Health-care entrepreneur Jonathan Bush, the cousin of former President George W. Bush, appears poised to jump into the 2026 governor’s race next week.

Bush, a Republican who has been exploring a run for Maine governor since July, is touting a “major announcement” in Belfast on Wednesday.

A news release said Bush, 56, will be joined by “several hundred supporters, friends and colleagues.”

“I’ve had conversations with people all over the state, and I’m hearing the same thing almost everywhere,” Bush said in a written statement. “Mainers want a leader who will shake up the status quo in Augusta. They want a proven job creator who will make sure our kids don’t have to leave the state to achieve the American Dream. I can’t wait to gather with friends next week and talk about the next step in this exciting journey.”

Bush’s entrance into the race is bound to shake up what has been a stable field of Republicans seeking the nomination — none of whom have wide name recognition or emerged as a clear-frontrunner.

The Republican field includes lawyer Bobby Charles, real estate broker David Jones, state Sen. James Libby, health care entrepreneur Owen McCarthy and former fitness executive Ben Midgley. State Rep. Laurel Libby of Auburn also has said she’s considering a run.

Bush, who grew up in New York and summered in Maine before buying a home in Cape Elizabeth in 2021, would bring considerable name recognition and political resources to the race. Whether his candidacy would be embraced by Trump supporters remains to be seen.

The announcement will take place at athenahealth, a health-care technology company he founded in 1997 and whose operations center he moved to Belfast in 2008.

Bush resigned as CEO of that company in 2018, after allegations emerged that he assaulted his former wife. The incident was reported by the U.K.’s Daily Mail, citing Massachusetts court documents.

He apologized for his actions and his wife issued a statement at the time saying the incident “should not define Jonathan as a person, or our relationship overall.”

Bush has seven children with his ex-wife and and current wife, including an 8-year-old and 6-year-old.