Bobby Charles, Maine GOP gubernatorial candidate, vows to broaden homestead tax exemption

Republican candidate Bobby Charles is campaigning for Maine governor, arguing that the state’s property taxes are too high. In a new advertisement he says his 2015 SUV runs better than the Democratic state government and pledges to cut residents’ taxes by expanding the homestead exemption, which reduces a homeowner’s taxable value by up to $25,000 for a primary residence.

The exemption, in place since 1998 and last raised in 2020, currently benefits more than 327,000 Maine taxpayers, costing the state roughly $82 million in lost revenue in 2025—a loss municipalities are reimbursed for at 76%. All three candidates in the race have promised to broaden the program, but Charles himself has not claimed the exemption, citing an accountant’s oversight. His campaign says he will begin using it and save money for himself and other Mainers.

The proposal is part of a broader campaign focus on property‑tax relief, energy costs and crime rates as Charles seeks to position himself against Democratic opponent Hannah Pingree and independent Rick Bennett.