Paul LePage
LePage in 2017
74th Governor of Maine
In office
January 5, 2011 – January 2, 2019
Preceded byJohn Baldacci
Succeeded byJanet Mills
50th Mayor of Waterville
In office
January 6, 2004 – January 5, 2011
Preceded byNelson Madore
Succeeded byDana Sennett
Member of the Waterville City Council
from Ward I
In office
1998–2002
Personal details
Born
Paul Richard LePage

(1948-10-09) October 9, 1948
Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Sharon Crabbe
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 1980)​
    Ann DeRosby
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
    Children4
    EducationHusson University (BS)
    University of Maine (MBA)
    OccupationBusinessman, politician
    ProfessionManagement consultant

    Paul Richard LePage (/ləˈpeɪdʒ/; born October 9, 1948) is American businessman and politician who served as the 74th governor of Maine from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the mayor of Waterville, Maine, from 2004 to 2011 and as a city councilor for Waterville from 1998 to 2002.

    LePage was elected mayor of Waterville in 2003 and reelected in 2008. He ran for governor of Maine in the 2010 election, winning with 37 percent of the vote in a five-candidate race. He was re-elected with a stronger plurality, 48 percent of the vote, in a three-candidate election in 2014. During his tenure as governor, he made extensive use of his veto power, vetoing 652 bills as of July 2018, more than the total by all Maine governors over the previous 100 years combined.[1] LePage was criticized for making controversial remarks regarding abortion, the LGBTQ community, racial minorities, the death penalty, voting rights, campaign financing, the government and the environment that sparked widespread national criticism, leading to some calling for his impeachment.

    LePage was unable to seek a third consecutive term due to Maine's term limit laws and was succeeded by Democrat Janet Mills. After leaving office he announced his retirement from politics and would reestablish residency in Florida,[2] but in 2021 he announced he would run for governor again. He faced no primary opposition but would lose to Mills by 13 percentage points in the 2022 general election.[3] After his loss he returned to Florida.

    Despite his plurality wins, LePage often ranked among the least popular governors in the country.[4] In a 2016 ballot initiative, Maine voters changed their voting system from plurality voting to ranked-choice voting, although it is currently not applicable for gubernatorial elections.

    Early life and education

    LePage was born in Lewiston, Maine, on October 9, 1948. The eldest son of eighteen children of Theresa (née Gagnon) and Gerard LePage, both of French Canadian descent,[5] he grew up speaking French in an impoverished home with an abusive father who was a mill worker.[6] His father drank heavily and terrorized the children, and his mother was too intimidated to stop him.[7] At age eleven, after his father beat him and broke his nose, he ran away from home and lived on the streets of Lewiston, where he at times stayed in horse stables and at a "strip joint".[6][8] After spending roughly two years homeless, he began to earn a living shining shoes, washing dishes at a café, and hauling boxes for a truck driver. He later worked at a rubber company and a meat-packing plant and was a short order cook and bartender.[9] LePage was the only person among his parents and siblings to graduate from the 8th grade. He graduated from Lewiston High School in 1967.[10]

    LePage applied to Husson College in Bangor, but was rejected due to a poor verbal score on the SAT because English was his second language. He has said that State Representative Peter Snowe—the first husband of former U.S. senator Olympia Snowe—persuaded Husson to give LePage a written exam in French, which allowed LePage to show his reading comprehension skills and gain admission.[9][11] At Husson, LePage honed and improved his English-language skills and became editor of the college newspaper.[9] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration in finance and accounting and later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maine.[9]

    Early business and political career

    LePage as mayor in May 2010

    LePage worked for a lumber company in New Brunswick, Canada, that was owned by his first wife's family from 1972 to 1979, and later for Scott Paper in Winslow, Maine.[12] He founded the management consulting firm LePage & Kasevich Inc., which specialized in aiding foundering companies.[13] In 1996, LePage became general manager of Marden's Surplus and Salvage, a Maine-based discount store chain.[11][14] LePage was elected to the Waterville city council in 1997 and reelected in 1999.[15][16]

    Mayor of Waterville

    In the 2003 mayoral election, LePage faced his Democratic rival Charles Kellenberger and the independent candidate Daniel Dufour.[17] LePage won the general election with 40 percent of the vote.[18]

    LePage officially became mayor on January 6, 2004, succeeding Nelson Madore.[19] During his time as mayor, he reorganized city hall, lowered taxes, and increased the city's rainy day fund balance from $1 million to $10 million.[20] On several occasions, LePage clashed with Democratic governor John Baldacci over issues such as illegal immigration and taxes.[21][22]

    LePage was reelected in the 2008 mayoral election with 51 percent of the vote, defeating his Democratic rival Rosemary Winslow, who received 49 percent.[23] He resigned his position as mayor before taking office as governor in January 2011.

    Governor of Maine

    Like previous governors, LePage resided in The Blaine House across from the State Capitol.

    2010 election

    On September 22, 2009, LePage announced that he would be seeking the 2010 Republican nomination for governor of Maine.[24] He won 38% of the vote in a seven-way primary election, despite being outspent ten-to-one by his closest challenger.[25] John Morris, LePage's campaign chief-of-staff, credited LePage's win with a campaign strategy (devised by chief strategist Brent Littlefield) that he referred to as the "three onlys" theme before the June primary election. This theme focused on particular aspects of LePage's biography that supposedly set him apart from the other candidates. These were, according to Morris, LePage "was the only candidate who had a compelling life story, ... the only candidate who had a successful experience as a chief executive officer of a government entity, ... the only candidate who was the executive of a prosperous Maine business."[26]

    In the general election, LePage was backed by local Tea Party activists and faced Democratic state senator Libby Mitchell, and three independents – Eliot Cutler, Shawn Moody, and Kevin Scott.[27] During the campaign, he told an audience that when he became governor, they could expect to see newspaper headlines stating, "LePage Tells Obama to Go to Hell". He was subsequently criticized by Libby Mitchell's campaign as being disrespectful towards the office of the president.[28]

    With 94% of precincts reporting on the day after the election, the Bangor Daily News declared LePage the winner, carrying 38.1% of the votes.[29] Independent Cutler was in second place with 36.7% of the votes (fewer than 7,500 votes behind LePage), while Democrat Mitchell was a distant third with 19%. Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively. LePage was the first popularly elected, Franco-American governor of Maine and the first Republican since John R. McKernan Jr.'s re-election in 1990. In his victory speech, LePage promised he would shrink government, lower taxes, decrease business regulation, and put "Maine people ahead of politics".[6]

    2014 election

    On May 7, 2013, LePage stated that it was likely that he would seek re-election in 2014.[30] He had already filed paperwork to form a campaign committee in August 2011 to be able to hold fundraisers to raise campaign funds.[31] On June 21, 2013, when asked if he was concerned about hurting his re-election campaign, he replied, "Who said I'm running?", and, that "everything was on the table"—including entering the race for Maine's Second Congressional District; retiring; or "going back to Marden's to stock shelves".[32] He later backed off the reference to entering a congressional run, but stated that he would have a family meeting to discuss the possibility of him not seeking re-election, citing the passage of a 2013–2014 budget by the legislature—in override of his veto of it—as the type of devastating mistake that Maine could not recover from.[33] At a fundraiser with former Florida governor Jeb Bush on July 2, he told supporters that he was indeed running for re-election.[34]

    At 12:04 AM on November 5, the Bangor Daily News declared that Paul LePage had won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud and independent candidate Eliot Cutler.[35] He received 48.2% of the vote.[36]

    Tenure

    As governor, LePage attempted to roll back child labor laws, proposing a $5.25 subminimum wage.[37] He also proposed that children aged 12 and up should be able to work. In a speech at the 73rd annual Maine Agricultural Trades Show, he stated his view supporting child labor adding "If the revenues go up, I can go golfing. If not, I'm going to have to continue working 80 hours a week."[38] LePage was the first Maine governor to use social media to promote the annual State of the State address, when he used Twitter to send several tweets previewing his February 5, 2013, speech.[39] As Governor, LePage issued 642 vetoes, which broke the record of 118 set by Governor James B. Longley and was more than all his predecessors since 1917 combined. Most of LePage's vetoes have come since 2013, when Democrats regained control of the Legislature from the Republicans.[40][41][42][43] In the 2015 session of the Legislature, LePage promised to veto every bill sponsored by a Democrat, regardless of its merits, in retaliation for the rejection of his proposal for a constitutional amendment referendum to eliminate Maine's income tax.[44] LePage later expanded his veto threat to all bills sponsored by all legislators in order to force needing a 2/3 vote on them for passage. He stated that he feels it is the only way he can "get the most representation that I can for the people of the state of Maine" and that Democrats had convinced Republicans to sponsor bills to get around his initial veto threat.[45]

    LePage initially endorsed Chris Christie for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, but after Christie dropped out LePage endorsed Donald Trump just hours after Christie in February 2016.[46] Earlier in February, LePage had urged Republican governors to draft an open letter "to the people", disavowing Trump and his politics.[47]

