Political career
Maine Legislature
Pingree served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010,representing the 36th district. During her legislative tenure,she served as Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services and as a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. [11] [12] Her legislative work focused on energy efficiency,housing,health care,and bipartisan budget initiatives. [1]
In her third term,Pingree was elected House Majority Leader (2006-2008) at age 30,becoming the third woman in Maine history to serve in the role. [2] [1] She was subsequently elected Speaker of the House from 2008 to 2010,serving at age 32 as the second woman in Maine history to hold the position. [1] [6] In her final term (2008),she ran unopposed for reelection. [3]
Pingree co-sponsored legislation that became the Kid-Safe Product Act,which addressed toxic chemicals in household products. [1]
In 2009,while serving as Speaker,Pingree testified before a Congressional committee alongside her mother,advocating for national campaign finance reform based on Maine's Clean Elections system. [13]
In 2010,Time magazine included Pingree in its list of 40 leaders under 40,describing her as a "rising star of American politics." [3] [14]
Post-legislative career
After leaving the legislature,Pingree managed the family inn and restaurant,Nebo Lodge,and served on the North Haven Community School Board. [2] She also served on the board of trustees of the Island Institute. [3] She led fundraising campaigns to build an island community center,a new public school,and an elder-care facility on North Haven. [1] She also managed North Haven Sustainable Housing,an organization that builds housing for year-round residents and island seniors,and hosted a weekly public affairs show on Maine Public Broadcasting Network. [15]
In 2012,when U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe announced her retirement,Pingree briefly considered running for her mother's congressional seat if Chellie Pingree had decided to run for the Senate. She collected signatures for a potential congressional campaign but ended her consideration when her mother decided against the Senate race. [3] [16]
Pingree worked as a part-time consultant for Safer Chemicals,Safer Families,a national coalition advocating for better regulation of chemicals. On July 24,2012,she testified before the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about chemical regulations,particularly flame retardants. [3]
In 2017,Pingree became a prominent advocate for Maine's ranked choice voting law,writing op-eds opposing legislative efforts to repeal the citizen-initiated measure and calling for its preservation. [17]
Governor Mills administration
In January 2019,Maine Governor Janet Mills appointed Pingree to lead the newly created Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. [18] In this role,she oversaw cross-agency efforts on climate change,housing,economic development,and other long-term policy challenges. She also co-chaired the Maine Climate Council. [11]
As co-chair of the Maine Climate Council,Pingree oversaw development of Maine's climate action plan,"Maine Won't Wait." According to the Mills administration,the plan led to the installation of more than 100,000 heat pumps by 2023,reaching the state's 2025 target ahead of schedule. [19] [20] The heat pump initiative faced significant opposition from fossil fuel industry groups,who argued the technology was not ideal for Maine's climate and funded campaigns questioning the effectiveness of heat pumps in cold weather conditions. [20] The National Oilheat Research Alliance,representing heating oil sellers,funded promotional campaigns that directed viewers to websites containing what experts characterized as exaggerated or misleading claims about electric-powered heat pumps. [20]
Under her leadership,GOPIF established the Community Resilience Partnership in 2021,which according to state data included 263 participating communities and provided $18.8 million in grants for climate and energy projects. [19] Following severe storms in late 2023 and early 2024,GOPIF coordinated a $60 million relief package for Maine communities. [19]
Industry observers have noted potential challenges for Maine's clean energy workforce development programs,including federal funding uncertainty and the possibility of tariffs affecting equipment costs. [21]
GOPIF also worked on LD 1 legislation for emergency planning and severe weather preparation,which was enacted in April 2025. [19] Pingree resigned from the position on May 16,2025. [22]
2026 gubernatorial campaign
On June 10,2025,Pingree announced her candidacy for the 2026 Democratic primary for Governor of Maine. [5] [23]
Her campaign announcement included events in Rockland,Lewiston,Biddeford,and Portland,where she outlined a platform focusing on economic opportunity,climate resilience,affordable housing,and health care. [24]
A Pan Atlantic Research poll released in May 2025,before her official announcement,showed Pingree with 20% support among likely Democratic primary voters. [5] She entered a Democratic primary field that includes Secretary of State Shenna Bellows,former Senate President Troy Jackson,and Angus King III,son of U.S. Senator Angus King. The Democratic nominee will face historical electoral trends,as Maine has not consecutively elected governors from the same party since the 1950s. [25]
