Garrett Paul Mason (born June 19, 1985) is an American Republican politician and businessman from Maine. He has served as an Androscoggin County Commissioner since 2021, after previously representing Districts 17 and 22 in the Maine Senate from 2010 to 2018, where he was elected Majority Leader. Mason was a candidate in the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary where he finished second, and in the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary, where he finished fourth.
Early life and career Mason was born on June 19, 1985, in Lewiston, Maine, and graduated from Calvary Christian Academy in Turner in 2003. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in marketing from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida, in 2006.
Before entering politics, Mason worked in sports management. He was employed by the Portland Sea Dogs, a Double-A baseball team, and later served as director of administration for the Lewiston Maineiacs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
In 2018, Pensacola Christian College awarded him an honorary doctorate in Humanities.
Political career Mason began his political career in 2010, when at the age of 25 he was elected to the Maine Senate after defeating 18-year incumbent John Nutting. He went on to represent District 17 until 2014 and District 22 from 2014 to 2018. Mason was re-elected in 2012 by 28 votes over Democrat Colleen Quint of Minot.
During his first term, Mason sponsored legislation to allow charter schools in Maine, which was signed into law by Governor Paul LePage in June 2011.
After Republicans took control of the Maine Senate in 2014, Mason was elected by his colleagues as Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until he was term-limited in 2018. That year, he ran for Governor of Maine, finishing second to Shawn Moody in the Republican primary.
In January 2021, Mason was appointed to the Androscoggin County Commission to fill the vacancy left by Isaiah Lary. He was elected to a full four-year term in 2024, with that term set to expire on December 31, 2028.
Mason announced a second campaign for governor on January 7, 2026, receiving the backing of allies of Vice President JD Vance. Mason ultimately finished fourth in the primary, some distance behind Robert B. Charles, Ben Midgley, and Jonathan S. Bush. He posted on X that the 2026 race would be "the final statewide campaign" of his career.
Electoral history
Maine Senate District 17 Republican primary, 2010 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason 1,975 58.0% Russell W. Pack 1,432 42.0%
Maine Senate District 17 general election, 2010 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason 9,047 55.7% John Nutting (incumbent) 7,357 44.3% Blank votes — 1,275 —
Maine Senate District 17 general election, 2012 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason (incumbent) 9,818 50.1% Colleen Quint 9,790 49.9% Blank votes — 1,100 —
Maine Senate District 22 general election, 2014 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason (incumbent) 9,633 57.0% Guy Desjardins 7,264 43.0% Blank votes — 847 —
Maine Senate District 22 general election, 2016 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason (incumbent) 13,774 67.0% Richard N. Fochtmann 6,777 33.0% Blank votes — 987 —
Maine Republican gubernatorial primary, 2018 Candidate Party Votes % Shawn Moody 53,436 56.0% Garrett Mason 21,571 22.6% Mary Mayhew 14,034 14.7% Kenneth Fredette 5,341 5.6%
Androscoggin County Commissioner District 4 general election, 2022 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason 4,375 61.3% Gregory F. Bianconi 2,763 38.7% Blank votes — 248 —
Androscoggin County Commissioner District 4 general election, 2024 Candidate Party Votes % Garrett Mason (incumbent) 7,126 76.9% Blank votes — 2,144 23.1%
Professional career Outside of politics, Mason has been active in business and media. He founded Dirigo Public Affairs, a public relations and crisis management firm, and has worked with clients across New England.
He has also been involved in real estate development and other entrepreneurial ventures.
In addition, Mason appears as a conservative political commentator on News Center Maine, Maine’s NBC affiliate, where he provides analysis on state and national politics.
Family Mason's mother Gina Mason and their cousin Dale J. Crafts also served in the Maine Legislature. After his mother died in September 2017, his father Rick Mason won a special election to fill her vacant seat.'Late Maine lawmaker's husband will succeed her in Lisbon seat,' Bangor Daily News (Maine), Michael Shepherd, November 7, 2017
References