Angus King III Announces Candidacy for Maine Governor

AUGUSTA, Maine — Angus King III, a businessman and son of U.S. Senator Angus King Jr., announced on Tuesday that he is running for governor of Maine.

King, a Portland Democrat, is entering a competitive field to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Mills will not seek re-election in 2026 due to term limits. Other Democratic candidates include Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, both of whom have filed campaign finance paperwork.

“I’ve spent my life building and making things that really help people,” King said in a statement. “Now, I’m running for governor to build a better Maine – where it’s easier to start and grow a small business, where we can build our economy through innovation and hard work, and where it’s not so hard to afford basic living essentials.”

King is the founder and former president of Peaks Renewables, a company focused on renewable energy projects, including a recent anaerobic digester development in Clinton. His father, Angus King Jr., served as Maine’s governor from 1995 to 2003 and has been a U.S. senator since 2013.

Sen. Angus King described his son as “hard-working, smart, engaged, and caring.” He praised King III for his dedication to improving the lives of Mainers. “He’s been building things to take care of people throughout his life,” the senator added.

Other potential Democratic candidates include U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and Hannah Pingree, director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. For Republicans, names like former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin and Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart have been mentioned.

Signatures to qualify for the ballot are due to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State by March 16, 2026, with primary elections scheduled for June 9, 2026.