Polling Average
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
47%
47%
Maine Democratic Senate nominee on Jul 31, 2026?
$1.8M
JUL 31, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age51 years old (Mar 23, 1975)
GenderFemale
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LocationMaine
BackgroundPolitician
EducationMiddlebury College (BA)
Notable personal detailsShenna Lee Bellows is an American politician and civil rights advocate who has served as Maine’s 50th Secretary of State since 2021. She previously served in the Maine Senate (District 14) from 2016 to 2020 and was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine in 2014. Her earlier career included leadership roles at the ACLU of Maine and the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, and she also served in the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps VISTA.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgbellowsformaine.comcsg.orgmaine.govwww1.maine.govaxios.comwashingtonpost.commainepublic.orgwabi.tvboldprogressives.orgopencampaign.compressherald.comreddit.comlegislature.maine.govnass.orgbangordailynews.commainepeoplesalliance.orgemdc.orgsunjournal.comboothbayregister.comgivegreen.comwmtw.commainemorningstar.commainebeacon.commaineaflcio.orgnytimes.comnewscentermaine.comfairvote.orgpolitico.compbs.orgthehill.comspectrumlocalnews.comprospect.orgfacebook.comballotpedia.orgyoutube.cominstagram.comsenate.govcollins.senate.govwikidata.orgdirectory.house.govcha.house.govfec.govdocuments.ncsl.orgballotready.orgnga.orgncsl.orgpadilla.senate.govcongress.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports increasing taxes on very high earners to strengthen Social Security and favors shifting federal spending away from defense toward domestic investments such as infrastructure, student loans, and renewable energy. Has also proposed targeted tax relief for certain groups (for example, legislation to eliminate state income tax on some public pension benefits).
Healthcare
Supports universal health care as a goal and increased public investment in health services, with emphasis on rural health infrastructure, school-based health centers, public health nurses, and full funding for reproductive and primary care providers. Expresses opposition to barriers to care and names organizations such as Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood as priorities for support.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate emphasizes protecting immigrant communities and has taken actions to limit state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, including refusing to share voter rolls and pausing certain data-sharing with ICE. She characterizes aggressive federal immigration operations in Maine as harmful and has pledged to defend the privacy and safety of new Mainers. Her public statements focus on restraint of enforcement activity and protection of immigrants rather than proposing expanded enforcement measures.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports abortion rights and reproductive freedom and has worked to protect and expand access to abortion and contraception in Maine. Pledges to support Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood and to defend existing Maine law that protects access to abortion and reproductive health care.
Climate & Energy
Supports transitioning away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy and investing in technologies such as solar, tidal, and geothermal. Favors strong carbon-emission standards and expanded public-transit and clean-energy investment while emphasizing community input for projects. Positions include backing federal regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions and state-level climate action.
Public Safety & Guns
Shenna Bellows has publicly supported extreme risk protection orders (the 2025 Question 2 red-flag measure) and has said municipalities should have the option to restrict firearms at polling places. Her statements frame these measures as compatible with responsible gun ownership and public safety.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 10, 2026
Shenna Bellows is in the news as a possible replacement nominee in Maine Democrats’ upcoming process to fill a vacant statewide Senate race slot after Graham Platner exited. She is also still a major figure in the crowded Democratic governor’s race, where official ranked-choice results are still being finalized. Earlier coverage focused on her campaign positions on health care and Wabanaki sovereignty, and on her refusal to turn over voter registration data in a lawsuit tied to the Trump administration.
en.wikipedia.org+49
Articles
PPPortland Press Herald2 months ago
Shenna Bellows is uniquely qualified for governor | Letter
Positive
PPPortland Press Herald3 months ago
Democratic candidates for Maine governor discuss reforming health care
Neutral
BDBangor Daily News4 months ago
Gubernatorial candidates at Wabanaki forum agree on tribal sovereignty
Positive
PPPortland Press Herald5 months ago
In Shenna Bellows’ court battle with Trump, she’s got former DOJ attorneys on her side
Positive
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Maine Democratic Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Shenna Bellows for Maine Democratic Governor nominee?
MSEA-SEIU Local 1989
Labor organization
MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 ranked Shenna Bellows second in its gubernatorial primary endorsement.
Maine Education Association
Elected official
Maine Education Association endorsed Shenna Bellows for governor.
Sierra Club of Maine
Elected official
Sierra Club of Maine endorsed Shenna Bellows for governor.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising