10:37 AM EDT May 6, 2025
Angus King III, the son of Independent Maine Sen. Angus King, launched a run as a Democrat to be the next governor of Maine.
The younger King acknowledged his background in his announcement video Tuesday, saying he shares the same values as his father, who served two terms as governor from 1995-2003 and has served as the junior senator for Maine since 2013. His father caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate.
The gubernatorial hopeful described himself as an outsider who hasn’t held public office before, having led a renewable energy company. He said the state needs to start “doing things a different way,” lower costs for workers and families, help “innovators” and small businesses grow the economy and get residents training for jobs currently available in the state.
“It may not be easy or happen overnight, but I promise you this: I will always fight for what’s right for Mainers, no matter who tries to stand in the way in Maine, Washington or anywhere else,” King said.
He told Semafor in an interview that his father taught him how to bring people together and focus on what they have in common.
“Those are important pieces of who I am and how I’d behave as governor,” he said.
He told the outlet that he would work with President Trump to better the state, but being governor means serving and protecting the people of Maine, and “if the president stands in the way of that, I’ll stand up to him.”
The Trump administration and Maine reached a settlement Friday after the Department of Agriculture froze funding for the state’s education programs over its refusal to comply with Trump’s executive order banning transgender women from competing on female sports teams.
King already has one major opponent in the Democratic primary in Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who announced her bid in March. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson (D) has formed an exploratory committee to consider running, while a few others have been speculated as possible candidates, including Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine).
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will likely be favored to win the general election next year and succeed term-limited Gov. Janet Mills (D) in the left-leaning state.