A member of the Bush family has officially announced his candidacy for governor of Maine. Jonathan Bush, nephew of George H.W. Bush and cousin of George W. Bush, is seeking to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. The healthcare entrepreneur revealed his campaign on Wednesday, aiming to shift the governor’s seat from Democratic control to Republican.
Bush, who has spent his career in health technology, co-founded athenahealth before being ousted during a 2018 hedge fund takeover. The exit followed his admission of assaulting his ex-wife years prior. He currently serves as CEO of Zus Health, a company he established in 2020.
His campaign enters a competitive Republican primary, where he will face contenders including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Senate President Troy Jackson, and Angus King III, son of former Maine governor and current Sen. Angus King. The Bush family’s political legacy has often drawn criticism from figures like former President Donald Trump, who targeted Jeb Bush during the 2016 election.
Bush highlights his business experience, claiming to have created 1,000 jobs in the Midcoast region through his previous ventures. He argues he is the only candidate with a proven track record of job creation and economic growth. His platform includes a $1 billion income tax cut, a state budget audit, and expanded natural gas access, framing Maine’s economy as facing an “emergency.”
Eight Republican candidates are vying for the nomination, including lawyer Bobby Charles, real estate broker David Jones, State Senator Jim Libby, health care entrepreneur Owen McCarthy, former fitness executive Ben Midgley, and others like Ken Capron, Steven Shepphard, and Robert Wessels. Bush emphasizes his vision for revitalizing small businesses in the state.
