Maine — 1st District

The election in Maine’s 1st Congressional District may have fallen to the wayside amid more contentious statewide races, but the names on the ballot are still familiar — it’s the same two candidates who ran for the seat two years ago. Republican Ron Russell is back again to challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree for her seat in Congress. Pingree had a solid win in 2024 , beating Russell and independent Ethan Alcorn. Russell, 72, grew up in Fort Fairfield, and is a retired Army colonel. He served for more than 30 years as an airborne ranger Green Beret, and was in combat in Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan and other crisis response operations. After retiring, he founded the North Carolina-based defense contractor Far Ridgeline Engagements, and returned to Maine in 2021. Russell knows he’s a repeat candidate for voters but hopes it works in his favor. “There’s certainly nothing different in the way I feel about the issues, probably have refined them somewhat,” Russell said. “But I’m the same person I was back then, and I think, unfortunately, the issues facing the nation and Maine are the same.” Pingree has represented the district since 2009, and is currently the ranking Democratic member on the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies under the Committee on Appropriations. “I never take any campaign for granted,” Pingree said. “The voters deserve to both see us and hear from us, and know that you’re taking it seriously.” She also served in the Maine Senate from 1992-2000, and was majority leader in her final four years in the state Legislature. “We all know this is an extremely critical election,” Pingree said. “This has been one of the most challenging two years in our country, and it doesn’t matter which side of the aisle that you’re on.” The two will meet for one debate , on Oct. 29 in Portland, jointly hosted by Maine Public, NewsCenter Maine and the Portland Press Herald. President Trump Like most federal races across Maine and the country, even if President Donald Trump’s name is not on the ballot, he is very much still a central factor in the race, and the 1st District is no exception. Pingree said in her latest term in office, she has spent a lot of time pushing back against Trump’s actions. “Especially in the last two years, unfortunately, much of our focus has just been on fighting back from an out-of-control administration,” Pingree said. “I mean, the amount of things they have done that are illegal or unconstitutional or just extremely damaging to Maine is greater than anything I’ve ever seen before.” But she said constituents have been incredibly engaged in the issues, and want to see Maine’s congressional delegation protect their interests — and Pingree hopes to do more of that if Democrats can regain a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. “So I think this year people want to know that we’re fighting for them, that our goal is if I’m reelected to do everything we can to undo the damage that th