Democrats Running for Governor Struggle to Separate Themselves in Statewide Debate, as Pingree Leads Viewer Poll

PORTLAND, Maine – The five Democrats running for governor took the debate stage Thursday night in a statewide “Commitment 2026” debate broadcast by WMTW, WABI, and WAGM, making their pitch to Maine voters as they try to keep the Blaine House blue after Gov. Janet Mills (D) leaves office.

The debate was moderated by WMTW’s Terry Stackhouse, with additional questions from WABI News Director John Small and WAGM News Director Kelly O’Mara.

The candidates, former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, former Senate President Troy Jackson, former House Speaker Hannah Pingree, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and businessman Angus King III, spent much of the hour agreeing on core Democratic priorities: higher taxes on the wealthy, more spending on schools, expanded health care access, more housing, and opposition to President Donald Trump.

But the debate also exposed differences over experience, style, tribal sovereignty, private equity, school accountability, and how far each candidate is willing to break from Mills’ record.

Mills, who is term-limited as governor, suspended her campaign for U.S. Senate earlier Thursday. Her decision loomed over the debate, as Stackhouse asked each candidate to name one thing Mills got right and one thing they would do differently.

Shah praised Mills for expanding Medicaid on her first day in office but said he would have gone further on gun control, tribal sovereignty, data centers, and limiting cooperation with ICE.

Jackson credited Mills for Medicaid expansion but criticized her for vetoing bills he said would have helped working-class Mainers, including prescription drug legislation.

Pingree and Bellows both said they would have signed the data center moratorium Mills vetoed. Bellows also said Maine needs stronger child welfare oversight and a cabinet-level office focused on children and families.

King, the only candidate on stage who did not serve in the Mills administration, praised Mills for standing up to President Donald Trump but said he opposed sending $300 relief checks to Mainers.

On taxes, the candidates largely agreed that wealthy Mainers, second-home owners, tourists, and corporations should pay more. Jackson said he would like to double the recently passed millionaires tax. Bellows called for freezing property taxes statewide and doubling property taxes on out-of-staters buying up Maine homes. Shah backed expanding the homestead exemption and allowing local tourist taxes. Pingree supported higher taxes on nonresident second homes and tourism revenue to fund housing and property tax relief.

Education brought another round of promises. Jackson said Maine’s minimum teacher salary should be at least $60,000. Bellows said the state should fund schools at a higher level and invest more in teacher recruitment. King emphasized reading outcomes and school accountability, saying Maine students must be able to read by the end of third grade. Pingree called for faster implementation of a $50,000 minimum teacher salary, more career and technical education, and removing cell phones from schools.

Health care produced some of the debate’s most urgent language. Shah called rural health care access “literally a matter of life or death” and said universal health care is his “North Star.” Jackson blamed private equity and said government must force providers to serve rural Maine. Pingree called for a public option and limits on private equity in health care. Bellows called for direct funding to hospitals, community health centers, birthing centers, family planning providers, and Planned Parenthood.

Housing was another major flashpoint. Jackson and Pingree targeted private equity firms buying mobile home parks and driving up costs. King said Maine needs to cut red tape and build more housing faster. Shah proposed a “Maine First Look Law,” giving young Maine families the first chance to bid on starter homes before corporations or outside investors.

The night ended with lighter questions about favorite Maine parks and vacation spots, but even there, the answers raised a factual issue.

Stackhouse asked the candidates to name the most underappreciated state park in Maine. Shah appeared to answer “Reid State Park,” which is an actual Maine state park in Georgetown. Bellows named Lamoine State Park, also an official Maine state park. But Jackson named Deboullie, which is a Public Reserved Land, not a state park. Pingree named the Bold Coast, generally associated with public lands and preserves, not a state park. King named Tumbledown Mountain, which is not a Maine state park.

A non-scientific online WMTW poll shown at the end of the broadcast had Pingree leading among viewers, followed by Jackson.

The Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to debate next week.