This article was originally published by Phil Hirschkorn in News Center Maine.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree handed in her complete petition to the Maine Secretary of State’s office on Wednesday in order to qualify for the June 9 primary ballot.
Pingree’s campaign submitted 2,500 signatures, the maximum allowed, gathered in 140 communities in all 16 counties. The minimum required is 2,000 signatures.
Pingree became the second Democratic gubernatorial candidate to submit a ballot petition, following Nirav Shah, who did so last month.
In remarks to reporters, Pingree said her 25 years in public service set her apart from the Democratic field as someone “who can actually deliver for Maine people.”
“We need to lower health care costs. We need to ensure people have access to primary care. We need to build housing, so young people can afford to stay here,” Pingree said.
Pingree, 49, a mother of two teenagers, lives on the island of North Haven and served on her local school board for eight years. Before that, Pingree served eight years in the Maine House of Representatives, becoming the nation’s youngest Speaker at 24 in 2008. She is the daughter of Chellie Pingree, a nine-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“People are excited about our campaign, because they want two things – they want somebody who has the guts to stand up to Donald Trump,” Pingree said, “And they also want a positive vision for Maine’s future, somebody who can actually deliver for Maine people, and I’m ready to do that.”
For six years until last year, Pingree was a top aide to Gov. Janet Mills, serving as Director, Maine Office of Policy, Innovation, and the Future, crafting the state’s climate change plan and other policies.
Pingree said, “If I’ve learned on thing from Governor Mills, it is you’ve got to have a backbone, and you got to stand up.”
Asked on Wednesday how she differs from Mills, Pingree reiterated her commitment to pass a bill for tribal sovereignty for the Wabanaki Nations in Maine in her first 100 days in office. She had previously articulated that promise in a candidate profile interview with NEWS CENTER MAINE and her candidate announcement speech.
Pingree raised more money in 2025 than her Democratic rivals and has been holding events around the state.
Pingree said, “I still have confidence that we are running the best campaign and we can win.”
Facing federal cuts to Medicare and Medicaid (MaineCare) and the loss of enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, Pingree touted her health care plan, which proposes creating a public option to help individuals and small business obtain lower cost insurance plans and to see primary and maternity care doctors and nurses get paid more “so more young people who are just becoming health care providers want to practice in the state of Maine.”
