Sen. Joe Rafferty (D-Kennebunk), in a Nov. 12 press release, announced he will not seek reelection in 2026.

Rafferty has served District 34 for the past five years. He spent his career as an educator, “dedicated to improving the lives of students and educators alike,” according to the press release. He was a longtime teacher and head football coach at Kennebunk High School, now retired, and served a stint as president of the teachers’ union.

Senate District 34 includes Berwick, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, North Berwick and Wells.

In the press release sent out by the Maine Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, Rafferty said serving in the Maine Senate for the past five years “has been one of his greatest honors.”

“After years of coaching, you learn when it’s time to step back and let a new leader take the field,” Rafferty said. “For me, that time has come as I look forward to spending more time with my family, especially my grandchildren.”

Rafferty’s passion and his work as football coach for 44 seasons, after stepping down in 2023, established him as a household name in the community.

According to the press release, Rafferty endorsed Rep. Dan Sayre, D-Kennebunk, who announced his candidacy the seat.

“Dan is a man of integrity, compassion, and experience who understands the real needs of our communities and will work tirelessly to deliver for York County,” Rafferty said. “I didn’t want to just walk away. I take a lot of pride in my work, and when I was thinking about (not seeking re-election), that was a difficult decision. You think about when you’re done, who you would want to see take your place. Dan and I have a very similar mindset … when I think about who I would want to be in that role, I see Dan.”

Sayre is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives in District 135. He is the chair of the Taxation Committee and said he shares a growing concern within his community on affordability, housing and food insecurity.

“There’s a very large proportion of families in Maine that are struggling to make ends meet, and we have a role of play in the government to make life less difficult for people,” Sayre said. “One side of that equation is how we structure our tax system.”

Now that he has announced his candidacy, what Sayre said he wants “more than anything is to hear from his community.” He said he wants people to understand that he has always strived to hear as many sides of an issue as possible, and that the most important preparation for him is to hear from his community about what matters to them.

Sayre was also a member of the state’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, dedicated to reporting on the emergence of AI technology and how it will impact Maine residents.

“I’m running for the Maine Senate to be a champion for York County families,” said Sayre,  “someone who focuses on results over politics and fights to ensure every Mainer can live, work, raise a family, and age with grace in our state.”