06/11/2026
On Tuesday evening, the voters made their decision in the Republican primary. While that decision is not the one I had hoped for, it is the one delivered by the voters, and I respect it.
First and foremost, thank you to every person who supported this campaign. Thank you to the volunteers who knocked doors, made phone calls, hosted events, put up signs, donated their hard-earned money, and encouraged others to get involved. Thank you to the Mainers who placed their trust in me with their vote. I will never forget it.
Over the course of this campaign, I traveled thousands of miles and met with people from every corner of our state. Those conversations only strengthened my belief that Maine is worth fighting for.
As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded of how fortunate I have been. When I first ran for office 16 years ago, I never imagined the opportunities that would follow.
At 25 years old, the people of Androscoggin County entrusted me with a seat in the State Senate. Later, I had the privilege of serving four years as Majority Leader. Along the way, I was able to meet congressmen, senators, presidents, and people who shaped history. I had a front-row seat to moments and decisions that mattered, and I experienced things that a kid from Lisbon Falls could scarcely have imagined.
That story is only possible in America. And thankfully, it is still possible here in Maine.
For all of it, I am deeply grateful. Grateful to the voters who placed their trust in me time and again. Grateful for the friendships made, the lessons learned, and the opportunity to serve.
And I am especially grateful to my hometown.
Lisbon, you will always be a huge piece of who I am. You shaped me, supported me, and believed in me long before anyone else did. I love this community with all my heart, and I hope that in some small way I have made you proud.
There are also a few people who deserve special thanks.
To my Mom and Dad, Rick and Gina Mason: thank you for loving me, guiding me, and standing beside me. I would not be the man I am today without your love, support, and example.
To Keith Herrick: thank you for being the best friend and business partner a guy could ever ask for. Through every victory, every setback, and every challenge, you've always been there. Your loyalty and friendship mean more to me than words can adequately express.
To Dale Crafts and Bo Ouellette: thank you for being invaluable members of this team. Your counsel, support, and commitment to this campaign helped make it possible. I will always be grateful for your friendship and willingness to answer the call when it mattered most.
Most importantly, thank you to my wife, Rebekah, and our daughter, Piper.
Politics is never a solo endeavor. Every campaign, every event, every late night, every missed family moment is shared by the people you love most.
Rebekah, thank you for your strength, your advice, and your unwavering support. You have been my sounding board, my counselor, my partner, and my biggest supporter through every challenge and every opportunity. I am a better husband, father, businessman, and public servant because of you.
And Piper, thank you for sharing your dad with the people of Maine. You are me and Mom’s greatest blessing and greatest joy.
I love you both tremendously.
This marks the end of my final statewide campaign. I have been honored beyond measure to serve the people of Maine in elected office and to have had the opportunity to seek this office. But there comes a time when it is right to pass the torch.
Over the years, I have tried in many different roles to bring Republicans together around the principles and values we share. Sometimes we succeeded, and sometimes we fell short.
What has become clear to me is that too often our energy is spent relitigating old disagreements rather than building the future. Too often personalities and past grievances overshadow the larger cause. That is a challenge the next generation of Republican leaders will need to confront.
The responsibility now falls to others. It is their turn to carry the torch, to unite a party that has often struggled to unite itself, and to make the case for Republican principles to people who may not already agree with us. If we are going to win in the future, we must be willing to grow our coalition rather than simply speak to those who are already with us.
While my name may no longer be on the ballot, my commitment to Maine remains unchanged. I was born here, I've built my life here, and they'll plant me here someday.
As we look toward November, there are many important races that will help shape the future of our state and nation. Every office matters, and every election has consequences.
But I would especially encourage Republicans, conservatives, and independents to support Senator Susan Collins and Republican candidates for the Maine House and Senate. In the years ahead, those races will play an outsized role in determining whether Maine continues down its current path or charts a new course.
A strong Republican legislative caucus will be critical to restoring balance in Augusta and advancing policies that make Maine more affordable, more prosperous, and more accountable to the people. And Senator Collins remains one of Maine's most effective voices in Washington at a time when experienced leadership matters more than ever.
Thank you for believing in me. It has been the honor of a lifetime.
God bless the State of Maine. Dirigo.
Garrett
1 Peter 2:17
