Maxmin announces she will not seek re-election to state Senate

State Sen. Chloe Maxmin announced via Facebook she would not seek re-election to the district that serves Lincoln County.

The first-term Senate Democrat from Nobleboro said she will be attending the University Maine School of Law, as well as creating a non-profit organization.

Two candidates have already registered with the state to seek the state Senate District 13 seat that encompasses all of Lincoln County, as well as the Knox County town of Washington and the Kennebec town of Windsor.

Former Republican state Rep. Abden Simmons of Waldoboro registered Dec. 4 to run for the seat. Simmons served one term in the Maine House before being defeated in 2018 by independent Jeffrey Evangelos.

And, on Wednesday, Jan. 12, Democrat David Levesque of Damariscotta registered to run for the seat.

On his law office’s website, attorney Levesque stated he “is an active supporter of Maine’s small businesses and was raised in a commercial fishing family. He continues to be actively involved with the fishing industry by providing legal and business advice to the fishing community while also serving entrepreneurs from all over.”

The deadline for party candidates to file nomination papers with the Maine Secretary of State to get on the June 14, 2022, primary ballot is March 15. Unenrolled candidates, who were unenrolled prior to March 15, have until June 1 to file their nomination papers.

The party candidates and any unenrolled candidates will square off at the general election on Nov. 8.

Maxmin explained her decision on the Facebook message posted Wednesday, Jan. 12.

“My goals in life all revolve around fighting for our community. I want to continue to build strengths and capabilities, all in the name of understanding how best to protect our home. At the same time, legislative life is very demanding. I take my responsibilities to you very seriously, and I’ve made it work for the past four years. But it’s more than a full-time job,” Maxmin stated. “The tough decision I’ve made is to take some time now away from daily legislative responsibilities in order to strengthen my ability to fight for Maine. To that end, I will be attending Maine Law to further my understanding of policy and law, putting me in a better position to make real change in support of friends and neighbors in Lincoln County and beyond. I am also starting a non-profit organization with my campaign manager, Canyon Woodward. Our work will focus on lifting up the voices of rural Mainers through grassroots organizing. My heart lies in building movements powered by and for people, and I am very excited for this next chapter (I’ll share more about the organization soon!).”

Maxmin represented House District 88 (Chelsea, Whitefield, Jefferson, and half of Nobleboro) from 2018 to 2020 before being elected to the state Senate, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Dana Dow of Waldoboro.