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Hannah Pingree wins Maine Democratic governor primary in blow to Graham Platner
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Hannah Pingree secured the Democratic nomination for Maine's 2026 gubernatorial race, defeating notable contenders including former State Senate President Troy Jackson and former Biden public health official Nirav Shah.
- Pingree, endorsed by outgoing Gov. Janet Mills and linked to the Democratic establishment, won through Maine's ranked-choice voting system by building a broad coalition, despite Shah receiving the most initial first-choice votes.
- Troy Jackson, backed by U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, lost the nomination, which is a setback for Platner's campaign against Sen. Susan Collins amid controversies surrounding Platner.
- On the Republican side, former Bush administration official Bobby Charles won the nomination in a six-candidate field, but Democrats are favored to win the open gubernatorial seat in the blue-leaning state.
- The Democratic primary featured strategic cooperation among Pingree, Jackson, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who urged supporters to rank each other highly to counter Shah’s momentum.
