The race to be the next governor of Maine now includes the children of two members of the state’s congressional delegation.
Former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, the daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree, launched a bid for governor Tuesday, joining businessman Angus King III, the namesake son of the state’s junior senator, in a crowded Democratic primary.
The younger King, whose father is an independent who caucuses with Democrats, launched his gubernatorial campaign last month to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
“We’re being tested like never before: On top of a climate crisis, a housing crisis, and skyrocketing costs, a president abusing his power to attack Mainers,” Pingree says in her launch video. “As speaker of the Maine House, I took on the tough fights to do what’s right for Maine.”
In addition to King, Pingree will face off against at least two other opponents in the Democratic primary: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former state Senate President Troy Jackson, who has the endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Several Republicans have already launched bids to succeed Mills, including Bobby Charles, a veteran of the Reagan and both Bush administrations, and state Sen. Jim Libby.
Pingree’s announcement comes three weeks after Maine Rep. Jared Golden said he would not seek statewide office in 2026 and would instead run for reelection to his competitive 2nd District seat.
Pingree previously served four terms in the Maine House, including one term as speaker. She later joined the Mills administration, leading the state’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, a role she left last month.
A Pan Atlantic Research poll of Mainers conducted between May 12-26 found King leading among likely Democratic primary voters, with 33 percent saying they “would likely support” him. Another 33 percent said they would likely support Bellows, 20 percent picked Pingree and 13 percent said the same of Jackson.
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