Bobby Charles faces scrutiny over D.C. lobbying career

Republican candidate for Maine governor Bobby Charles is facing scrutiny regarding his 25-year career as a Washington, D.C. lobbyist. A review of nearly 600 lobbying reports filed by his firm, the Charles Group, reveals clients ranging from a conservative advocacy group for older Americans and the California attorney general’s office to a space residency company.

Charles is running an underdog campaign against Democrat Hannah Pingree, who holds a significant lead in recent polling. The candidate’s past professional work has become a central point of political attacks, including criticism from his own sister, Anita Charles, who characterized him as an ‘out-of-touch lobbyist.’ In response to inquiries, the Charles campaign stated that congressional lobbying is only a small portion of the firm’s activities, which also include management guidance, conducting studies, and performance evaluation.