Findings
Prompts to look closer at the public records, each with the rule and the law it rests on. None is a finding of wrongdoing. All findings
Context Ethics Commission
Before the Ethics Commission (2026-05-27): Request to Investigate Robert Charles regarding midgeleyexposed.com
The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Ben Midgley requests the Commission investigate whether his primary election opponent, Robert “Bobby” Charles, is responsible for an anonymous website attacking Mr. Midgley. Additional Materials - Response by Bobby Charles Additional Materials - Response to Bobby Charles The motion: “To open an investigation into midgelyexposed.com to determine who financed it, and based on that, whether or not the website should have had a different disclosure statement.” Vote: 4-0.
What to check- What the Commission decided, in the motion and the minutes
- A complaint is an allegation, not a finding
The Commission's meeting of 2026-05-27The staff memo
Rule: A complaint or other matter before the Ethics Commission
“The commission shall review the application and shall make the investigation if the reasons stated for the request show sufficient grounds for believing that a violation may have occurred.”21-A MRSA §1003(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Context Outside spending
Outside groups spent $4,375,617 for or against them, more than their campaign's $1,444,252
Independent expenditures: $3,000 supporting and $4,372,617 opposing. The largest: Pine Tree State Prosperity $2,636,747 (against); Maine Dream, Inc. $1,027,081 (against); Restoration of America PAC Maine $386,819 (against); MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE $213,091 (against).
What to check- Who funds the largest spenders (their own reports to the Commission)
Rule: Outside spending larger than the campaign
“"independent expenditure" means any expenditure made by a person, party committee or political action committee that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate”21-A MRSA §1019-B(1) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works
Campaign money: Governor · Traditionally financed
$1,823,873raised to date (the Commission's list, October 17, 2026); $1,428,972 spent
$1,441,961itemized in 2025 and 2026, 7,672 contributions
$582,732raised before 2026 (their 2025 reports)
$260,062from the candidate (incl. loans)
$394,901cash on hand on September 15, 2026 (42 Day Pre General Report)
$250,000debts and loans owed, as of that report
Where their contributions come from
97%
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal nationsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders
Compare with all 2026 candidates →
How it was spent: $1,374,765
Staff and consultants$339,825
Not coded$316,379
Social media and online ads$226,958
Mail house$123,504
TV and cable$89,546
Newspaper and print ads$46,967
Palm cards, signs, stickers$44,087
Bank and other fees$39,543
Postage$33,643
Professional services$33,329
Largest payees: Harris Media, LLC $204,453 Staff and consultants · Meta $122,581 Social media and online ads · Fulfillment Solutions Inc. $108,178 Mail house · Smart Media Group, LLC $89,546 TV and cable · StackAdapt $87,107 Social media and online ads · Joel Stetkis $71,087 Staff and consultants · Imperium Fundraising, LLC $66,693 Professional services · WinRed $52,264 Palm cards, signs, stickers
Payments in 2026, by the Ethics Commission's expenditure codes.
| Top contributors | Type | Total |
|---|
John Coleman
Retired · Retired · Clifton | Person | $20,951.46 |
Robert Charles
Other · Self Employed · Bangor | The candidate | $10,062 |
Stephen Pray
automotive industry · Pray's Auto Sales · Bangor | Person | $7,116.02 |
Wallace Camp
New Car Dealer · Rowe Ford Sales · Falmouth | Person | $6,480.33 |
Stephen Dantonio
retired · Retired · Garden City | Person | $6,480.33 |
Steven Schuh
financial investment · Schuh Advisory LLC · Gibson Island | Person | $6,475 |
Deborah Hughes
general business · Self Employed · Pensacola | Person | $6,425 |
Christopher Gaunce
general business · Central Maine Motors · Oakland | Person | $6,225 |
Abdul R Zeerak
general business · Mega Rentals · Woodbridge | Person | $5,737.06 |
David Sewall
Environmental Services · Sewall Holdings Co · ORONO | Person | $5,723.52 |
Nancy A
Retired · Retired | Person | $5,700 |
Colin Hewett
construction engineering · Colin Hewett · Readfield | Person | $5,257.02 |
Steven Becker
retired · Retired · Las Vegas | Person | $4,840.73 |
Paula Sutton
Special Projects Manager · Eastern Traders · Beverly Hills | Person | $4,758.69 |
Kathleen Landrum
agriculture · Self Employed · Readfield | Person | $4,502.20 |
Charles, Robert B. on the Ethics Commission's campaign finance search. Itemized transactions: 2026 from the Commission's files as posted October 17, 2026, and 2025 from the campaign's own reports.