Amber

From protest-packed events to insurgent candidates, Maine’s 2026 races are already shaking up the political scene.

From protest-packed events to insurgent candidates, Maine’s 2026 races are already shaking up the political scene.

From protest-packed events to insurgent candidates, Maine’s 2026 races are already shaking up the political scene.

Maine won’t join national redistricting battles — the state just adopted new maps in 2022 and won’t redraw them for another six years.

Gov. Janet Mills is now a 50-50 bet to challenge Sen. Susan Collins in 2026, despite previously saying she didn’t plan to run again.

Republicans are closing in on final passage of President Donald Trump’s sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” with most GOP holdouts falling in line and a July 4 victory nearly guaranteed. But in Democratic-leaning states like Maine, the bill could come with major political and policy consequences.

Maine Senate voted to defeat a Republican-backed bill that would have barred transgender girls from competing in girls’ school sports, but the issue is far from over.