    Pardon power use

    While governor, LePage issued 236 pardons to 115 people.[48] One of his last acts as governor was to pardon former Republican state representative Jeffrey Pierce for a felony drug trafficking conviction 35 years prior. Pierce lost his reelection effort after Democrats discussed his felony conviction during the campaign and he then conceded that he had used firearms to hunt after his felony conviction, which would be illegal for a felon. Hunting license applications also ask the applicant if they have been convicted of a crime. The matter was being investigated by the Maine Warden Service, an investigation that the pardon may affect. The pardon generated controversy when it was revealed it was granted against the advice of Maine's clemency board. Further information is restricted due to state law making information related to pardons confidential.[49] The Associated Press, through a public records request, learned that Pierce's pardon as well as a pardon for the grandson of LePage's late mentor were given without a public hearing and consultation with the clemency board. A former clemency board chair stated that in their 27 years on the board they never saw a governor grant a pardon without a public hearing.[50]

    During LePage's tenure as governor, Maine enacted a change in the voting system from plurality voting to ranked-choice voting. Maine had a history of independent candidates running and being competitive in elections, which gave rise to strategic voting and concerns over spoiler candidates. LePage's wins in 2010 and 2014, both times with a plurality, not majority, of the vote, and his unpopular tenure, has been cited as a primary motivating factor for the change in voting systems. The shift from plurality voting to ranked-choice voting was approved by voters in a 2016 ballot referendum.[51][52][53] LePage opposed the change in voting systems.[54][55]

    In February 2019, the Portland Press Herald reported that LePage and his staff had spent at least $22,000 of tax-payer money to stay at the Trump International Hotel in Washington D.C., a luxury hotel owned by President Trump's family. During his last two years in office, LePage and his staff spent approximately $170,000 in out-of-state travel. In comparison, LePage's predecessor, Governor John Baldacci, spent approximately $45,000 during the last two years of his tenure.[56]

    Starting in 2015, LePage stated he was "very strongly" considering entering the 2018 U.S. Senate race against incumbent independent Senator Angus King, citing King's caucusing with Senate Democrats.[57] He was also critical of King for switching his 2014 gubernatorial election endorsement from independent candidate Eliot Cutler to Democratic nominee Mike Michaud.[58] He has also said that he would not run if Hillary Clinton won the 2016 presidential election, saying "If it's Hillary Clinton, forget it, I'm gonna retire."[59] He has also said that Ann LePage was not convinced that a Senate run is the best idea, and he would not run if she did not approve, or if he was serving in a Donald Trump administration.[60] He ultimately announced on May 10, 2017, that he would not run, preferring to focus on being governor.[61]

    LePage speaking at an event honoring the Maine National Guard at the University of Maine in 2011

    Abortion

    LePage opposes abortion.[62] He has appeared at the annual anti-abortion Hands Around the Capitol rally at the Maine State House, first doing so at the 2011 event.[63]

    Campaign financing

    LePage is opposed to the Maine Clean Elections Act, which provides funding for publicly-financed campaigns in Maine without prohibiting private campaign contributions. He proposed eliminating all funding for the act in his 2014–2015 biennial budget[64] and stated his opposition to a proposal to reform the act by increasing the amount of money that would be distributed. He has called such aid "welfare for politicians"[65] and a "scam," saying that "Our democracy is being corrupted by the role of big money in politics."[66]

    Capital punishment

    LePage supports the death penalty in cases of the murder of a baby. He stated this view regarding the case of Ethan Henderson, a 10-week-old baby who was allegedly killed by his father.[67] He also has expressed support for giving the death penalty to drug dealers whose drugs cause a fatal overdose. Maine abolished the death penalty in 1887.[68]

    Drug policy

    LePage supports the idea of the state removing the children of welfare recipients from their homes if the recipients are found to be using illegal drugs and refuse to enter rehab. Current law allows the removal of children only due to neglect and abuse, which can result from drug use, but is not drug use itself.[69]

    LePage has expressed opposition to the legalization of marijuana, seeing it as a gateway to more powerful drugs like heroin, but has said that if legalization were approved by referendum, he would honor it.[69] However, in 2018 he vetoed a bill to establish retail sales of cannabis in Maine in accordance with an initiative that voters approved in 2016.[70]

    LePage has called for additional Maine DEA agents, judges, and prosecutors to fight drugs. The Maine Legislature approved six additional agents, two prosecutors, and two judges in the 2015–16 state budget, but LePage criticized that as "chump change" and has asked for more. He has criticized legislative Democrats skeptical of his proposals, stating "If I didn't know better, I was a real cynic, I'd think that the Democrats like drug dealers." He has stated he would use the Maine National Guard for drug enforcement if necessary, and has actually done so. He further called for drug traffickers to be put in "super-max" facilities.[71] He has also said, "Everybody in Maine, we have constitutional carry, load up and get rid of the drug dealers," which he clarified meant that an environment should be created that will keep drug dealers away from Maine, not that people should engage in vigilantism.[68]

    Economy

    LePage has said that the permitting process to start a business in Maine is too cumbersome and expensive and he will look for ways to make it cheaper and easier. He opposed raising any taxes during his term as governor and supported the creation of a 5% flat tax on all households earning more than $30,000. During the gubernatorial campaign, he also wanted to reduce the auto registration tax by 20% and use the actual sale price rather than MSRP as the tax basis.[72]

    LePage has criticized Maine's child labor laws, stating that the minimum work age of 16 without a work permit in Maine "is doing damage to the economy" and that "there is nothing wrong with being a paperboy at 12 years old, or at a store sorting bottles at 12 years old."[73] In an interview with Downeast Magazine, he stated that "I'm all for not allowing a 12-year-old to work 40 hours, but a 12-year-old working eight to 10 hours a week or a 14-year-old working 12 to 15 hours a week is not bad."[74] Citing his own experiences working at that age, he said that these hours should be permitted as it would instill a healthy work ethic in children. LePage has proposed allowing businesses to pay child workers a training wage of $5.25 an hour, loosening time-based requirements for children working during the school year, and streamlining the process for children to obtain a work permit by removing school superintendents from the process in the summer, all of which did not pass the Legislature.[75]

    LePage opposes the expansion of casino gambling in Maine, believing that any economic benefit to additional casinos would come at the expense of Maine's existing casinos.[76] LePage has also said that if he was sent a bill to abolish the Maine State Lottery, he would sign it, saying it "absolutely" targets the poor.[77]

    LePage has vetoed at least one bill for increasing Maine's minimum wage, believing that wages should be increased by creating an environment for higher-paying jobs in Maine through lowering energy costs and lowering taxes.[78] He has supported preventing municipalities like Portland from having local minimum wages higher than the state's.[79] In response to a citizen initiated referendum to raise Maine's minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020, he stated that he supported a competing proposal to raise it to $10 an hour as less harmful to businesses who would have to pay the full minimum wage to tipped employees under the referendum.[80]

    Education

    Governor LePage with an Education Department official in June 2011

    LePage supported a school voucher system and structuring pay to reward teachers for performance. He has stated that curriculum should be determined by local school boards.[81]

    LePage signed a bill to bring Maine in alignment with the Common Core State Standards Initiative on April 1, 2011, making the state the 42nd to do so.[82] By 2013, however, LePage expressed opposition to the standards, citing fears of a federal takeover of education and student privacy concerns. On September 4, he issued an executive order prohibiting the Maine Department of Education from implementing any federal education standards, from applying for grants where implementing such standards is a condition of the grant, and from sharing personal student information with the federal government.[83]

    On November 18, 2013, LePage pledged $10,000 from his official contingency account to a program run by Portland-based LearningWorks for helping new immigrants learn the English language. LePage met with Somali immigrants in Lewiston to make the announcement, and discussed other difficulties immigrants had in obtaining education and employment, which LePage related to given his life with French as his first language.[84]

    Environment

    LePage rejects the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change, which states that climate change is dangerous and primarily human-caused. According to Democratic state senator Brownie Carson, during LePage's time in office "he not only didn't care about the environment, he was actively hostile toward it".[85] LePage supported increased use of fossil fuels, vetoed clean energy bills, sought to eliminate environmental regulations, was the lone Atlantic coast governor to promote offshore drilling, refused to issue voter-approved conservation bonds, attempted to tax protected forestland and/or open it to development, and refused to put up signs to direct tourists to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument designated by former president Barack Obama.[85]

    In February 2011, LePage proposed zoning 10 million acres (40,000 km2) of northern Maine for development, repealing laws that require manufacturers to take back recyclable goods for disposal, and other sweeping changes to environmental laws. In a statement LePage said, "Job creation and investment opportunities are being lost because we do not have a fair balance between our economic interests and the need to protect the environment."[86][87][88][89]

    LePage has claimed, despite an abundance of scientific research to the contrary, that climate change may be beneficial, arguing that the opening of the Northern Passage through the melting of arctic ice could have an advantage for Maine. "Everybody looks at the negative effects of global warming, but with the ice melting, the Northern Passage has opened up. So maybe, instead of being at the end of the pipeline, we're now at the beginning of a new pipeline."[90]

    LePage opposes efforts to ban the baiting and trapping of bears in Maine, including a 2014 referendum to do so which did not succeed.[91]

    Energy

    LePage has criticized wind power and in particular the large-scale expansion of installed capacity mandated by Maine's 2008 Wind Energy Act and wind energy's large role in the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard. LePage argues that the policies are a major cause of the relatively high cost per kW of electricity in Maine—34% above the national average.[92]

    LePage believes that government policies should consider the effect of greenhouse gases, but opposes regulations. He has said he would support shallow-water offshore drilling in Maine waters, but not deep-water drilling, which he considers more hazardous.[72][93] He has stated that some requirements for environmental impact studies should be reduced or weakened because they frequently impose undue burden on economic activity.[94] In June 2012, LePage criticized the removal of the Great Works dam on the Penobscot River in Old Town to enhance the migration of fish in the river, despite the project leading to no loss of electricity generation, calling the removal of hydroelectric dams in general "irresponsible".[95] In August 2012, he was reported saying that he supported efforts to invest in renewable energy, though only ones he thought were both economically feasible and effective: "There are renewables that work," he said. "Like hydro, hydro and more hydro."[96] In the same report,[96] he said that wind could not support the baseload energy needs of the state, calling it a "boutique energy source."

