A business leader who served his community as mayor, Paul LePage decided to run for governor believing the approach that had succeeded throughout his business career and in Waterville could work for all of Maine.

He entered a seven-way primary contest for the Republican nomination for governor with very little name recognition among the party faithful. Event by event, LePage won over converts with his message of personal success and his fiscally conservative principles. LePage went on to victory, earning 38 percent of the vote in the primary.

During the five-way general election, LePage continued to talk about his experience in creating jobs and his commitment to putting people before politics in Maine. LePage rode that message to victory on Nov. 2, 2010.

He was sworn in as Maine's governor on Jan. 5, 2011.