Pingree Seeks 10th Term in Maine District
Democratic incumbent Chellie Pingree faces Republican Ron Russell in the 1st Congressional District this November.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Chellie Pingree, the Democratic incumbent, is seeking a 10th term in the U.S. House representing Maine's 1st Congressional District. Republican Ron Russell won his party's primary to challenge her, the same matchup that ended with Pingree finishing ahead of him in the 2024 general election.
Why it matters
The race will determine who represents a district covering all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and York counties in Congress. Pingree's long tenure gives her a seniority base in the House, while the contest tests whether the seat remains with the incumbent.
Pingree, first elected in November 2008, is seeking a 10th term, and Russell finished second to her in the 2024 general election. The November 2026 outcome remains undecided.
The players
Chellie Pingree
Pingree is the Democratic incumbent first elected in 2008 who serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is ranking member of its Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Ron Russell
Russell is a Republican who won his party's 2026 primary and previously finished second to Pingree in the 2024 general election.
The details
Pingree was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Russell defeated Joshua James Pietrowicz to win the Republican nomination. The district spans five southern and coastal Maine counties and includes Waterville in Kennebec County.
Timeline
November 2008: Pingree first elected to represent the district.
2024 general election: Russell finished second to Pingree.
April 2025: Pingree reintroduced the Agriculture Resilience Act.
November 2026: Voters decide the 1st District seat.
Political Context
The 2026 matchup is a rematch of the 2024 general election, where Russell finished second to Pingree. The contest tests whether that prior result repeats with the same two candidates.
Residents of the five counties in the district will choose their representative in Congress this November. The outcome determines who handles federal appropriations and district-specific policy in the coming term.
The takeaway
Voters in the 1st District can compare the candidates' records, including Pingree's appropriations work and Russell's platform, before November. Checking the district map helps confirm which communities are included.
What happens next
Voters will decide the 1st District seat in the November 2026 general election.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Elections coverage across Maine.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WMTW.
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