    Government reform

    LePage has stated that the size of state government is likely too large and that he would probably seek to reduce the number of state employees.[93]

    He has called for the abolition of term limits for Maine legislators, who are limited to four consecutive two-year terms, saying that they have resulted in a legislature full of young people with "firm agendas" who pass bills that hurt Maine in the long term.[97] He cited former longtime Democratic House Speaker John Martin as an example of how an experienced legislator would be beneficial for Maine.[98]

    LePage has been critical of Maine's citizen initiative process, by which citizens can put an issue to referendum, stating that the process should be reformed to return to a "representative government" and that Mainers don't understand what they are voting for on referendum questions.[99] He has expressed support for requiring petition signatures to be gathered in each Maine county[100] and for requiring a greater total number of signatures to qualify an issue for the ballot.[101]

    LePage was opposed to efforts to change Maine's voting system from plurality voting to ranked choice voting,[102] even though it was ruled unconstitutional with regards to elections to state offices.[103]

    Health care

    LePage called for repeal of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, saying he believes it is unconstitutional, and had encouraged Maine's attorney general William Schneider to join the federal lawsuit by other state attorneys general challenging the bill. Upon the United States Supreme Court's ruling upholding the majority of the act, LePage stated that the law was an "enormous tax" and that "Washington, D.C., now has the power to dictate how we, as Americans, live our lives."[104] He later referred to the Internal Revenue Service, which is charged with enforcing the insurance mandate, as "the new Gestapo" and that the "decision has made America less free".[105] He has also compared the ACA with Canada's health care system, stating that Canada rations care and that many Canadians come to the U.S. to get treatment because of it, and that similar rationing here would result in deaths.[106]

    He has said that coverage mandates for Maine insurance policies should be pared back because they make insurance policies too expensive. He believes that MaineCare, the state Medicaid program, has too many enrollees and is too easy to qualify for.[93] He vetoed a bill to expand MaineCare under the Affordable Care Act on June 17, 2013,[107] and has criticized efforts by the Legislature to write an expansion bill that will obtain enough votes to override a veto, stating that the Legislature has "no compassion".[108]

    On July 3, 2013, LePage pledged $50,000 of his emergency fund to a drug treatment center in Ellsworth. The Open Door Recovery Center provides treatment for clients regardless of their ability to pay.[109]

    LePage has stated that he feels there are too many hospitals in Maine, noting that New Hampshire's 1.3 million people have 26 hospitals, while Maine's 1.2 million have 39.[110]

    In March 2014, LePage drew national attention related to his opposition to a bill that would allow caregivers, health care professionals and more emergency responders to administer naloxone, a drug which has been used for many years as an antidote for drug overdoses, saying it could raise Medicaid costs and encourage drug addiction. Recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), naloxone was formulated to be used both for opioid drug overdoses and for people who have life-threatening drug interactions. Speaking in a statement at the announcement of the approval, the FDA commissioner said that drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States, largely due to prescription drug overdoses. LePage vetoed a similar bill in 2013.[111][112][113] In an interview LePage stated, "I think we need to treat, Let's deal with the treatment, the proper treatment and not say, Go overdose, and oh, by the way, if you do I'll be there to save you. I think we need to deal with the bigger, basic problem of drug addiction, drug trafficking and drug abuse in the state. That's all I'm interested in."[114]

    During his tenure as governor, LePage vetoed Medicaid expansion six times.[115] After voters approved a 2017 referendum for expanding Medicaid coverage, LePage refused to implement the program, citing a lack of funding,[116] and expansion advocates sued LePage in response.[117][118] LePage has said he would rather go to jail than implement the expansion without a funding mechanism that meets his criteria.[119]

    LGBT rights

    In 2009, LePage opposed allowing same-sex couples to marry. He does support the state recognizing only civil unions of all couples, believing it would give everyone the same legal standing.[120] During his gubernatorial campaign, he iterated his opposition to same-sex marriage and expressed support for unspecified legal measures to protect committed same-sex couples. In October 2010 he stated that gay marriage should be left to the voters and that he had no personal views on the matter, though he would have vetoed a same-sex marriage bill if it reached his desk.[121]

    LePage was critical of the Maine Education Associations' support of the 2012 same-sex marriage initiative, believing the union's taking of political positions hurts the education of Maine students.[122] When asked about LePage's own position on the initiative, his spokeswoman declined to comment.[121]

    On the topic of transgender students in grades K–12, he said he did not understand "how people, at least sane people, would want to allow transgender in our primary schools and our high schools."[123] LePage then pledged to oppose legislation for transgender students, saying, "I think it's gone too far and we have to push back. As governor, I would never allow that to be signed into law."[123] In 2018, LePage vetoed a bill banning conversion therapy, arguing that the proposed legislation would undermine the ability of therapists to converse with their clients.[124] The next year the bill was signed by newly elected governor Janet Mills.

    Taxes

    LePage advocates eliminating Maine's income tax, believing it to be an impediment to economic growth for the state. He stated that his goal was to do so before the end of his second term, and he proposed a constitutional amendment to do so, though he expected the legislature to reject it.[125] He opposed one bipartisan plan to replace the current progressive income tax rates, which have a top rate of 7.95%, with a 4% flat income tax rate and a broader, higher sales tax because he believes it is not revenue-neutral.[126] After his re-election he expressed support for the general idea of increasing or broadening the sales tax to reduce or eliminate the income tax[127] which he later proposed in his 2015–2016 budget.[125] He has said he will "spend the rest of my days" fighting opponents of his tax proposals, especially in the legislative election year of 2016.[125]

    Welfare reform

    Welfare reform was a centerpiece of LePage's gubernatorial campaign. In December 2011, citing a budget shortfall, LePage proposed sweeping changes to MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program).[128] Those changes include dropping 5,000 to 6,000 low-income senior citizens with disabilities from the Drugs for the Elderly program (which provides low-cost prescription drugs to low-income elderly patients), and ending Medicaid coverage for up to 65,000 recipients, including many who are disabled or elderly.[128] Reimbursement to hospitals and other medical providers would be reduced by up to 10 percent, which could trigger the elimination of up to 4,400 health care jobs.[129] The changes could also result in higher premiums and higher co-pays for people with private health insurance.[129]

    LePage expressed an intent to reform welfare eligibility requirements, though he did not specify how he would do so. He also supports lifetime limits on welfare support, requiring recipients to perform work in the community, and a tiered payment system that gradually removes benefits as recipients earn more money working, rather than cutting them off entirely at a certain income level.[93]

    Speaking before a conservative women's group in Falmouth on October 14, 2013, LePage said that "About 47 percent of able-bodied people in the state of Maine don't work ... It's really bad."[130] It is uncertain where LePage obtained his figures since Maine's unemployment rate is actually below the national average.[131] According to an analysis posted on PolitiFact, only about ten percent of "able-bodied people" age 18 to 64 in Maine were not working, and if unemployed Maine residents who were looking for work were excluded from the count, the number not working drops to 3.6 percent.[132] Pointing to a report issued by a conservative think tank, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, LePage's spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said, "Liberal activists are determined to increase the number of residents who take tax dollars by expanding the size of government and the benefits government workers get and increasing the welfare rolls."[133]

    LePage supports reforms in how EBT cards are used. Proposals he favors include putting photos of cardholders on the card to prevent their sale by the holder, an idea that he proposed after hearing of several incidents where EBT cards turned up in drug busts. He also wants to better prohibit their use to purchase alcohol or cigarettes. He has stated that such fraud is a large problem and he will devote resources to investigating it and generating further proposals to combat it.[134] He has also suggested that he would be willing to shut down the entire EBT program if the federal government will not allow Maine to take measures to combat fraud.[135]

