For our ninth and final Republican gubernatorial interview for the 2026 race, Robert Wessels sat down with Matt Gagnon at MPI headquarters to discuss the campaign, and his candidacy.
Wessels is a self-described lifelong Republican and political outsider. A husband and father of three in Paris, Maine, his career began in 2004 when he took an overnight job at Walmart stocking shelves because his family needed health insurance. He also worked as a postal substitute during the day to make ends meet and to let his wife stay home with their children. Over time, he worked his way up to assistant manager and eventually shift manager. In 2011, he transitioned to store management at US cellular, where he spent over a decade leading teams and training employees.
In 2012, he was elected to the Town of Paris’ selectboard, and this year became the first Republican candidate to file a ballot petition for the 2026 Maine governor’s race.
This interview is the ninth in a series of interviews that Maine Policy Institute is conducting with those seeking to be elected governor of Maine. If you missed our prior conversations with Bobby Charles, Jim Libby, David Jones, Owen McCarthy, Ben Midgley, Jonathan Bush, Rick Bennett, or Garrett Mason, make sure you head to our interview archive to catch up on them today.
Maine Policy Institute does not endorse candidates or involve itself in political campaigns. We are bringing you conversations like this so you may better understand the priorities of individuals who seek powerful positions in Maine’s government.
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