Jonathan Bush, cousin to former President George W. Bush, is stirring the political pot in Maine with a potential 2026 gubernatorial run.
Fox News reported that his nonprofit, Maine for Keeps, is already laying the groundwork, pushing policy ideas that aim to shake up Augusta’s status quo. But can a Bush family scion, steeped in privilege, connect with Mainers tired of elite overreach?
Jonathan Bush, a 55-year-old healthcare entrepreneur, is testing the waters for Maine’s open governor’s seat in 2026, as Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited.
He’s launched an exploratory committee, signaling serious intent, though he’s not yet among the 18 candidates registered with Maine’s Ethics Commission. This move marks a potential revival of the Bush political dynasty, which took a hit after George P. Bush’s 2022 Texas defeat.
Bush’s nonprofit, Maine for Keeps, is his megaphone, releasing policy papers and podcasts to pitch his vision of the “Maine Dream.” “Maine is the best place on earth to live and raise a family!” he declares, touting his family’s roots in the state since the 1890s. Sounds idyllic, but his rosy rhetoric sidesteps the gritty reality of Maine’s economic stagnation.
Bush co-founded Athenahealth in the 1990s, building it into a medical software giant before stepping down in 2018 amid an investor skirmish.
He’s since launched Zus Health, a Boston startup focused on health data interoperability, proving he’s no stranger to navigating complex systems. Yet, his corporate success might not translate into a state wary of outsider solutions.
“Instead of creating an environment that fosters economic growth and independence, the Maine state government has slipped into a ‘learned helplessness,’” Bush laments.
He’s not wrong—Augusta’s bureaucratic inertia often stifles innovation—but his diagnosis feels like a consultant’s pitch, not a governor’s blueprint. Mainers want results, not buzzwords.
Bush’s campaign, if it materializes, will lean on his entrepreneurial credentials and family ties. Former President George W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently attended a Kennebunkport fundraiser for Jonathan, as reported by the Bangor Daily News. Family name-dropping might open wallets, but it risks alienating voters skeptical of dynastic politics.
Maine’s 2026 gubernatorial race is shaping up as a battleground, with Democrats like Angus King III, Hannah Pingree, Shenna Bellows, and Troy Jackson eyeing the seat.
The Republican field is a mess, split between Trump-aligned populists and moderates, per a fragmented GOP landscape. Bush, with his establishment pedigree, might struggle to bridge that divide.
A Gallup poll from Jan. 21, 2025, shows Donald Trump’s 93% favorability among Republicans dwarfs George W. Bush’s 63%. Jonathan’s cousinly connection to George W. could be a liability in a party still enthralled by Trump’s outsider energy. Maine’s moderate streak, embodied by Sen. Susan Collins’ electoral success, might offer Bush a lane, but it’s a narrow one.
“Our schools have dropped from among the best in the nation to the bottom of the barrel,” Bush gripes, pointing to Maine’s education woes. He’s right to call out the decline, but his solutions remain vague, wrapped in podcast platitudes. Mainers deserve specifics, not soundbites.
Bush also targets Maine’s housing crisis, blaming “a spider web of development restrictions” for blocking new construction. It’s a fair jab—regulatory red tape has choked affordable housing—but his focus on “high-end homes” misses the broader affordability crunch hitting working-class families. Policy papers are nice; policy wins are better.
“You need to earn both sides of a paycheck before you tell other people what to do with their tax dollars,” Bush quips, positioning himself as a business-savvy outsider. It’s a clever dig at career politicians, but his elite background undercuts the everyman appeal. Mainers might wonder if he’s ever punched a clock himself.
Bush’s Maine for Keeps is relentless, churning out content to sell his vision. “I moved to Maine, which is a tough state to do business in, and I’ve tried to help out as much as I can in my community,” he says. Noble, but community service doesn’t automatically qualify you to run a state.
The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rate the 2026 race as “Likely Democratic,” a steep hill for any Republican. Gov. Janet Mills’ double-digit re-election over Paul LePage in 2022 shows Democrats’ grip on Augusta. Bush’s moderate pitch might resonate, but he’ll need more than family clout to flip the script.
“We should all be figuring out how to lean in, rather than just yell at the TV. The TV doesn’t care,” Bush urges. It’s a call to action, but his anti-woke undertones risk alienating Maine’s independent-minded voters, who prize pragmatism over partisanship.
Jonathan Bush hasn’t formally declared his candidacy, with a decision expected in the coming months. His exploratory committee and high-profile family support signal he’s serious, but Maine’s political terrain is unforgiving. The Bush name might open doors, but it’s the Mainers’ votes that will decide if this dynasty gets a second act.