    LePage is opposed to the distribution of General Assistance welfare funds to illegal immigrants by municipalities. He has threatened to cut off all state reimbursement of such funds unless municipalities stop doing so, citing federal laws which don't allow welfare funds to go to illegal immigrants unless a state passes a law to specifically allow it. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills has stated that the governor implementing such a policy without using the established rulemaking process or legislative action is likely against the Maine Constitution. LePage responded to that criticism by stating he found it "inexcusable" that the state's top law enforcement official would advocate violating federal law, and adding that he believes Congress passing the federal laws in question meets the requirement for legislative involvement.[136]

    Immigration

    Governor LePage is opposed to offering a home for asylum seekers in Maine. In a February 2016 town meeting he called asylum seekers "the biggest problem in our state". It is his opinion that "they're bringing hepatitis C, tuberculosis, AIDS, HIV and the 'ziki fly'," apparently referring to the Zika virus.[137]

    2022 gubernatorial campaign

    LePage unsuccessfully ran for a third non-consecutive term in 2022.[138] LePage had previously indicated his interest in the 2022 election based on whether Governor Janet Mills could implement Maine's Medicaid expansion referendum in what he believes to be a sustainable way. On July 5, 2021, he officially announced his candidacy for governor.[139][140] He was later endorsed by Maine's Republican U.S. Senator, Susan Collins.[141] LePage faced no primary opposition, and was the Republican nominee to run against Mills in the November general election.[3]

    Public opinion

    LePage meeting with the Montenegrin Cyber team in November 2013

    Despite his re-election, LePage was generally unpopular for most of his second term. In 2016, his approval ratings registered at 38%,[142] making him one of ten state executives with higher disapproval (58%).[143] LePage was consistently ranked as one of the most unpopular governors in the United States, and he left office with an approval split of 39–53%.[144][lower-alpha 1]

    LePage is known for his bombastic and off-the-cuff remarks that have, during his tenure as mayor of Waterville and governor of Maine, drawn domestic and national controversy as well as critical acclaim. He has cited the fact that French was his first language as a reason for his controversial statements.[145] Public opinion for LePage has been wide-ranging during his entire tenure as governor, due to his comments regarding women, African Americans, Native Americans, the poor, local colleges and universities, and government activities.[146] At the beginning of his term as governor, he was criticized for refusing either to attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in Portland or Orono or to meet with Maine representatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), telling the press the group could "kiss my butt".[147] His actions were called "astonishing and troubling" by civil rights group leaders and local newspapers.[148][149][150]

    In February 2011, LePage again gained national attention when he spoke on a local TV news program saying he hoped to repeal the Maine ban of Bisphenol A, voted for unanimously by the Maine Board of Environmental Protection,[151] because "there hasn't been any science that identifies that there is a problem."[152][153] On March 28, it was reported that the LePage administration had dropped its opposition to the new BPA regulations.[154] After a unanimous vote in the Senate, the Maine legislature on April 22 passed a bill to ban the use of BPA in beverage containers. LePage refused to sign the bill, but it became law without his signature.[155][156][157]

    On March 23, 2011, LePage sparked protests when he announced that he planned to remove a large mural depicting the history of the state's labor movement from the lobby of the Maine Department of Labor offices.[158][159][160][161] Despite protests, on March 28 it was disclosed that the murals had been removed over the weekend.[162][163][164] The Portland Museum of Art issued a statement that said LePage's decision has tarnished the state's reputation as a haven for artists.[165][166][167] His actions sparked furthered backlash, and lawsuits were brought forward regarding the murals.[168][169]

    On April 27, 2012, LePage stated that Maine's "middle management" was corrupt, sparking backlash from worker groups and Maine politicians.[170][171][172] Maine State Employees Association President Ginette Rivard responded to the criticism of state workers by stating, "For LePage to call them 'corrupt' is baseless and insulting to every public worker who has dedicated their lives to making Maine a great place to live, work and raise a family."[173]

    In his second year in office, LePage made a proposal to allow public funds to go to religious schools; the proposal was found unconstitutional by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.[174][175] He later drew negative publicity for urging any commission members who were not up to meeting the state's expectations to resign.[176] On July 25, 2012, LePage and his Commissioner of Education, Stephen Bowen, unveiled a second round of reform proposals which issued that domestic students were getting "poorer" educational practice, regarding required examinations for admission.[177] His proposals were criticized by the Maine Education Association, Maine Democrats, and many college students attending school out of state who stated they did not experience the poor treatment LePage purported.[178][179]

    On July 8, 2012, LePage said, while discussing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was "the new Gestapo" due to their role in enforcing the law.[180] Some Democrats, Jewish groups, and unions[181] levied heavy criticism towards LePage over his statement, and demanded an apology.[180][182][183][184] Prominent members of LePage's own party were generally less critical. Maine Republican Party chairman Charlie Webster felt that "most regular people knew what he meant."[180][183] A day later, LePage issued a written statement stating that his intent was not to "insult anyone, especially the Jewish community, or to minimize the fact that millions of people were murdered," and that his message had been "clouded" by his use of the word "Gestapo".[183] In response, both Maine Senator Roger Katz, who is Jewish, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins stated they were pleased LePage had backed away from his comments.[180][185]

    On March 21, 2013, LePage summoned a dozen state employees of the Bureau of Unemployment to the Blaine House for a luncheon to discuss the state's unemployment compensation hearing and appeals process.[186] Although LePage described the meeting as "cordial",[187][188] the workers described it as pressuring and used to intimidate them to give more rulings on unemployment claim appeals in favor of businesses, as well as to state that they were doing their jobs poorly.[186] LePage called the accusation "outrageous" and said that David Webbert, the president of the Maine Employment Lawyers Association who made the allegation, was making it up.[187] The situation spurred statewide backlash including a federal investigation of the alleged intimidation, which concluded that LePage's administration improperly acted with "what could be perceived as a bias toward employers".[187][189][190]

    On May 23, 2013, LePage announced that he would move his office out of the Maine State Capitol and work from The Blaine House due to what he called efforts by majority Democrats in the Legislature to censor his speech.[191] This included the refusal of the Appropriations Committee to allow him to address them on May 19, and later being asked to obtain permission from the Legislative Council to have a TV outside of his office displaying the number of days since his budget was proposed. Senate President Justin Alfond criticized LePage's announcement by saying such behavior was "embarrassing and not helpful to getting things done for the people of Maine."[191][192][193] On June 20, 2013, after speaking at a rally opposed to the bipartisan biennial budget proposal voted out of the Legislature, LePage responded to criticism from Democratic Assistant Majority Leader Senator Troy Dale Jackson that LePage was "delusional" to say Democratic leaders were unwilling to negotiate with him. LePage stated that Jackson "claims to be for the people but he's the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline." He further stated people like Jackson, a logger by trade, "ought to go back into the woods and cut trees and let someone with a brain come down here and do some good work," along with other negative personal remarks.[194] The remark about Vaseline was heavily criticized by public figures on all sides,[32][194][195] including Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves, who called the comment "obscene" and criticized its being on the evening news when children could hear it.[194][196]

    LePage is known for his dislike of Maine newspapers,[197][198] once telling students at a school that "Reading newspapers in the state of Maine is like paying somebody to tell you lies."[199] While telling the editorial board of The Portsmouth Herald he did not want their endorsement for reelection, he said that newspapers were against him and "It's futile. There's a bias in the press I can't change."[200] After a three-part report published by the Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, and Morning Sentinel which alleged his Department of Environmental Protection commissioner was favoring former clients, he ordered his administration to not grant interviews to reporters of those newspapers or cooperate with their information requests. The order did not seem to extend to all state agencies, as the Department of Public Safety's spokesman said he had been given no such instructions.[198][201][202] Nine days after the U.S. federal government shutdown on October 1, 2013, LePage declared a civil emergency in Maine ending 17 days later.[203] He said that the declaration was necessary in order to cope with the loss of federally funded positions during the shutdown, such as by transferring state-funded personnel to functions originally carried out by the federally funded personnel to minimize layoffs.[204] His move to do so was met with widespread negative criticism, and was labeled as an unnecessary "overreach of power".[205][206]

    On June 30, 2014, the website Talking Points Memo reported that LePage had met eight times with members of the sovereign citizen movement between January and September 2013. According to participants, the sovereign citizens group used these meetings, some of which lasted nearly three hours, to inform LePage of their beliefs, which include assertions that the U.S. dollar and Maine state courts are illegal, that Maine Senate President Justin Alfond and Maine House Speaker Mark Eves are guilty of treason and should be executed,[207] and that the U.S. government and the United Nations are planning for a war against Americans.[208][209] LePage set up a meeting between Kennebec County sheriff Randall Liberty and the sovereign citizens group and asked Liberty to take the group's concerns to the state attorney general.[207][208][209][210]

    In June 2015, Good Will-Hinckley, a charitable organization for at-risk youths that runs two charter schools, hired Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves to be their next president. LePage, however, threatened to withhold $500,000 of state funding for the school if they hired Eves, due to his voting record against charter schools in Maine. LePage's choice to do so was labeled as "blackmail" as well as "political interference".[211][212][213] The incident was subject to a federal investigation, but no charges were issued.[214][215][216][217] Some Democrats in the Legislature launched an effort to impeach LePage over this and other matters on January 14, 2016, but the effort was indefinitely postponed, effectively killing it, on a 96–52 vote.[218]

    Controversial comments

    LePage generated national headlines by stating at a January 6, 2016, town hall meeting in Bridgton regarding drug dealers:

    (Drug dealers) are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty; these types of guys, they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home. Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road.

