Maine has always been touted as a beautiful and restful getaway, but there’s a struggle for the residents who provide the food, services, and care that make the magic happen. Maine’s poverty rate is incredibly high, housing costs have outpaced what most can afford, and food insecurity is an ongoing issue. 

Maine can’t just be Vacationland; it needs to be a good place for us to live as well.

As part of the Maine Democrats’ commitment to leadership in the spirit of our state motto, we will aggressively tackle the affordability issues that Mainers face. For residents whose families have lived here for generations, the possibility of staying in the state is vanishing due to rising housing costs. Similarly, newcomers may find themselves with no place to start a family because of a lack of new development. Development and preservation of the buildings we have is a top priority for us, so all Mainers have the home they need.

Maine is the oldest state in the nation, and our economy has always relied on seasonal work, from farming to tourism and many trades. Safety nets like Social Security are a vital lifeline for all our seniors, and healthcare access is hard to afford and made worse by policies like the Big Beautiful Bill. When dealing with harsh Maine winters, rising fuel costs put many on the edge, leaving them to choose between heating their homes or buying groceries. Fighting for vital services is essential, from tax fairness to consumer protections.

Maine needs the opportunity to build a future. Young Mainers need to feel that they don’t need to leave the state to build something new. That means putting young Mainers’ access to high-quality education that is affordable, work that pays a living wage and supports workers, and an economy that balances older jobs with new industry.

Maine is our home, and we all deserve to benefit from its beauty. We will tackle access to necessary needs, create new jobs, and protect the people and traditions that make Maine unique from being priced out. For too long, Maine has struggled with poverty, a lack of stability, and more, while out-of-staters buy second homes here. If we want to lead, the whole state needs to thrive.