MAINE, USA —
US Senate
The race for U.S. Senate in Maine is the most crowded of the election cycle, with three candidates attempting to push out Sen. Angus King. King, an independent who has long been a popular moderate voice in Maine politics, is facing opposition from all parties: Former Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas, Democrat David Costello, and independent Jason Cherry.
Angus King (I)
About The Candidate:
- 80 years old
- Born and raised in Virginia
- Served as Governor of Maine from 1995-2003
- Elected Maine’s first Independent U.S. Senator in 2012
- Member of Armed Services Committee
- Select Committee on Intelligence
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
- Lives in Brunswick with wife Mary, father of five adult children
The Issues:
- “Small Business and the Economy”
- “National Security”
- “Veterans Affairs”
- “Health Care”
- “Housing”
- “Women’s Health Care”
- “Supporting Older Maine People”
- “Energy”
- “Transportation and Infrastructure”
- “Fishing, Farming, and Forestry”
- “Climate”
- “Cybersecurity”
- “Public Health”
- “Confidence in Government”
- “Parks and Public Lands”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at angusformaine.com.
Demi Kouzounas (R)
About The Candidate:
- 68 years old
- Born and raised in Saco
- Daughter of immigrants from Greece
- Family owned small business (Venetia’s in Old Orchard)
- Served in the Army in Germany during the Cold War
- Owns two dental practices in Saco and Scarborough
- Lives in Saco with husband Joseph (mother/grandmother)
- Chair of Maine GOP from 2017-2022
- Lost race for Maine House of Representatives in 2012
The Issues:
- “Strengthen Maine’s Economy”
- “Push Bipartisan Solutions”
- “Provide Safety and Security”
- “Give Mainers a Voice”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at demiforsenate.com.
David Costello (D)
About The Candidate:
- 63 years old
- Raised in Old Town
- First in his family to attend college
- Worked on presidential, national campaigns and gubernatorial campaigns for decades
- Served as top aide to Maine Sec. of State Bill Diamond in 1990s
- Seved as top aide to Mayor of Baltimore the Maryland Governor from 2007-2011
- Served as Deputy and Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment from 2011-2015
- Lives in Brunswick with his wife and four children
The Issues:
- “Economy”
- “Health Care”
- “Climate Change”
- “Environment”
- “Civil Rights and Equality”
- “Retirement Security”
- “National Security”
- “Public Safety”
- “Immigration”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at costelloforsenate.com.
Jason Cherry (I)
About The Candidate:
- 53 years old
- Former FBI Special Agent
- Attorney specializing in cybersecurity
- Never run for political office
The Issues:
- “Term Limits”
- “Protections for the Bill of Rights”
- “Age Limits”
- “Ranked Choice Voting”
- “Mandatory Qualifications”
- “Mandatory Communications”
- “Reassignment of Clemency Powers”
- “Judiciary Reform”
- “Justice Branch”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at cherryforsenate.com.
2nd Congressional District
The race for Congress in Maine's Second District is among the most contentious in the country this election cycle, and it's considered a "tossup," according to the Cook Political Report. As of June, more than $5 million had been pumped into the race from both sides.
Golden, a three-term incumbent, is facing fierce opposition from Republicans.
Among the top issues: economy, social security, and guns.
The district includes the city of Lewiston, where 18 people were killed and 13 others were injured in the deadliest shooting in our state's history.
Jared Golden (D)
About The Candidate:
- 42 years old
- Grew up in Leeds
- Marine, who served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq
- Lives in Lewiston with wife, Isobel, and two daughters Rosemary and Shirley
- Served in Maine House of Representatives from 2014-2018
- Elected to Congress (defeating incumbent Bruce Poliquin after ranked-choice runoff) in 2018, re-elected in 2020, re-elected in 2022
The Issues:
- “Reforming Campaign Finance”
- “Expanding Healthcare Coverage”
- “Supporting Maine Seniors”
- “Standing Up for Workers and Good Jobs”
- “Serving Our Veterans and Protecting Our National Security”
- “Protecting Our Environment”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at jaredgoldenforcongress.com.
Austin Theriault (R)
About The Candidate:
- 30 years old
- Born and raised in Fort Kent
- Former NASCAR Driver/small business owner
- Elected to Maine House of Representatives in 2023
- Served on Transportation Committee
The Issues:
- “Secure the border”
- Gun rights and “Second Amendment”
- “Stop Biden’s electric vehicle mandate”
- “Bring back American manufacturing”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at austinformaine.com.
1st Congressional District
The race for Congress in Maine's First District is a long shot for the two candidates hoping to unseat Democratic incumbent Chellie Pingree. Pingree has served eight terms as congresswoman, representing a heavily blue portion of the state, including Portland, Maine's largest city. Republican political newcomer Ron Russell is hoping to appeal to conservative voters in more rural communities.
Chellie Pingree (D)
About The Candidate:
- 69 years old
- Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Moved to Maine for college, and has lived on the island of North Haven since
- Former farmer and small business owner
- Started North Island Designs selling yarn and knitting kits nationwide, now co-owns inn on North Haven Island
- Served in Maine State Senate from 1992-2000, named Majority Leader in 1996
- Challenged Sen. Susan Collins in 2002 and lost
- Elected to Congress for Maine’s 1st Congressional District in 2008—the first woman elected to Congress from CD1
- Serves on House Appropriations Committee
- Serves on House Agriculture Committee
- Mother of three grown children
- Daughter Hannah Pingree is a former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and now serves as director of Gov. Janet Mills’ Office of Policy Innovation and Future
The Issues:
- “Health Care & Prescription Drugs”
- “Choice & Women’s Health”
- “Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid”
- “Education”
- “Opioids”
- “Jobs & The Economy”
- “Environment & Clean Energy”
- “Gun Safety”
- “Veterans”
- “Food & Farming”
You can learn more about the candidate on her campaign website at chelliepingree.com.
Ron Russell (R)
About The Candidate:
- 69 years old
- Retired Army Green Beret and defense contractor
- Served in the U.S. Army for 30 years after West Point Graduate
- Born and raised in Fort Fairfield on a potato farm, but left for much of his adult life
- Moved back to Maine in June 2021 and now lives in Kennebunkport
- No formal political experience, but wants to “get our country back on track”
The Issues:
- “Divisive Political Discourse”
- “Immigration”
- “Taxes”
- “Energy and the Economy”
- “Gun Control”
- “Election Integrity”
- “Education”
- “Reducing crime and Supporting First Responders”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at ronrussellforcongress.com.
Ethan Alcorn (I)
About The Candidate:
- 59 years old
- Born and raised in Portland, but now lives in Saco
- Massage therapist
- Formerly worked with a nonprofit helping the Hispanic community, and as a landscaper
- Became politically engaged during the 2016 election
- Contributor on WLOB and WGAN
- Has unsuccessfully run for several elected offices in Maine
- Lost race for governor in 2018
- Was on the list as a presidential candidate in 2020
- Lost Saco School Board race in 2021
- Didn’t get enough signatures to run for governor in 2022
The Issues:
- “Lower taxes”
- “Outlaw vaccines that are not PROVEN to be effective”
- “Close the border”
- “Term Limits”
- “A new digital Bill of Rights”
- “End corruption in our federal agencies”
- “Audit the military”
- “Audit the FED”
- “Decriminalize marijuana and some natural hallucinogens, nationally”
- “Disband homeland security, HSA”
- “Re-instate the Smith-Mundt Act:
- “Make cash money permanent.”
- “Nationalize some energy operations, such as oil.”
- “Craft Law to encourage State Banks”
You can learn more about the candidate on his campaign website at ethanforushouse.org.
