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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 6 From the Editor M aine has been in the spotlight this year with midterm elections and the battle over the U.S. Senate, now controlled by the Republicans. With money and media attention flowing in, the battle over the Senate seat held by incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has been intense. Her chal- lenger, Democrat Troy Jackson, has plenty of political experience in Maine, but it remains to be seen whether he can garner enough votes to get to Washington. Deputy Editor Renee Cordes takes a closer look at the governor's race, which pits Democrat Hannah Pingree against Republican Bobby Charles and inde- pendent Rick Bennett. Staff Writer Tina Fischer offers insights into the congressional second district race featuring former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, and Democrat Matt Dunlap. ose are the races highlighted in our election preview. Cultural hub Elsewhere in the issue, Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber looks at a $53 million renovation of the Augusta build- ing that houses the state museum, archives and library. In the museum alone, the project involved moving some 800,000 items, Laurie writes. "But it's not like just opening a cabinet and pulling something out," says the director of the museum. "It took us about two years to dismantle and safely move and safely store all the collection items. Some were very large and were provided with special containers so they could stay where they are, like our Lombard log hauler. But we moved others. e fragile items required special care. at was a complex project." Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Taking a look at the frenzied final weeks before midterm elections. We're attorneys. But we're people first. bernsteinshur.com Alysia Melnick Of Counsel Meet Alysia. A legislative attorney and policy strategist, Alysia advises clients on political campaigns, government relations, and advocacy efforts. As another Maine election season heats up, clients turn to her for practical insight shaped by nearly two decades of experience. Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Mainebiz offers the latest business news in the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is the top content from Sept. 1–11. 1. Biddeford's Pearl Point mixed-use development gets underway 2. In Eliot, tiff over TIF funding results in closure of brew pub 3. Kittery shipyard to get $654M in infrastructure upgrades 4. 1802 House B&B in Kennebunkport sells to experienced inn owner 5. Nonprofit raises $400k for historic lighthouse restoration in Acadia National Park 6. L.L.Bean says Patriots QB Drake Maye and wife are its newest 'teammates' 7. Brunswick apartments near campus designed for 'roommate-free' living 8. Allagash Brewing names new sales leader as flagship beer enters Hall of Fame 9. Vermont investor acquires Brunswick industrial building for $7.4M 10. Thomaston boatbuilder wins research vessel contract, launches electric boat P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F FAT H O M S C O S. 1 CORRECTIONS: From the 2026 Mainebiz Fact Book, which was published Aug. 31, the Resource Guide has two updates: For the Maine Community Bank LaunchPad listing, the prize has increased to $75,000 and the updated website is maine.bank/launchpad. For SCORE Maine, the Maine leaders are Nancy Strojny, Jonathan Trumper and Charlie Weidhas. Updated website is www.score.org/me. Politics has taken taken top billing in Maine this year

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