Notes: Gov. Paul LePage (R) defeated U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D) and Eliot Cutler (I) to win a second term, but he was held to less than 50-percent of the vote. 

LePage, a former Mayor of Waterville, had gained national attention for his "confrontational" and "pugnacious" approach.

Michaud was serving his sixth term in the U.S. House representing the 2nd CD; he previously served in the state legislature, and was first elected to the Maine House in 1980.  He announced his candidacy in Lewiston on Aug. 15, 2013. 

In 2010, running as an independent, Cutler had finished second with 35.9% to 37.6% for LePage.  He had a background as an environmental lawyer and had served as a legislative assistant for U.S. Sen. Ed Muskie.  He formally announced in Portland on Sept. 24, 2013.

LePage and Michaud were unopposed in the June 10 primaries.

 After a considerable debate over debates, the three candidates participated in five debates:

Oct. 8 - "Eggs & Issues," hosted by the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, in Portland;

Oct. 9 - Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce at Thomas College in Waterville;

Oct. 15 - Maine Chamber of Commerce annual meeting at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta (first televised debate) (>);

Oct. 20 - WGME CBS 13 and Bangor Daily News at University of Southern Maine in Portland; and

Oct. 21 - WMTW Channel 8 in Portland (>). 

Finally, only Cutler participated in the MPNB debate recorded in Bangor on Oct. 23 (>).


Campaign Managers:
Paul LePage:  Scott Van Orman
(announced June 2014)  Deputy director of boards and commissions in the LePage administration.  Volunteer and political director on LePage's 2010 campaign.  Retired chemist.

Mike Michaud:  Matt McTighe
(announced Sept. 2013)  Campaign manager on Mainers United for Marriage, the successful 2012 referendum campaign.  Public education director for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).  Political director for MassEquality.  Worked for Human Rights Campaign for three years.  Degree in journalism from The George Washington University.
 
Eliot Cutler:  Ted O'Meara
Self employed public relations consultant in Portland from 2009.  Managing director of Pierce Atwood Consulting, 2001-09.  Director of marketing and communications for Blethen Maine Newspapers, 1999-2001.  Director of corporate communications for Guy Gannett Communications, 1997-99.  B.A. in political science from University of Maine, 1974.



See also:
Dennis Hoey.  "LePage removes doubt: He will attend guberrnatorial debates."  Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, Sept. 28, 2014.