AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Job creation has emerged as a dominant issue as the volume rises a notch in Maine’s crowded gubernatorial race.

In TV ads that began airing Wednesday, Les Otten talks up his experience creating jobs. Other candidates also seeking the Republican nomination, Matt Jacobson and Bruce Poliquin, also list job creation as top priorities.

Several Democrats are also running. One of them, Rosa Scarcelli, has outlined a plan to create 50,000 jobs in Maine. Jobs are also a theme in campaigns of Democratic hopeful John Richardson.

More than 20 Democratic, Republican, Green and nonparty candidates are in the race that will be decided next November. The parties’ candidates will be chosen in June.