Matthew Gagnon

Last updated
Matthew Gagnon
Matthew Gagnon.jpg
Born (1980-12-10) December 10, 1980 (age 42)
Walnut Creek, California, United States
Alma mater University of Maine, BA, Political Science
Occupation(s)Think tank executive, political strategist, writer, radio host
Employer Maine Policy Institute
Political party Republican
SpouseErin Gagnon
Children4

Matthew Owen Gagnon (born December 10, 1980) is an American think tank executive, political strategist and writer from Maine. He is the chief executive officer of the Maine Policy Institute, a free market think tank based in Portland, Maine. [1] He previously was the director of digital strategy for the Republican Governors Association. [2] Gagnon is a columnist for the Bangor Daily News , writing about Maine and national politics for the paper since August 2011, [3] and is also currently the host of the morning show on Portland's largest talk-radio station, WGAN. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Gagnon grew up in Hampden, Maine, a suburb of Bangor in Penobscot County, Maine.

After graduating from Hampden Academy, he went on to pursue a degree in political science at the University of Maine. [5] While there, he became active in campus politics, joining the student government and becoming Chairman of the University of Maine College Republicans. He later served as the President of the University of Maine General Student Senate, [6] as well as the President of Student Government. [7] In 2003, the school recognized him with the Student Affairs Citation for Meritorious Service to the university. [8] In his final year, he would make an unsuccessful run to represent Old Town in the Maine House of Representatives. [9] [10]

Career

In 2006, Gagnon moved to the Washington, D.C. area to pursue a career in politics. After a two-year stint as an Intelligence Analyst for an Annapolis based private security firm, he moved on to the public affairs practice of a social media marketing agency, New Media Strategies. [11] Here, he worked with a number of political campaigns, corporations and interest groups, helping them leverage technology for use in politics. [12]

Republican strategist

In early 2010, he was named deputy director of Digital Strategy for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. [5] Here, he helped coordinate and direct the digital campaign strategy for 37 United States Senate races across the country. [13] At the conclusion of the election, Gagnon became the Director of New Media Communications for United States Senator Susan Collins. [14]

The Republican Governors Association named Gagnon its Director of Digital Strategy in January 2012. At the RGA, he was responsible for the committee's strategic digital initiatives in support of sitting Republican governors, as well as those campaigning for office. During the 2012 Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election, Gagnon was recognized for his use of digital strategies on Walker's behalf, and for what he called the practice of using "smart data", or political data being leveraged in detailed, specific ways to persuade and turn out voters. [15] [16] During his tenure at the RGA, Gagnon was recognized by Business Insider as one of the top 50 digital strategists in the country, [15] and by Campaigns and Elections as one of the top ten communicators in politics. [17]

Maine Policy Institute

In August 2014, Gagnon was named the new Chief Executive Officer of the Maine Heritage Policy Center, which later changed its name to the Maine Policy Institute. [1] Founded in 2002, the Maine Policy Institute is a free-market think tank that advocates for fiscally conservative policies in Maine. It is a member of the State Policy Network.

Personal

Gagnon is married to Erin Gagnon, a teacher, with whom he has four children. [18] [19] In 2013, he was involved in a serious car accident, which broke his back, requiring him to have spinal fusion surgery to repair the damage. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Maine</span> Public research university in Orono, Maine, US

The University of Maine is a public land-grant research university in Orono, Maine. It was established in 1865 as the land-grant college of Maine and is the flagship university of the University of Maine System. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus King</span> American politician and lawyer (born 1944)

Angus Stanley King Jr. is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Maine since 2013. A political independent since 1993, he previously served as the 72nd governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husson University</span> Private university in Bangor, Maine, US

Husson University is a private university in Bangor, Maine. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and as of Fall 2020 had a total enrollment of 3,476 students, including 799 graduate students in master's and doctoral programs.

<i>Bangor Daily News</i> Newspaper serving Bangor, Maine, United States

The Bangor Daily News is an American newspaper covering a large portion of central and eastern Maine, published six days per week in Bangor, Maine.

WGAN is an commercial radio station licensed to Portland, Maine. The station is owned by Saga Communications and it airs a news/talk radio format. The station calls itself "WGAN Newsradio 98.5 FM and AM 560." The studios and offices are on Western Avenue in South Portland, Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Maine gubernatorial election</span>

The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010. The candidates who appeared on the November ballot were : Eliot Cutler (Independent), Paul LePage (Republican), Libby Mitchell (Democrat), Shawn Moody (Independent), and Kevin Scott (Independent).

John L. Martin is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Martin has been in Maine politics since his first election to the Maine House of Representatives in 1964, and is sometimes called "The Earl of Eagle Lake" as a result. With his election in 2014, he is the longest serving legislator in Maine history.

Walter H. Abbott is a former American football player and coach, college athletics administrator, and university professor. He served as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1967 through 1975, compiling a record of a 27–53. His Maine Black Bears football team won a share of Yankee Conference championship in 1974. Abbott served two stints as interim athletic director at Maine, from 1991 to 1992 and again from 1994 to 1995, and was the coordinator of the football program in 1986 between the departure of Ron Rogerson and hiring of Buddy Teevens. He also was a member of the university's faculty until his retirement in 2010. Abbott is well known for creating and instructing the popular Outdoor Leadership course in which he introduced thousands of students to the beauty, ruggedness and adventure to be found in the state of Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul LePage</span> American businessman and politician

Paul Richard LePage is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of Maine from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, LePage served two terms as a city councilor in Waterville, Maine, before being elected Mayor of Waterville in 2004, serving until 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States Senate election in Maine</span>

The 2012 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Despite initially declaring her candidacy and being considered the favorite, popular incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe unexpectedly decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fourth term.