    The comment was condemned as racist by some Republicans and Democrats, as well as the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, though a spokesman for LePage denied the comment had anything to do with race.[219][220][221]

    On August 24, LePage was asked about these comments; he denied being a racist but said that he had been compiling a binder of drug arrestees since January and that "90-plus per cent of those pictures in my book, and it's a three-ringed binder, are black and Hispanic people." When asked to provide the binder, LePage replied, "Let me tell you something: black people come up the highway and they kill Mainers. You ought to look into that. You make me so sick." The Portland Herald subsequently filed a Freedom of Information Act request for LePage's binder.[221]

    The following day, a reporter insinuated to LePage that Democratic state representative Drew Gattine had called him a racist.[221] LePage responded by calling Gattine and leaving him a voicemail message:

    Mr. Gattine, this is Governor Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you cocksucker. I want to talk to you. You want — I want you to prove that I'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little son of a bitch, socialist cocksucker. You — I need you to just fricking — I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you.[222][223][224]

    He later invited reporters from the Portland Press Herald and WMTW to an interview to explain the comments, saying that

    I wish it were 1825 and we would have a duel, that's how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you ... I would point it right between his eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since he's been in this legislature to help move the state forward.[221]

    Gattine responded by calling LePage's message "upsetting, inappropriate and uncalled for."[225] LePage produced a binder of drug arrestees and went through some of the mugshots with the press. While admitting that the binder contained photos of both blacks and whites, LePage produced a page with a photo and press clipping of a young white woman who had been arrested, LePage called her a "very lovely young Mainer, maybe 20 years old." He then held up another page with a picture of a black man on it and said, "That's the other culprit." Reporting on the incident, Portland Press Herald quoted figures showing that according to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Service, in 2014 of the 1,211 people in Maine arrested on charges of drug sales or manufacturing only 14.1 percent were black, and almost all the rest were white.[226] LePage's comments were widely condemned by Democrats and some Republicans, including U.S. Senator Susan Collins, State Senate President Michael Thibodeau, State House Minority Leader Kenneth Fredette, State Senator Roger Katz, and State Senator David Woodsome.[226] Leading Democrats have called LePage "unfit" to serve and have demanded his resignation.[221]

    On August 30, 2016, days after making his controversial remarks, LePage said that he was strongly considering resigning. In that case Maine's Senate President would assume the office of governor.[221]

    Awards and honors

    • In 2006, LePage was voted the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce's businessman of the year.[11]
    • In 2007, he was named "Maine Business Champion" by the National Federation of Independent Business.[11]
    • LePage received an honorary doctorate from Thomas College in Waterville, at their graduation ceremonies on May 12, 2012, where he was the keynote speaker.[227]
    • On September 10, 2013, LePage received an award from the Maine Suicide Prevention Program to recognize his efforts to prevent and raise awareness about suicide.[228]
    • On May 13, 2019, LePage was given an honorary degree by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees to recognize his support of education in Maine, and specifically the university system.[229]

    Personal life

    In 1971 LePage married Sharon Crabbe, whose family owned a lumber business in New Brunswick, where LePage worked as treasurer and general manager. After the wedding they resided in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. Their two daughters were born in 1975 and 1976. Paul LePage and Sharon Crabbe divorced in 1980.[230] Crabbe now resides in Fredericton along with her two daughters.[231]

    LePage has two children with his second wife, Ann DeRosby, whom he married in 1984. Since 2002, his household has also included a young man from Jamaica, whom he calls an adopted son.[232][233] LePage and his wife purchased a home in Boothbay on July 30, 2014, for $215,000 that they intended to live in once his term as governor had concluded.[234] Just before the 2018 election to select his successor, he stated that he would move to Florida for a majority of the year and become a legal resident there in order to pay no income tax and less in property taxes. He also sold the Boothbay residence.[235][236] He did return to Maine in June 2019 to take a job as a bartender at McSeagulls Restaurant in Boothbay, where Ann already had a job as a server while he was governor. The restaurant owner stated hiring LePage was not a publicity stunt, citing the difficulty of hiring new workers.[236] LePage and Ann DeRosby have had conflicts with Florida tax authorities since they have claimed full-time residence in the state while not fulfilling the requirement to live there for the required amount of time to do so.[237] After the 2022 election, LePage returned to Florida, registering to vote in Flagler County.[238]

    He is a self-described "French Catholic" who believes in God.[239]

    LePage revealed to radio station WLOB on January 11, 2017, that he had undergone bariatric surgery and lost 50 pounds (23 kg), after his doctor warned that he was at risk of diabetes if he did not lose weight. It was unclear whether the procedure was paid for by his state health insurance or out of pocket.[240]

    Electoral history

    Maine's gubernatorial Republican primary election, 2010
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Paul LePage 49,126 37.38
    Republican Leslie Otten 22,945 17.46
    Republican Peter Mills 19,271 14.67
    Republican Steven Abbott 17,209 13.10
    Republican William Beardsley 12,061 9.17
    Republican Bruce Poliquin 6,471 4.92
    Republican Matthew Jacobson 4,324 3.29
    Maine's gubernatorial election, 2010
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Paul LePage 218,065 37.6
    Independent Eliot Cutler 208,270 35.9
    Democratic Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell 109,387 18.8
    Independent Shawn Moody 28,756 5.0
    Independent Kevin Scott 5,664 1.0
    Others Others 2,624 0.5
    Maine's gubernatorial election, 2014
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Paul LePage (inc.) 294,519 48.18
    Democratic Mike Michaud 265,114 43.37
    Independent Eliot Cutler 51,515 8.43
    Others Others 79 0.01
    Maine Gubernatorial election Republican primary, 2022
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Republican Paul LePage 65,684 100
    Maine Gubernatorial election, 2022
    Party Candidate Votes %
    Democratic Janet Mills (incumbent) 373,372 55.4
    Republican Paul LePage 286,440 42.5

    Notes

    1. ↑ Survey tracked the final three months of his tenure, from October to December 2018.

