Maine Democratic Governor nominee?
$490.9K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleState Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationMaine
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationWesleyan University
Notable personal detailsRachel Talbot Ross is a Democratic politician from Portland, Maine, serving in the Maine Senate for District 28. She previously served in the Maine House of Representatives and was Speaker of the Maine House (elected December 2022, served through December 2024). Before state office, she worked for the City of Portland as Director of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs and has been active in civil rights and community organizations.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax increases and public investments to fund health and social programs (for example proposing a $2-per-pack increase in the cigarette excise tax) and has backed budgets that prioritize relief and targeted spending for families and service providers. Has also sponsored measures to expand state-funded prescription drug discounts and to restructure settlement funds for public-health uses.
Healthcare
Supports creating universal health care at the state level and expanding access to coverage and health services, including closing gaps in MaineCare and CHIP, extending prescription-drug discount programs to more residents, and investing in behavioral and public health infrastructure.
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Immigration & Border
Rachel Talbot Ross supports expanding access to state services and protections for immigrants and asylum seekers, including proposals to extend MaineCare and prescription-drug discounts to noncitizen residents and to allow asylum seekers earlier ability to work. She frames Maine as a welcoming state and has advocated for federal support and resources to manage asylum arrivals while protecting access to health care and dignity for immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports expanded access to abortion and protections for reproductive health providers, including legislation to allow later-term abortions when deemed medically necessary by a doctor and measures to shield providers and patients from out-of-state prosecutions. Has sponsored and co-led bills and legislative actions to strengthen and codify abortion and reproductive-health protections in Maine law.
Climate & Energy
Supports active state-level climate action including resilience funding, appointments to Maine’s Climate Council, and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and expand clean energy. Emphasizes preparing communities for extreme weather and advancing policies that move Maine toward cleaner energy and resilience.
Public Safety & Guns
Rachel Talbot Ross has sponsored and advocated for legislation to create an extreme risk protection order (red flag) process in Maine, and supported measures to expand background checks and strengthen laws to temporarily remove firearms from people in crisis. She framed these proposals as tools to enhance public safety and prevent gun violence following the 2023 Lewiston mass shooting.
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We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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