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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S AU G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E H H DOVER-FOXCROFT CORINTH H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H BELFAST ROCHESTER GORHAM PORTLAND LIVERMORE FALLS MEXICO BRUNSWICK AUBURN BOOTHBAY HARBOR DAMARISCOTTA ROCKLAND CAMDEN BUCKSPORT BLUE HILL ELLSWORTH BAR HARBOR CHERRYFIELD MACHIAS CALAIS BELGRADE FAIRFIELD FARMINGTON SKOWHEGAN BANGOR GREENVILLE WATERVILLE WEST ENFIELD OLD TOWN KINGFIELD PALMYRA MADISON MADISON H H H 34 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUR BUILDING PROJECT PARTNER HAMMONDLUMBER.COM FOURTH GENERATION | FAMILY-OWNED | SINCE 1953 1,200+ EMPLOYEES & GROWING U.S. SENATE It's a big year for Maine elections, with hotly contested races for a U.S. Senate seat being defended by Susan Collins, a Republican, and candidates vying for an open seat in the state's second congressional district, now held by Democrat Jared Golden, who is not seeking reelection. There will also be considerable interest in who will take over for Gov. Janet Mills. Election 2026: Maine's candidates in three key races U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Matthew Dunlap, 61: Maine's state auditor since 2022; formerly Maine's Secretary of State (2005–11 and 2013–21); represented the 121st District in the Maine House of Representatives (1996–2004); former president of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Paul LePage, 77: Former Maine governor (2011– 19); former mayor of Waterville (2004–11), for- mer Waterville City Councilor; former general manager of Marden's stores MAINE GOVERNOR'S RACE Hannah Pingree, 49: Former Maine House speaker and director of Maine's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future under Gov. Janet Mills Robert "Bobby" Charles, 66: Lawyer and Washington, D.C.-based consultant; former federal official in the Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush administrations Rick Bennett, 63: President and CEO, ValueEdge Advisors in Portland; Maine state senator representing Oxford County Susan Collins, 73: Has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997. Chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. Is a native of Caribou, in Aroostook County. Troy Jackson, 58: Served in the Maine Senate from 2008 to 2014 and then again from 2018–24. He has served as the state Senate's president and majority leader. He served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002–08. He is a fifth- generation logger. Jackson is an Aroostook County native; he was born in Fort Kent and now lives in Allagash. S O U R C E : Campaigns, Ballotpedia, Mainebiz research PHOTOS / SUSAN COLLINS: WIKIMEDIA COMONS, DHSGOV / TROY JACKSON: WIKIMEDIA COMONS, ARENLEBRUN / MATTHEW DUNLAP AND PAUL LEPAGE: MAINE.GOV / GOVERNOR CANDIDATES FROM EACH CAMPAIGN R R R D D D I