    References

    1. ↑ Fishell, Darren (July 16, 2018). "LePage has vetoed more bills than all Maine governors since 1917 combined". Bangor Daily News.
    2. ↑ Miller, Kevin (November 5, 2018). "LePage says he is 'done with politics'". Press Herald. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
    3. 1 2 Mistler, Steve (June 14, 2022). "Paul LePage tries to make a comeback in Maine. Will independent voters bite?". NPR. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
    4. ↑ Easley, Cameron (January 10, 2019). "America's Most and Least Popular Governors – January 2019". Morning Consult.
    5. ↑ "The early years: Paul LePage - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. July 20, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
    6. 1 2 3 PPH Staff (November 3, 2010). "Paul LePage is Maine's next governor" (online news). Portland Press Herald. Retrieved February 27, 2016. [Subtitle:] Paul LePage has won the race to be Maine's next governor. At 1:30 p.m. today with 96 percent of precincts reporting, LePage had 38 percent of the votes with 210,279, and Independent Eliot Cutler had 37 percent with 201,801 votes.
    7. ↑ "Bonds of LePage family survive a troubling, often brutal, upbringing in Lewiston | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. January 5, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
    8. ↑ Bertoni, Steven, "Ready For Business", Forbes, January 17, 2011, p. 25.
    9. 1 2 3 4 The LePage Campaign. "About LePage 2010". LePage Transition 2010, People before Politics. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    10. ↑ Byrne, Matt (August 18, 2014). "The early years: Paul LePage". The Press Herald. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
    11. 1 2 3 4 Guerin, Emily (May 12, 2010). "From spying to saving Fenway: Checking out the resumes of the GOP candidates for governor". The Sun Journal. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    12. ↑ Woodard, Colin (January 18, 2012). "The Making of Paul LePage, Part 2". Portland Phoenix. Portland, ME. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
    13. ↑ Metzler, Rebekah (September 19, 2010). "GOP candidate touts fiscal conservatism: LePage may break mold of Republican leadership in Maine". Morning Sentinel. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
    14. ↑ Crouch, Ian (June 10, 2010). "Rags and Riches". The New Yorker.
    15. ↑ "Morning Sentinel". November 1, 1997.
    16. ↑ Hickey, Colin (December 13, 1999). "Special election to break LePage-Sylvester tie". Morning Sentinel. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
    17. ↑ "LePage, council should find ways to work together". Morning Sentinel. November 7, 2003. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
    18. ↑ Calder, Amy (November 6, 2003). "Waterville mayor-elect vows to trim city's spending". Morning Sentinel.
    19. ↑ Calder, Amy (January 5, 2004). "LePage to be inaugurated". Kennebec Journal.
    20. ↑ Calder, Ann (June 10, 2010). "LePage: Fiscal sense tops political experience". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    21. ↑ "Waterville mayor challenges limit on immigrant questioning". Portland Press Herald. August 25, 2004.
    22. ↑ Calder, Amy (April 8, 2009). "Mayor blasts Baldacci". Morning Sentinel.
    23. ↑ Calder, Amy (November 5, 2008). "LePage wins in a close election". Morning Sentinel.
    24. ↑ "Waterville mayor files to run for governor". Portland Press Herald. September 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
    25. ↑ Adams, Glenn (June 17, 2010). "In Maine, ex-rivals back LePage". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
    26. ↑ "LePage's political adviser Brent Littlefield earning praise". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. January 5, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    27. ↑ Maine Tea Party Coalesces Around Paul LePage Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine MPBN, October 4, 2010
    28. ↑ Taylor, Jessica (September 29, 2010). "LePage: I'd tell Obama to 'go to hell'". Politico. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    29. ↑ Miller, Kevin; Wickenheiser, Matt (November 3, 2010). "BDN projects LePage to win governor's race". Bangor Daily NEws. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
    30. ↑ "LePage defends A-F school grading system". Kennebec Journal. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
    31. ↑ "LePage kicks off re-election three years ahead of next gubernatorial vote". Bangor Daily News. January 4, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
    32. 1 2 "LePage considering Congress run, apologizes for equating loggers, Troy Jackson". Bangor Daily News. June 21, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
    33. ↑ "Lawmakers Override Governor's Budget Veto – LePage Considering Future As Maine Governor". WABI TV. June 26, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
    34. ↑ "LePage: I'm running for re-election". Kennebec Journal. July 2, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
    35. ↑ "Gov. Paul LePage wins a second term; Michaud concedes". The Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
    36. ↑ "Maine gubernatorial election, 2014 - Ballotpedia". Retrieved August 31, 2016.
    37. ↑ Semuels, Alana (December 15, 2014). "How Common Is Child Labor in the U.S.?". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
    38. ↑ Journal, Keith Edwards / Kennebec (January 8, 2014). "LePage says children should have work option". Press Herald. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
    39. ↑ "Family, schools big themes in LePage's speech tonight". Kennebec Journal. February 5, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
    40. ↑ "LePage vetoes five bills passed last year, lets another 11 go into law". Bangor Daily News. January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
    41. ↑ Steve Mistler (January 21, 2013). "Lawmakers override LePage veto of smoking-cessation bill". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
    42. ↑ Eric Russell (May 1, 2014). "Legislature overrides 15 of LePage's 48 recent vetoes". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
    43. ↑ Scott Thistle (November 7, 2018). "Voters put Democrats in charge at State House with majorities in House and Senate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
    44. ↑ Scott Thistle (June 11, 2015). "LePage nears Maine record for overridden vetoesl". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
    45. ↑ Mario Moretto (June 18, 2015). "LePage clogs up Legislature with hundreds of line-item veto votes". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
    46. ↑ Paul LePage endorses Donald Trump for president
    47. ↑ Inside the Republican Party's Desperate Mission to Stop Donald Trump. New York Times. February 27, 2016.
    48. ↑ "LePage pardons former state lawmaker of felony-level drug trafficking conviction". bangordailynews.com. January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
    49. ↑ "LePage Pardon Went Against Clemency Board, Details Secret". mpbn.org. January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
    50. ↑ "Former Governor Pardoned At Least 2 People Without Hearings". mpbn.org. April 14, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
    51. ↑ Woodard, Colin (March 27, 2018). "Maine's Radical Democratic Experiment". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    52. ↑ "How Paul LePage got elected, and how Mainers think they can fix a broken voting system". Boston.com. September 1, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    53. ↑ Nilsen, Ella (June 12, 2018). "Maine voters blew up their voting system and started from scratch". Vox. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    54. ↑ "Maine Gov. signs off on congressional race results, but calls the election "stolen"". www.cbsnews.com. December 28, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    55. ↑ AP (December 20, 2018). "Maine Governor Calls Ranked-Choice Voting 'Repugnant'". www.mainepublic.org. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    56. ↑ Thistle, Scott; Writer, Kevin Miller Staff (February 17, 2019). "Maine paid for 40 rooms at Trump hotel for LePage, staff". Press Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
    57. ↑ Thistle, Scott (August 25, 2015). "LePage tells Howie Carr he may challenge Angus King in 2018". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
    58. ↑ Miller, Kevin (January 12, 2015). "LePage says he's considering Senate run against King". WMTW-TV. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
    59. ↑ "Governor Lepage Talks To Howie Carr- Endorses Trump For POTUS". WABI-TV. February 27, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
    60. ↑ "LePage handles town hall protest with ease". Bangor Daily News. May 5, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
    61. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (May 10, 2017). "LePage won't oppose Angus King for U.S. Senate in 2018". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
    62. ↑ Mario Moretto (September 26, 2014). "LePage courts women voters, says he opposes 'killing babies as a form of contraception'". Retrieved September 27, 2014.
    63. ↑ Kevin Miller (January 16, 2011). "Anti-abortion activists cheer LePage at annual State House rally". Retrieved October 12, 2014.
    64. ↑ "LePage budget would gut clean election fund for 2014 campaign". Bangor Daily News. February 27, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
    65. ↑ "No opposition to strengthening Clean Election Act surfaces at hearing". Kennebec Journal. May 7, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
    66. ↑ "LePage calls Maine election reform effort 'a scam'". Bangor Daily News. October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
    67. ↑ "LePage backs DHHS silence on Arundel case". Kennebec Journal. May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
    68. 1 2 "LePage suggests that Mainers who carry concealed weapons could help solve the drug problem". Kennebec Journal. January 26, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
    69. 1 2 Mario Moretto (August 7, 2014). "LePage: State should take children from drug-users who won't enter rehab". Retrieved August 7, 2014.
    70. ↑ Graham, Gillian (April 27, 2018). "LePage vetoes bill to launch Maine's recreational marijuana marketplace". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
    71. ↑ Steve Mistler (August 11, 2015). "LePage reiterates plan to use National Guard in drug epidemic 'if necessary'". Retrieved August 11, 2015.
    72. 1 2 Laskow, Sarah; Van Dongen, Rachel. "Profile: Paul LePage". Who Runs Gov. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
    73. ↑ Edwards, Keith (November 18, 2013). "LePage says children should have work option". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
    74. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (December 2, 2013). "LePage's efforts to remove child labor barriers to continue in January". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
    75. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (December 2, 2013). "LePage's efforts to remove child labor barriers to continue in January". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
    76. ↑ "LePage opposes efforts to bring casino to southern Maine". WCSH6. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 1, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
    77. ↑ "LePage opposes efforts to bring casino to southern Maine". Bangor Daily News. January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
    78. ↑ "Maine Gov. LePage vetoes bill to boost incrementally boost state's minimum wage". July 9, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
    79. ↑ "LePage bill would bar cities from raising minimum wage". WCSH6. April 22, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
    80. ↑ "LePage Backs Alternative Minimum Wage Proposal". MPBN. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
    81. ↑ "Paul LePage on Education". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
    82. ↑ "Maine adopts new 'common core' education standards". Bangor Daily News. April 5, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
