Previous Offices Held
2018 Maine House District 30; 2020 Maine Senate District 29; 2022 Maine Senate District 29; 2024 Maine Senate District 29
Top Three Priorities
Mainers face many challenges with economic security. Two of my top priorities are making health insurance affordable for working Mainers and providing property tax relief so Mainers aren’t at risk of losing their homes. My third priority is protecting Mainers’ constitutional rights in the face of federal actions, including unlawful detention and use of force that impact so many in our community. As a state senator, I have worked to limit ICE activities and ensure Mainers receive due process.
Why are you running?
I ran for office in 2018 to push back on divisiveness in politics and to shift the focus back to meeting the needs of our community, state and nation. I’ve sponsored and passed laws that reduce pollution and protect our environment; expand health care to Maine children using mostly federal funds; strengthen protections for children and adults who experience sexual and domestic violence; and improve access to justice for Mainers. I am running to continue this work for my community and state.
What is one way Maine is on the right track? What is one way the state is on the wrong track?
Maine has made tremendous progress to increase economic security and build the framework we need to attract and retain the young people who are the future of our state's economy. This includes funding for our childcare system, greater access to healthcare, free community college and nutritious meals for all Maine school children so they can learn. We sometimes get on the “wrong track” when we mimic national politics. Working together is the best way to serve our communities and our state.
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
In my role as Senate chair of the Judiciary Committee, I have a responsibility to my constituents and Mainers across our state to protect constitutional rights. My work focuses on reproductive rights, civil rights, improving our legal system and ensuring that Mainers who are deprived of their rights have a legal pathway to a remedy. I make a measurable difference for my constituents and my colleagues by making sure the bills we pass are fair, implementable and beneficial to all Mainers.
Surveys show the economy is the top concern of voters. What is a specific proposal addressing Maine voters’ economic anxieties that you’d work to make law?
The last several years have seen a tremendous increase in Mainers’ property tax burden. I have worked on several proposals involving property tax fairness credits, which are beneficial because they specifically focus on financial need. I would support legislation to increase the credits, especially for older Mainers and families with high childcare expenses, to simplify the system of property tax credits and to streamline the qualification process.