The eldest son of Sen. Angus King has never held public office.
The eldest son of Sen. Angus King has never held public office
05/06/2025 06:00 AM EDT
Mainers will have a familiar name on their ballots in 2026, with the son of longtime Sen. Angus King — Angus King III — running for governor next year.
The 54-year-old King, who most recently served as the president of a renewable energy company, told POLITICO he’s running because “people are struggling, or they are scared.”
Unlike his father, a longtime independent, King III will run in the state’s Democratic primary. Asked why he’s running with the party and not following in his father’s footsteps, King said: “I’ve got a pretty easy answer for that one: I’m a Democrat.”
The contest for the Democratic nominee for governor could be a crowded one. So far, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is King’s only official opponent. But former Senate President Troy Jackson, who formed an exploratory committee in March, and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) have long been rumored as strong potential candidates.
King is hoping his father’s independent credentials and high name recognition will help him in the state that often rewards those who buck their parties.
“For sure, I’ve got independent blood in my veins — and most Mainers do too,” King said, saying the state needs someone “pragmatic” and “moderate” in charge. He’s entering the race with support from his dad, who served as the state’s governor from 1995 to 2003 and has been in the Senate since 2013. The elder King said his son would be one of the “top two governors named Angus ever” in a statement.
As King launches his bid for governor, Democrats are still in search of a strong candidate willing to take on Sen. Susan Collins next year. The longtime Maine Republican looks to be vulnerable in some early Democratic polling, but she has not yet attracted a top-tier challenger. Golden, who once worked for Collins, has said he won’t run against his former boss.
The announcement comes as incumbent Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited. King’s bid is his first shot at public office, something he is planning to embrace on the trail. But he also is quick to tout his father’s legacy in the state.
“There are very few genuinely inspirational politicians in America right now, and I happen to be lucky enough to have grown up with one of them,” King said.