Jonathan Bush’s Business Past Becomes Central Campaign Issue in Maine Gubernatorial Race

Jonathan Bush, a Republican candidate for governor in Maine, is facing heightened scrutiny regarding his past leadership of a California-based network of birthing clinics. As the state approaches its June 9 primary election, reports have resurfaced detailing Bush’s 1990s-era involvement with the clinics, which served a high volume of low-income patients and migrant laborers in San Diego County.

What were the Athena birthing clinics?

In the late 1990s, Jonathan Bush and his business partner, Todd Park, operated a network of birthing clinics in San Diego County. According to Bush’s 2014 book, Where Does it Hurt?, the venture included 12 clinics at its peak. Bush wrote that the clinics employed six doctors and 35 midwives, noting that the midwives were “all Latinas” and that the clinics handled approximately 2,000 births annually. Bush described the business as struggling, stating that many of their clients were on Medicaid or lacked insurance entirely, forcing them to pay in cash.

How does this impact the current campaign?

Bush, who co-founded the healthcare technology company athenahealth, has built his gubernatorial campaign around his background as a business entrepreneur. However, his Republican primary opponent, Bobby Charles, has criticized the past business venture, suggesting that the clinic’s focus on migrant workers conflicts with the “pro-America” platform Bush is currently promoting. Charles stated that he believes Bush’s past involvement in facilitating services for migrant women is at odds with the current campaign rhetoric.

In response to inquiries from Fox News Digital, the Bush campaign clarified that athenahealth—the cloud-based software company—never provided medical services, as it functioned strictly as a technology and billing management firm. Bush’s statement emphasized that his earlier work with the San Diego birthing clinics was a separate, failed venture in which he was involved for less than two years. He further stated his support for the deportation of illegal immigrants, aligning himself with the broader goals of the MAGA wing of the Republican Party.

What is the broader context of the race?

The Maine gubernatorial primary is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9. Throughout his campaign, Bush has advocated for policies aimed at boosting Maine’s economy, including tax cuts, audits of local government, and the expansion of natural gas reserves. While he has sought the endorsement of Donald Trump, he has acknowledged that Maine is a “purple state” and continues to emphasize his business experience as his primary qualification for office.

The National Immigration Law Center notes that undocumented immigrants are typically ineligible for standard insurance programs, often leading them to seek medical care in settings that offer payment flexibility. Bush’s account in his book reflects this reality, stating that the business eventually “floundered” as the volume of indigent clients grew, making the model financially unsustainable.