Our Party Leadership

Hon. Joel Stetkis

CHAIR, MAINE GOP

Joel Stetkis has been defending freedom and fighting for Republican principles through his entire life.

From his service in the US Air Force to his nearly two decades in politics, serving first as a Republican Town Committee Chair to his four terms in the Maine State House, with the last as Assistant Republican Leader, Joel has deep and strong roots in Maine and with the party.

A builder by trade, Joel’s focus throughout his time in politics has been making Maine a better place to work, play and raise a family.

His faith, focus on defending the Constitution and helping Maine’s working families has been the bedrock of his work in politics.
In the Maine Legislature, Joel served on various Labor, Commerce and Economic Development Committees and led the charge in opposing, and often defeating, much of the worst of progressive legislation by sticking to principle.

Joel has previously served in many positions in the Republican Party, including as State Committeeman from his home county of Somerset. Joel is currently a Somerset County Commissioner.

Joel lives in Canaan with his wife Denise.

Samuel Bridges

Vice chair, maine gop

Will be updated soon.

Ben Lombard

treasurer, maine gop

Ben Lombard of Yarmouth was elected to his fifth full two-year term with unanimous support from the state committee in 2023.

Mr. Lombard is a practicing certified public accountant with a focus on income tax planning and preparation for individuals and closely-held businesses.  He received a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has served as volunteer Treasurer for a number of non-profit organizations

Barbara Harvey

secretary, maine gop

Barbara Campbell Harvey of Portland was re-elected as Secretary of the Maine Republican Party in 2023. In addition to her vast experience with Republican political organizations across Maine, Ms. Harvey also has served in a variety of positions for well-known organizations such as the Maine Education Loan Authority Board, LearningWorks, First Radio Parish Church of America, and Friends of the Blaine House. Ms. Harvey received her Master’s Degree in political science at Northeastern and lives in Portland, Maine.

To contact Barbara, send her an email at: [email protected]

Hon. Josh Tardy

rnc national committeman

Hon. Josh Tardy is Maine’s RNC National Committeeman. He can be reached at [email protected]

Hon. Ellie Espling

rnc national committewoman

Hon. Ellie Espling of New Gloucester serves as our Republican National Committeewoman. Previously, she served as the State Representative for House District 65, which includes Part of Poland in Androscoggin County, and all of New Gloucester in Cumberland County for four terms in the Maine House. Ellie worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those in her district and all across Maine have not gone unnoticed by her peers. She was elected to serve as the Assistant House Republican Leader in the 127th and 128th Maine Legislature.

Ellie is also a founding leader of SHE Leads, the Maine Republican Party’s women initiative whose mission is to identify, train and support Republican women to be political leaders at a local, state or national level.

She graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School and the University of Southern Maine, where she earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She lives in New Gloucester with her husband, Steve. They have four children and she is a member of the North Deering Alliance Church in Portland.

To contact Ellie, send him an email: [email protected]

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