    83. ↑ Office of Paul LePage, Governor (September 4, 2013). "An Order Regarding protection of Local Education Control and Student Privacy Rights". Retrieved September 10, 2013.
    84. ↑ Thistle, Scott (November 18, 2013). "LePage pledges $10,000 to help immigrants in Lewiston learn English". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
    85. 1 2 Doug Struck (July 17, 2019). "How fast can the political pendulum swing? Ask Maine". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
    86. ↑ "LePage proposes changes to environmental laws | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME". Onlinesentinel.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    87. ↑ "Phase 1 of Governor's Regulatory Reform Proposals" (PDF). State of Maine. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
    88. ↑ Kaufman, Leslie (April 15, 2011). "At State Level, G.O.P. Seeks Big Environmental Cutbacks". The New York Times.
    89. ↑ National Tribal Air Association (February 9, 2011). "Maine Governor Proposes 63 Clean Energy and Environment Reversals". Ntaatribalair.org. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    90. ↑ Moretto, Mario (December 5, 2013). "LePage sees upside for global warming in Maine with opening of Northeast Passage". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
    91. ↑ "Endorsements- Save Maine's Bear Hunt". September 24, 2013. Archived from the original on September 30, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
    92. ↑ Paul LePage, March 30, 2013
    93. 1 2 3 4 "Paul Lepage Profile – Your Vote 2010". Archived from the original on December 31, 2010.MPBN. Retrieved October 28, 2010
    94. ↑ Houx, Ramona Du (April 25, 2011). "Gov. LePage criticizes appeals of development projects by, as he said, 'some dingbat'". Maineinsights.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    95. ↑ "Crews begin removing Great Works dam; $3.5M in federal funds pledged". Bangor Daily News. June 11, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
    96. 1 2 Moretto, Mario (August 3, 2012). "Maine Gov. LePage: Wind power a 'boutique energy source'". Bangor Daily News.
    97. ↑ "LePage calls for ending term limits for Maine legislators". Kennebec Journal. March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
    98. ↑ Moretto, Mario (March 20, 2014). "LePage says legislative term limits should be 'thrown out the window'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
    99. ↑ "In State of the State address, Gov. LePage takes aim at taxes, welfare, liberal ideology". Portland Press Herald. February 7, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
    100. ↑ "Gov. LePage proposes to amend state constitution on citizen's referendums". WMTW. November 14, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
    101. ↑ "LePage wants to make it harder to send ballot questions to Maine voters". Bangor Daily News. November 4, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
    102. ↑ "LePage: Action on shootings should take mental illness into consideration". Bangor Daily News. June 22, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
    103. ↑ "Ranked choice voting delayed until 2021". WCSH6.com. October 23, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
    104. ↑ "Maine Democrats cheer Supreme Court decision; Republicans attack health care law as tax hike". Bangor Daily News. June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
    105. ↑ "LePage calls Obamacare an expensive stripping away of freedom, says IRS is 'new Gestapo'". Bangor Daily News. July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
    106. ↑ "LePage: IRS headed toward killing people". Kennebec Journal. July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
    107. ↑ "LePage vetoes Medicaid expansion, says 'Maine can do better'". Bangor Daily News. June 17, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
    108. ↑ "LePage blasts Legislature's tilt toward Medicaid expansion". Kennebec Journal. January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
    109. ↑ "LePage makes $50K donation to treatment center". Boston Herald. July 3, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
    110. ↑ "Maine's got too many hospitals, LePage says". Bangor Daily News. August 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
    111. ↑ "Health News & Articles – Healthy Living". ABC News. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    112. ↑ Kotz, Deborah (April 3, 2014). "FDA approves user-friendly device to reverse opioid drug overdoses". The Boston Globe.
    113. ↑ "Heroin overdose antidote: Who gets to carry it?". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.
    114. ↑ "Maine Lawmakers Consider Heroin Overdose Drug". The Maine Public Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014.
    115. ↑ Miller, Kevin; Writer, Scott Thistle Staff (January 2, 2019). "Janet Mills sworn in as governor, declares 'we are all in this together'". Press Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    116. ↑ Pradhan, Rachana (April 23, 2018). "Maine governor defies ballot initiative expanding Medicaid". Politico.
    117. ↑ Pradhan, Rachana (April 30, 2018). "Maine governor sued for defying Medicaid expansion ballot measure". Politico.
    118. ↑ Lawlor, Joe (May 17, 2018). "LePage administration responds to Medicaid lawsuit, blames Legislature for not funding expansion". Portland Press Herald.
    119. ↑ "LePage Says He'd Rather Go To Jail Than Expand Medicaid". MPBN. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
    120. ↑ Gagnon, Matthew (October 13, 2009). "Interview With Paul LePage". Pine Tree Politics. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    121. 1 2 "Most Maine top elected officials steer clear of gay-marriage issue". Kennebec Journal. November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
    122. ↑ "LePage blasts teachers union for endorsing same-sex marriage question". Bangor Daily News. May 25, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
    123. 1 2 Higgins, A.J. (October 8, 2010). "LePage Backs Away from Human Rights Act Remarks". Maine Public Broadcasting Network. Archived from the original on October 12, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    124. ↑ "Maine Governor Vetoes Bill Banning 'Conversion Therapy'". July 7, 2018.
    125. 1 2 3 Eric Russell (March 4, 2015). "LePage vows to spend 'rest of my days' fighting opponents of income tax cuts". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
    126. ↑ "LePage: Let's eliminate Maine income tax". Kennebec Journal. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
    127. ↑ Eric Russell (November 8, 2014). "Republicans elect new Maine legislative leaders". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved November 8, 2014.
    128. 1 2 Cover, Susan (December 9, 2011). "LePage's cuts would hit seniors hardest, advocates say". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
    129. 1 2 Richardson, John (December 10, 2011). "Shifting the burden of health-care costs". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
    130. ↑ Audio recording posted on YouTube. Retrieved October 27, 2013
    131. ↑ "Maine governor claims '47 percent of able-bodied' Mainers don't work". The Washington Post.
    132. ↑ "Maine Gov. Paul LePage says 47 percent of able-bodied Maine residents aren't working", PolitiFact, Tampa Bay News, October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013
    133. ↑ "Opponents attack LePage on '47 percent' comment, governor says it's all about welfare excess". The Bangor Daily News. October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    134. ↑ Moretto, Mario (December 20, 2013). "LePage says EBT card fraud 'far bigger' problem than he imagined, plans deeper investigation". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
    135. ↑ "COMMENTARY: LePage's naughty and nice list". Central Maine. December 23, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    136. ↑ Moretto, Mario (June 24, 2014). "LePage threatens to cut assistance funding to cities that continue to aid undocumented immigrants". Bangor Daily News.
    137. ↑ "LePage: Asylum seekers 'the biggest problem in our state'". Maine State and Capitol. February 17, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
    138. ↑ "Paul LePage says 'I am going to challenge Janet Mills' in 2022". Bangor Daily News. April 29, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
    139. ↑ "LePage says he will run again in 2022 if he doesn't like Mills's performance". WCSH-TV. December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
    140. ↑ "LePage Vows To Run Against Mills In 2022 If She Doesn't Expand Medicaid 'Sustainably'". MPBN. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    141. ↑ "Collins to endorse LePage in Maine governor comeback bid". September 22, 2021.
    142. ↑ "New poll: LePage remains among least popular governors | State & Capitol". May 12, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
    143. ↑ "Bring Out the Pitchforks! The 5 Least Popular Governors in America". The Fiscal Times. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
    144. ↑ Easley, Cameron (January 10, 2019). "America's Most and Least Popular Governors – January 2019". Morning Consult.
    145. ↑ Russell, Eric; Lawlor, Joe (August 23, 2013). "LePage apologizes to Republicans for Obama controversy". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
    146. ↑ "'Prove I'm a racist': LePage challenges Westbrook lawmaker in obscenity-laced voice mail". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. August 26, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
    147. ↑ "LePage to NAACP: 'Kiss my butt'". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. January 15, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
    148. ↑ Goodenough, Amy (January 15, 2011). "Maine Governor Gets Testy With N.A.A.C.P." The New York Times.
    149. ↑ "LePage says he'll meet with NAACP; Civil rights group seeks 'respectful discourse' after the governor's 'kiss my butt' remark makes headlines". The Portland Press Herald. January 16, 2010.
    150. ↑ "LePage's remark becomes popular MLK Day topic". Bangor Daily News. January 17, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
    151. ↑ Miller, Kevin (June 18, 2010). "Maine board weighs BPA bottle ban". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
    152. ↑ Miller, Kevin (February 22, 2011). "LePage dismisses BPA dangers; 'worst case is some women may have little beards'". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
    153. ↑ "Maine Gov. Paul LePage On BPA: 'Worst Case Is Some Women May Have Little Beards'". The Huffington Post. February 23, 2011. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
    154. ↑ "LePage drops opposition to BPA ban | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. March 25, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    155. ↑ "BPA Phase-Out Becomes Maine Law". Good Chemistry. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    156. ↑ "House votes overwhelmingly to ban BPA from child products | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. April 8, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    157. ↑ "State House Dispatches | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. April 14, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    158. ↑ "Mural's planned removal heats up labor dispute – Maine Politics – Bangor Daily News". New.bangordailynews.com. March 23, 2011. Archived from the original on May 29, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    159. ↑ "Bill Nemitz: Latest LePage order a piece of work | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. March 24, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    160. ↑ "Gov. LePage Orders Removal Of Labor Mural – Portland News Story – WMTW Portland". Wmtw.com. March 23, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    161. ↑ Greenhouse, Steven (March 23, 2011). "Gov. Paul LePage Takes Aim at Mural to Maine's Workers". The New York Times.
    162. ↑ Terkel, Amanda (March 28, 2011). "Maine Department Of Labor Quietly Removes Mural Over The Weekend". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    163. ↑ "Video: Maine governor removes labor history mural Video". Mefeedia.com. March 28, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    164. ↑ Canfield, Clarke (March 29, 2011). "Maine governor taken to task after mural removed". The Seattle Times.
