Questions are swirling around the eligibility of gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush, as a new report suggests his residency status may not meet the state’s legal requirements for the office.
According to a report by the Portland Press Herald, Bush—a member of the prominent American political dynasty—is facing scrutiny over exactly when he became a full-time resident of the Pine Tree State. While Bush has owned a home in Cape Elizabeth since 2020, tax records indicate he continued to receive residential tax exemptions in Massachusetts as recently as 2023.
The Residency Rule
To serve as Governor of Maine, the state constitution requires a candidate to have been a “citizen of the United States five years, and shall have been a resident of the State at least five years next preceding the day of their election.”
With the election scheduled for November 2026, any candidate would need to have established Maine residency no later than November 2021.
Tax Records vs. Campaign Claims
The discrepancy arises from the “residential exemption” Bush reportedly claimed on property in Massachusetts. Such exemptions are typically reserved for a taxpayer’s primary residence. If Bush was legally claiming Massachusetts as his primary domicile for tax purposes until 2023, it could jeopardize his claim that he has been a Maine resident for the five years required by law.
When asked for clarification, the Bush campaign declined to provide specific dates for when the candidate established permanent residency in Maine, according to the Press Herald.
As the race for the Blaine House heats up, Bush’s opponents are likely to seize on these findings, potentially leading to a legal challenge before the Secretary of State’s office to determine if his name can remain on the ballot.
This story was adapted from original reporting by Rachel Ohm of the Portland Press Herald. Read the full original article here.
