Maine GOP nominee Bobby Charles says he will "make an appeal for ICE and marshals to be at our voting booths"
Bobby CharlesRepublican nominee for governor of Maine
Maine's Republican nominee for governor, Bobby Charles, told supporters at an August 20 event that he would ask White House border czar Tom Homan to send federal agents to polling places. According to audio obtained by the Associated Press, he said, "I'm going to make an appeal for ICE and marshals to be at our voting booths".
“I’m going to make an appeal for ICE and marshals to be at our voting booths”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should ICE and other armed federal agents be allowed at or near polling places in the 2026 election?
Since February 2026, federal officials have given differing answers about whether ICE and other armed federal agents could be at or near polling places during the November 3 election. On September 1, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE would be at a polling place only if there is a threat to it or agents are serving a warrant, and DHS told Politico that ICE is not planning operations targeting polling locations but that arrests could result if an active public safety threat endangered one. On September 10, 18 and 23, 2026, LULAC and other groups, a coalition including the NAACP, and Democratic leaders and party committees sued separately in federal court in Washington. They allege that the administration's statements and actions violate 18 U.S.C. 592, Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, or both. As of September 25, the court dockets show no motion for a preliminary injunction and no answer or motion to dismiss from the federal defendants, and no court has ruled.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report, carried by NBC News, based on audio it obtained of an Aug. 20 event with a Maine Young Republicans chapter. The Bangor Daily News first reported the audio. The report includes Charles's Aug. 26 explanation and a DHS statement.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Charles was speaking to a Maine Young Republicans chapter at an event in Arundel.
After the quotation
On August 26, Charles said state and local authorities should have an open line of communication with federal authorities to prevent violence, intimidation and illegality at a voting place, according to the Associated Press.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The fixed reference point is the administration's stated or threatened use of ICE at or near polling places. Charles called for ICE and U.S. marshals to be at voting booths, which argues for deploying federal agents at polling places. He holds no federal office, so this is recorded as a candidate's position rather than an administration position.
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The Dispute Index. "Maine GOP nominee Bobby Charles says he will "make an appeal for ICE and marshals to be at our voting booths"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2691-maine-s-republican-nominee-for-governor-bobby-charles