Who Is Running in Maine Congressional District 1st in 2026?
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Chellie Pingree
(Incumbent)Economy
HighChellie Pingree supports policies aimed at creating local jobs and strengthening Maine's economy, including expanding Small Business Administration loan programs and cutting unnecessary regulations. She advocates for federal policies to protect working waterfronts and support local foods and farms to generate local jobs. Pingree also supports increasing the federal minimum wage and strengthening workers' rights to unionize, stating the need for an economy that works for everyone with livable wages.
Immigration
HighChellie Pingree has condemned DHS immigration enforcement tactics, citing concerns about terrorizing communities and indiscriminate detentions. She introduced H.R. 7708, requiring DHS to return identification documents upon release, and H.R. 7743, limiting enforcement funds pending a database report. She authored the bipartisan Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, aiming to reduce the work permit waiting period for asylum seekers to 30 days, supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Pingree opposes proposals to pause work permits for asylum seekers, arguing such measures harm the economy.
Healthcare
HighChellie Pingree voted against 2025 funding bills, stating they would allow healthcare costs to skyrocket and price millions out of insurance. She co-introduced the bipartisan Produce Prescription for Veterans Act in 2026 to expand nutritious food access for veterans with chronic conditions, aiming for prevention and reduced long-term costs. She also advocates strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, negotiating Medicare drug prices, and protecting pre-existing condition coverage.
Republican Candidate
No Republican candidate has been confirmed for this race yet. Check back after the primary.
| Issue | Chellie Pingree |
|---|---|
| Economy | Chellie Pingree supports policies aimed at creating local jobs and strengthening Maine's economy, including expanding Small Business Administration loan programs and cutting unnecessary regulations. She advocates for federal policies to protect working waterfronts and support local foods and farms to generate local jobs. Pingree also supports increasing the federal minimum wage and strengthening workers' rights to unionize, stating the need for an economy that works for everyone with livable wages. High |
| Immigration | Chellie Pingree has condemned DHS immigration enforcement tactics, citing concerns about terrorizing communities and indiscriminate detentions. She introduced H.R. 7708, requiring DHS to return identification documents upon release, and H.R. 7743, limiting enforcement funds pending a database report. She authored the bipartisan Asylum Seeker Work Authorization Act, aiming to reduce the work permit waiting period for asylum seekers to 30 days, supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Pingree opposes proposals to pause work permits for asylum seekers, arguing such measures harm the economy. High |
| Healthcare | Chellie Pingree voted against 2025 funding bills, stating they would allow healthcare costs to skyrocket and price millions out of insurance. She co-introduced the bipartisan Produce Prescription for Veterans Act in 2026 to expand nutritious food access for veterans with chronic conditions, aiming for prevention and reduced long-term costs. She also advocates strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, negotiating Medicare drug prices, and protecting pre-existing condition coverage. High |
| Climate & Energy | Chellie Pingree supported environmental protection by successfully working to strip Section 453, a provision shielding pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits, from the FY2026 Interior and Environment funding bill. She stated that public health should take precedence over corporate profits and that communities have the right to protect their land and children from harmful chemicals. The League of Conservation Voters has given Representative Pingree a 100% score for 2024 and a 97% lifetime score. High |
| Abortion & Reproductive Rights | Representative Chellie Pingree supports reproductive rights, voting for the Women's Health Protection Act (H.R.3755), the Right to Contraception Act, and the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (H.R.8297). She voted against bills to ban Planned Parenthood funding (H.R.3762) and interfere with abortion practice (H.R.26). Pingree opposes government intervention in personal medical decisions and emphasizes that abortion bans prevent safe care, not abortions. She has expressed outrage over the overturning of Roe v. Wade. High |
| Foreign Policy | Research pending more substantial sources. Low |
| Education | Chellie Pingree co-sponsored the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026, a bill that proposes over $130 billion in investments for public school infrastructure, focusing on high-poverty schools with health and safety risks. She also opposes cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities, stating that such funding is crucial to teach kids in rural areas and support cultural institutions. High |
| Gun Policy | Representative Chellie Pingree supports gun control measures, including reinstating the assault weapons ban and expanding background checks. She voted to reinstate the assault weapons ban in 2021 and helped pass the bipartisan Background Checks Act. She also supported The Protecting Our Kids Act, which would raise the legal age to purchase semi-automatic rifles and outlaw high-capacity magazines. High |
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