Live updates: JD Vance to speak soon at Brewer defense manufacturer
Vice President JD Vance addresses a crowd at the Bangor International Airport during a rally in May. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer)
Vice President JD Vance is expected to speak at a Brewer defense technology manufacturer Monday morning, marking his second appearance in Maine this year.
Vance will deliver remarks at Compotech during an 11 a.m. event.
His appearance comes amid an important election season in Maine. Five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins is facing former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democrat, in a high-stakes battle to represent the state in the U.S. Senate. Voters in November will also be selecting the next governor and casting ballots in two U.S. House of Representatives races.
The White House did not say what Vance would be speaking about when officials announced his visit last week. In May, the vice president delivered a speech on Medicaid fraud and also spoke in support of Collins and LePage during a rally at the Bangor International Airport. He declined at the time to endorse in the Republican primary for governor.
Live
Updated 10:58 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
](https://www.pressherald.com/author/rachel-ohm/)
House GOP leader praises Trump administration fraud investigations
Maine House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, is taking the stage and also praising Vance’s work to address welfare fraud.
“What a blessing it is to have an administration that cares about us and shows up in Maine,” he said.
Faulkingham said Mainers are fed up with abuse in the MaineCare program: “For too long, government oversight has looked like pay first, verify later,” he said.
Faulkingham called on the crowd to vote Republican in the fall.
“I hope some of you today are inspired,” he said.
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Updated 10:52 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
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Maine Senate GOP leader: Trump, Vance are helping working people
Assistant Maine Senate Minority Leader Matt Harrington is now addressing the crowd. Harrington said working people have been “treated for far too long like an afterthought.”
“President Trump and Vice President Vance are changing that,” he said.
Harrington praised Trump and Vance for their work on welfare fraud and other issues, including their support of law enforcement.
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Updated 10:47 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
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Brewer mayor welcomes crowd
Brewer Mayor Jenn Morin is welcoming the crowd at Compotech. She is talking up Vance, President Donald Trump and former Maine Gov. Paul LePage, the 2nd Congressional District candidate.
Both Vance and LePage had difficult childhoods, Morin said, going on to say they exemplify the American dream.
“Every child across Maine should have the chance to build a better life,” Morin said.
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Updated 10:41 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
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Attendees fill Compotech warehouse
Attendees have filled a large warehouse at Compotech ahead of the Vance event. Large banners reading “Defend Our Future” hang on the walls, hinting at a possible theme for Vance’s speech.
Jeff McLain, of Blue Hill, said he’s seen President Donald Trump in person twice but never Vance. He said he was excited to see what the vice president would have to say.
“I like his fiery attitude,” said McLain, 60. “He has a lot of gusto, and I like that.”
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Updated 10:14 am · August 24, 2026
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Billy Kobin Staff Writer
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Susan Collins will not attend JD Vance visit’s
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, signaled over the weekend she would not attend Vance’s visit in Brewer.
Collins, who faces Democrat Troy Jackson in November’s high-profile Senate race, had said while at the Madison-Anson Days Parade on Saturday that she would not join Vance, as she was already scheduled to go elsewhere Monday. She did not specify where, and spokespeople for both her office and campaign have not responded to requests for comment. Vance praised Collins during his May trip to Bangor.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles, who was at the Bangor event, said last week that he would not be at Monday’s event. That comes after Charles, who has been down big in polls to Democrat Hannah Pingree, told reporters he has never met President Donald Trump and that the race is “not about national politics.” Charles repeatedly praised Trump and his administration’s policies after launching his gubernatorial bid last year.
At least one high-profile Republican on the November ballot is at Monday’s event: Former Gov. Paul LePage, the Republican nominee in the 2nd District who faces State Auditor Matt Dunlap in November, was seen just before 10 a.m. Monday going through security with his wife and daughter.
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Updated 9:42 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
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Republican legislative leader joins dozens awaiting vice president’s remarks
Dozens of people had gathered in the rain outside Compotech on Monday morning, waiting for entrance to the Vance event.
People wait in line to enter JD Vance event in Brewer on Monday morning. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
Assistant Minority Leader Katrina Smith, R- Palermo, was among them. Smith said she wasn’t sure if there was a specific topic Vance would be addressing but said she was happy to see national leaders coming to support a local business.
“I think we’re just really glad that the national presence has come to Maine and is taking often a look seriously at some of the issues we’re facing and they’re not hiding from it,” Smith said. “They’re addressing it with the people. It’s really good support for the Republicans here in Maine.”
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Updated 9:29 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
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Small crowd of protesters gathers
About a dozen people had gathered to protest Vance near the entrance to Compotech by 9 a.m. Monday.
David Weeda, of Bucksport, said he saw the event as an “opportunity to take a public stand against the administration, which is driving our nation into despair and destruction.”
Weeda, 67, held a sign that read “Stop killing people!” as a light rain fell. He said it was a reference to deaths in Gaza and Ukraine.
“We are becoming the pariah of the world,” Weeda said.
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Updated 9:13 am · August 24, 2026
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Rachel Ohm Staff Writer
](https://www.pressherald.com/author/rachel-ohm/)
Which Republican officials will show up for Vance?
Bobby Charles, the Republican candidate for governor, is not planning to be in attendance. Spokespeople for Collins and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who is running in the hotly contested 2nd District, did not respond Friday to inquiries about whether they will attend.
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Tagged: election 2026, Gov. Paul LePage, JD Vance
Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in. More by Rachel Ohm