    165. ↑ "Portland Museum of Art Responds to Mural Controversy". Portlandmuseum.org. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    166. ↑ "Fed. lawsuit filed over Maine labor mural removal". Boston Globe. April 1, 2011.
    167. ↑ "Governor: Mural was removed at a bad time | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram". Pressherald.com. April 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
    168. ↑ "Judge sides with LePage on mural removal". Kennebec Journal. March 24, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
    169. ↑ "1st Circuit rejects Maine labor mural appeal". Bangor Daily News. November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
    170. ↑ "LePage writes letter to state employees about "corrupt" remark". Kennebec Journal. April 27, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
    171. ↑ "Letter to state employees by Paul LePage" (PDF). Maine Governor's office. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 31, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
    172. ↑ "2 GOP lawmakers blast LePage on 'corrupt' remark". Kennebec Journal. April 30, 2012. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
    173. ↑ "LePage stirs ruckus after calling state workers 'corrupt'". Bangor Daily News. April 27, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
    174. ↑ Barber, Alex (February 8, 2012). "LePage unveils controversial education proposals". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
    175. ↑ Russel, Eric (March 22, 2012). "Bill to allow public funds for religious schools rejected, school choice put on hold". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
    176. ↑ "Letter by Paul LePage to Maine State Charter School Commission". June 11, 2012.
    177. ↑ McMillan, Susan (July 25, 2012). "LePage: High schools should pay for graduates' remedial college classes". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
    178. ↑ Russel, Eric (July 27, 2012). "Governor comes under fire for remarks about Maine education shortcomings". Kenenbec Journal. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
    179. ↑ Mistler, Steve (January 9, 2013). "LePage blasts charter school commission, teachers union". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
    180. 1 2 3 4 "LePage says he didn't mean to offend with Gestapo comment; Republican leaders say it is 'a non-issue'". Bangor Daily News. July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
    181. ↑ "IRS union to LePage: Apologize for insult". Kennebec Journal. July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
    182. ↑ "LePage raps health-care law; says IRS 'gestapo'". Kennebec Journal. July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
    183. 1 2 3 "LePage: Didn't intend to insult anyone with 'Gestapo' comment". Kennebec Journal. July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
    184. ↑ "Democrats urge LePage to apologize for remark". Kennebec Journal. July 8, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
    185. ↑ "LePage issues apology for Gestapo remark". Bangor Daily News. July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
    186. 1 2 "State employees say LePage pressured them to deny jobless benefits". The Bangor Daily News. April 11, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    187. 1 2 3 "LePage denies he attempted to pressure unemployment hearing officers". The Bangor Daily News. April 24, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    188. ↑ "Panel finds Maine Labor Department 'vastly understaffed' but no unemployment bias". The Bangor Daily News. December 10, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    189. ↑ "Federal probe finds LePage's actions created 'pressure to be more sympathetic to employers'". The Bangor Daily News. February 27, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    190. ↑ "Department of Labor report spurs call for LePage impeachment, accusations of Obama partisan attack". The Bangor Daily News. February 27, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    191. 1 2 "LePage tells legislative leaders he's moving out of State House because of 'censorship'". Bangor Daily News. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
    192. ↑ "LePage renews claims of State House censorship". Kennebec Journal. May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
    193. ↑ "Maine Revised Statues, Title 2, Chapter 1". Maine Legislature. October 16, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
    194. 1 2 3 "Democratic senator lets LePage 'Vaseline' jab slide off his back". Bangor Daily News. June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
    195. ↑ "Winterport lawmaker says he will introduce legislation to censure LePage". Bangor Daily News. June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
    196. ↑ Stein, Perry (July 17, 2013). "Anti-Gay Activists Praise Maine Governor For Sodomy Remark". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
    197. ↑ "Governor LePage jokes that he'd like to shoot political cartoonist". WGME-TV. June 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
    198. 1 2 Seth Koeing (August 10, 2013). "LePage in fighter jet simulator: 'I want to find the Press Herald building and blow it up'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
    199. ↑ Ben McCanna (March 15, 2012). "LePage tells students to keep their options open". Morning Sentinel. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
    200. ↑ "LePage bets GOP will take Maine House in 2014". Bangor Daily News/York Weekly. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
    201. ↑ Steve Mistler (June 9, 2013). "LePage issues new policy: No more talking to 3 newspapers". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
    202. ↑ Mario Maretto. "Reactions to LePage's alleged quip that Obama 'hates white people'". Bangor Daily News Blogs. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
    203. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (October 18, 2013). "LePage lifts civil emergency in Maine". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
    204. ↑ "Governor Declares Civil Emergency to Minimize Fiscal Impacts of Federal Shutdown". Office of Governor Paul LePage. October 9, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
    205. ↑ Moretto, Mario (October 9, 2013). "LePage declares civil emergency because of government shutdown; union calls move a 'power grab'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
    206. ↑ Cox, Tim (October 18, 2013). "LePage vows Cobscook Bay State Park won't be closed by federal action again". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
    207. 1 2 "LePage denies he discussed 'executing' Maine Democratic leaders". Bangor Daily News. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
    208. 1 2 Tipping, Mike (June 30, 2014). "Why Did Maine's Governor Conspire With 'Sovereign Citizen' Extremists?". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
    209. 1 2 Mistler, Steve (June 30, 2014). "LePage meetings with extreme conspiracy group questioned". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
    210. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (July 1, 2014). "Group that met with LePage denies terrorist links". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
    211. ↑ "Maine attorney general 'very troubled' by alleged LePage threat to pull school's funding". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. June 25, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    212. ↑ Seelye, Katharine Q. (June 28, 2015). "Combative Maine Governor Becomes a Party of One". The New York Times.
    213. ↑ "Gov. LePage breaks his silence, lawmakers call for investigation into LePage-Eves scandal". WGME-TV. June 29, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    214. ↑ Mistler, Steve (July 1, 2015). "Maine watchdog agency to investigate LePage's funding threat in Mark Eves hiring". Portland Press Herald.
    215. ↑ "Lawmakers vote unanimously to support investigation of LePage". Bangor Daily News. July 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
    216. ↑ "Mark Eves to file civil suit against Gov. LePage". Bangor Daily News. July 30, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
    217. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (December 22, 2015). "Mills, DA won't pursue charges against LePage for role in Eves' firing". Bangor Daily News.
    218. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (January 14, 2016). "Effort to impeach LePage fails". Bangor Daily News.
    219. ↑ Carrie Dann (January 7, 2016). "Maine Governor: Drug Dealers Often 'Impregnate a Young White Girl'". NBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
    220. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (January 7, 2016). "LePage: Drug dealers often impregnate 'young, white' girls in Maine". Retrieved January 8, 2016.
    221. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Maine Governor Paul LePage criticised for 'racist' remarks". BBC News. August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
    222. ↑ "Paul LePage Gets Homophobic to Prove He's Not Racist". The Advocate. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
    223. ↑ "Maine Governor Paul LePage on Drew Gattine: Prove I'm Racist You 'Socialist C*cksucker!'". YouTube. August 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
    224. ↑ Kopan, Tal (August 26, 2016). "Maine Gov. Paul LePage leaves profanity-laced voicemail for state lawmaker". CNN. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
    225. ↑ "'Prove I'm a racist': LePage challenges Westbrook lawmaker in obscenity-laced voice mail". Portland Press Herald. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
    226. 1 2 "LePage effectively endorses racial profiling in Maine's battle against drug addiction". Portland Press Herald. August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
    227. ↑ "LePage urges Thomas College graduates to seize their own destinies". Bangor Daily News. May 12, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
    228. ↑ "LePage signs executive order on suicide prevention". Kennebec Journal. September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
    229. ↑ "LePage given honorary degree for work supporting education at Fort Kent's commencement". Bangor Daily News. May 12, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
    230. ↑ Woodard, Colin (January 18, 2012). "The Making of Paul LePage: Part 2, Rise to Power". Portland Phoenix. Portland, ME. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
    231. ↑ "Neville J. Crabbe". InMemoriam.ca.
    232. ↑ "Jamaican joined LePage household as teen". Portland Press Herald. January 16, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
    233. ↑ David Taintor (January 20, 2011). "LePage Spox Defends Governor's Referencing Of Black 'Son'". talkingpointsmemo.com.
    234. ↑ Mario Moretto (August 14, 2014). "LePage buys $215,000 home in Boothbay, his first Maine property in four years". Retrieved August 14, 2014.
    235. ↑ "LePage's future plans: Move to Florida and take a teaching job". WGME. June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
    236. 1 2 "LePage is bartending in Maine this summer". Portland Press Herald. November 5, 2018.
    237. ↑ McFadden, Alyce; Bender, Michael C. (September 24, 2022). "How Paul LePage, Running to Lead Maine, Benefited from Florida Tax Breaks". The New York Times.
    238. ↑ Collins, Steve (May 1, 2022). "Paul LePage reclaims his 'Florida Man' designation". Lewiston Sun-Journal. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
    239. ↑ Kevin Miller (July 29, 2010). "LePage defends comments in 'creationism' spat" (online news). Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 27, 2016. Replied LePage: 'I have looked at my life, I have looked at my career. There is nowhere in my career where the term creationist comes in. The only part of my life ... that anyone can ever consider me a creationist is because I am a French Catholic and I believe in God.'
    240. ↑ Boroff, David (January 12, 2017). "Maine Gov. Paul LePage loses 50 pounds following weight-loss surgery, but won't reveal how it was paid for". NY Daily News.

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