In a controversial statement, Jonathan Bush, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Maine and cousin to former President George W. Bush, has likened the state’s decision to expand Medicaid to actions taken by Russian President Vladimir Putin. This comparison was made during an April 20 interview on WGAN radio.
In 2017, the expansion of Maine’s Medicaid program, known as MaineCare, was endorsed by nearly 60% of voters, providing over 130,000 residents with access to affordable health care. Bush criticized this decision, arguing it undermines the free market and equating it to “Putin bombing the school and then coming in and declaring martial law.” The analogy draws on reports from organizations like the United Nations and Amnesty International, which have documented Russian military actions targeting schools in Ukraine.
Under the Affordable Care Act, MaineCare’s expansion allows coverage for most adults earning up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, approximately $22,000 annually. Despite a successful referendum, the expansion was initially blocked by former Republican Governor Paul LePage. It was later implemented by Democratic Governor Janet Mills after her election in 2018.
Bush has consistently criticized MaineCare, previously suggesting the use of artificial intelligence to streamline the program’s eligibility process. In a March interview with WLOB radio, he stated, “I’m a big efficiency technology guy,” proposing AI as a tool to evaluate applicants’ circumstances and make determinations on their eligibility. This approach has been met with criticism from Democratic leaders, including Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson, who remarked, “Bush thinks health care is something you can hand off to a robot and cut people loose when it spits out the wrong answer.”
During an October 2025 candidate forum, Bush reiterated his opposition to Medicaid expansion, describing it as “crazy and terrible” and advocating for a rollback of the program. Currently, nearly 400,000 Mainers depend on MaineCare for their health insurance needs.
The issue of health care affordability is poised to be a significant topic in the 2026 elections, with a recent survey by Consumers for Affordable Health Care indicating that nearly half of Maine residents have incurred medical debt over the past two years.
The primary election for the Maine governor’s race is set for June 9.
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