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V O L . X X X I I N O. X X I S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 6 4 C O N T E N T S Affordability takes center stage in Maine governor's race The County puts the 'Maine' in the Maine Senate showdown 18 14 20 2nd District fight heats up: Inflation, tariffs and Iran war likely to be top issues for voters 22 Cultural hub Augusta building that houses state museum, archives and library emerges from long renovation A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E F O C U S E L E C T I O N 2 0 2 6 : M A I N E ' S C A N D I DAT E S I N T H R E E K E Y R A C E S O N PA G E 1 3 ยป SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Ken Hanson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Michelle Phillips EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Samantha Elliott OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Allison Spies DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Leah Allen A division of New England Business Media LLC P R E S I D E N T / C E O Tom Curtin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrea Tetzlaff DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Claire, William HOSPITALITY EMERITUS M.J., Malcolm, Zoey PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DEPUTY EDITOR Renee Cordes DIGITAL EDITOR Alexis Wells SENIOR WRITER Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Tina Fischer MAINEBIZ IS COMMITTED TO ACCURATE, FAIR AND IMPARTIAL COVERAGE OF BUSINESS NEWS IN THE STATE OF MAINE. HUSSON IS HOW. DEGREES & CERTIFICATES THAT MATTER TO THE WORLD. CAREER PATHS THAT MATTER TO YOU. 1 COLLEGE CIRCLE | BANGOR, MAINE 207.941.7000 | HUSSON.EDU THE CONVERSATIONS HR LEADERS AREN'T HAVING ANYWHERE ELSE Join New England's top HR & business executives Reserve Your Seat: StrategicHRmw.com Workforce insights. Peer perspectives. Better business. Workforce insights. Peer perspectives. Better business. Workforce insights. Peer perspectives. Better business. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Bernard Fishman, director of the Maine State Museum, says the renovation of the Maine State Cultural Building was an opportunity to rethink exhibits, displays and gathering spaces. 22