Emily Ann Cain is an American politician from Maine and Executive Director of EMILY's List. A member of the Democratic Party, Cain served in the Maine Senate from 2012 to 2014, representing the 30th district which includes part of Penobscot County. She was previously a member of the Maine House of Representatives from 2004 to 2012, where she served as Minority Leader from 2008 to 2010 and as House Chair of the Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee from 2010 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine Policy Institute</span> Conservative free-market think tank

The Maine Policy Institute (MPI), formerly the Maine Heritage Policy Center, is a conservative free-market think tank located in Portland, Maine. According to its mission statement, MPI is a "nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that conducts detailed and timely research to educate the public, the media, and lawmakers about public policy solutions that advance economic freedom and individual liberty in Maine." The organization has an associated media outlet, The Maine Wire.

David Slagger is a Native American politician in Maine. Slagger served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing the newly recognized Maliseet Tribe. Slagger was sworn-in as the appointed representative to the House of Representatives on January 4, 2012. He held the seat temporarily until a tribal election could be conducted to elect a Maliseet Tribal Representative, which the Maliseet Tribe then did on December 22, 2012 when tribal members elected Henry John Bear as their first elected Tribal Representative to the Maine House of Representatives. Slagger did not seek another term as Maliseet representative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Cox</span>

Phil Cox is an American long-time political operative, having served as the campaign manager or senior strategist to more than one hundred campaigns and super-pacs for Congress, Governor, U.S. Senate, and President. He is co-founder of 50 State, a bipartisan, state-focused government affairs firm, co-founder of GuidePostStrategies, a federal government affairs firm, Chairman of IMGE, a digital marketing firm, and partner at P2, a public affairs firm. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and lives in McLean, Virginia, with his wife and two children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Maine gubernatorial election</span>

The 2014 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Republican governor Paul LePage ran for re-election to a second term in office, against Democrat Mike Michaud, the U.S. representative from the second district, and independent Eliot Cutler, an attorney and second-place finisher from the 2010 gubernatorial election. The primary elections were held on June 10, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of Maine, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the elections of other federal and state offices, including Governor of Maine and United States Senate. The primary elections were held on June 10, 2014.

Stephen L. Bowen is an American politician and educator from Maine. A Republican, Bowen served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006, representing Camden and his residence in Rockport. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Bowen taught social studies for 10 years. After leaving elected office, Bowen directed the Center for Education Excellence at the Maine Heritage Policy Center. During the 2010 gubernatorial election, Bowen served as then candidate Paul LePage's policy adviser on education, government reform, budget and marine resources policy. LePage won the 2010 election and, in February 2011, newly elected Governor Paul LePage appointed Bowen Commissioner of Education. In August 2013, Bowen resigned as Education Commissioner effective September 12. He did so in order to take a position with the national Council of Chief State School Officers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Brakey</span> American politician

Eric Brakey is an American politician in the U.S. state of Maine.

Tarren Bragdon is an American former state legislator and think tank founder. At age 21, Bragdon won a seat in the Maine House of Representatives and became the youngest state legislator ever elected in Maine. A Republican, Bragdon served in the Maine House from 1996 through 2000. After two terms in office, Bragdon declined to seek re-election, instead taking a job running the Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC). Bragdon headed MHPC, a conservative think tank, from 2008 through 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliot Cutler</span> American politician and lawyer

Eliot Cutler is a former American lawyer who was an Independent candidate in Maine's 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial races. In 2010, he placed second in a multi-way race, receiving 208,270 votes, equaling 35.9%, narrowly losing to Republican Paul LePage. In 2014 he garnered only 8.4%, placing third behind both the Democratic candidate as well as LePage, who was re-elected with 48.2% of the vote. Both times, he was claimed to be a spoiler for the Democratic candidate. In March 2022, Cutler was arrested and charged with four counts of possessing child pornography.

References

  1. 1 2 Moretto, Mario (August 20, 2014). "Maine native Matt Gagnon returns from DC to lead Maine Heritage Policy Center". Bangor Daily News . Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Matthew Gagnon To Lead Conservative Advocacy Group". Maine's News, Sports, And Weather Leader - WABI TV5. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "All parties foolish in hyperbolic voting debate". 4 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Head of conservative Maine think tank will co-host WGAN morning show". 2016-06-17.
  5. 1 2 "The University of Maine - Political Science - After UMaine". Umaine.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Gagnon remains VP, barely". The Maine Campus. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Student government president resigns". The Maine Campus. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Matthew Gagnon : Chief Executive Officer at Maine Heritage Policy Center". Linkedin.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "General Election, November 2, 2004 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Maine.gov. Archived from the original on 20 March 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "UM alum aspires to fill Old Town seat". The Maine Campus. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  11. ↑ David Carkhuff. "Gagnon tapped as new CEO of Maine Heritage Policy Center". Portland Daily Sun. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Grondin, Matt (November 4, 2013). "FTS Q&A: Matthew Gagnon (Part 1)". Fill the Steins. Bangor Daily News . Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Matthew Gagnon". Personaldemocracy.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) - Staff salaries from LegiStorm". Legistorm.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  15. 1 2 "DIGITAL 50: The Hottest People In Online Politics - Business Insider". Business Insider. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "How the Republican Governors Association Framed the Recall | the Progressive". Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  17. ↑ "The Influencers 50: Communicators". Campaignsandelections.com. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Bangorpedia.com". Bangorpedia.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "A letter to my daughter as we await you". Bangor Daily News. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "BDN columnist Matt Gagnon hurt in car crash". The Bangor Daily News. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.