next week and talk about the next step in this exciting journey.”
The location of his launch event at the athenahealth office in Belfast is notable. He co-founded the company in the 1990s and established firmer ties to Maine when he brought hundreds of jobs to the midcoast town by buying up office space vacated by MBNA.
He was pushed out of the company in 2018 following an activist investor’s campaign against him. It intersected with reports that he confessed to physical altercations with his ex-wife more than a decade earlier. Both said they had repaired their co-parenting relationship after divorcing.
Since coming onto Maine’s political scene, Bush has launched “Maine For Keeps,” a podcast series and advocacy group that focuses on the state’s economy. He has interviewed both national leaders and state businesspeople on housing, workforce development, crime, education and other subjects.
He will join a crowded Republican field that includes lawyer Bobby Charles, real estate developer David Jones, state Sen. Jim Libby of Standish, businessman Owen McCarthy and former fitness executive Ben Midgley. There are notable names considering runs, including 2018 nominee Shawn Moody and former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason.
Correction: An earlier version of this report misstated the day when Jonathan Bush is expected to launch his campaign for governor.