EqualityMaine Endorses 94 Candidates for Maine House and Senate
September 17, 2026
EqualityMaine Endorses 94 Candidates for Maine House and Senate
Record slate of endorsements reflects candidates’ commitment to full equality for LGBTQ+ Mainers across the state
PORTLAND, Me. —EqualityMaine, Maine’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ political advocacy organization, today announced its endorsement of 94 candidates for the Maine House of Representatives and Maine Senate ahead of the November general election.
In the endorsement process, these candidates expressed strong support for the full range of issues affecting LGBTQ+ Mainers. This release recognizes two groups: EqualityMaine’s regular endorsed candidates, and its Champions — legislators who distinguished themselves by consistently voting in line with EqualityMaine’s values throughout the last legislative session. EqualityMaine’s endorsement process was grounded in ensuring that Maine’s next Legislature will protect and advance full equality for LGBTQ+ Mainers, including:
- Nondiscrimination protections. Upholding Maine’s existing nondiscrimination laws in housing, education, employment, credit, and public spaces, opposing religious or moral exemptions that would let businesses and providers turn away LGBTQ+ people, and opposing any attempt to erode or overturn marriage equality.
- Family recognition. Ensuring LGBTQ+ parents can secure parental rights through adoption and are protected from discrimination in adoption and foster care.
- Healthcare access. Protecting fair and equal access to transgender healthcare, continued MaineCare funding for gender-affirming care, Maine’s provider shield law, a state backstop if federal transgender healthcare coverage is lost, and safe and legal access to abortion.
- Youth and schools. Opposing book bans and censorship of LGBTQ+ content, fully implementing anti-bullying protections and LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum standards, opposing efforts to bar transgender kids from sports matching their gender identity, and holding schools accountable to the Human Rights Act.
- Racial and Indigenous equity. Centering the needs of Mainers of color — including Black, Indigenous, immigrant, and AAPI Mainers — across healthcare, anti-violence policy, judicial fairness, and economic equity, and supporting full Wabanaki sovereignty.
- Equal Rights Amendment. Supporting the addition of the ERA to Maine’s constitution.
- Harm reduction and public health. Investing in recovery centers and supporting syringe access, HIV/Hepatitis C testing, and overdose prevention programs.
“EqualityMaine has advocated tirelessly and effectively for 42 years for LGBTQ+ people. We will be activating our extensive network of community volunteers across the state to secure strong pro-equality majorities in the House and Senate in November,” said EQME PAC Chair John Hennessy. “The importance of this election cannot be overstated, and LGBTQ+ people will show up at the polls with all of the information they need to make an informed decision. We are grateful for the candidates who are putting themselves out there to advance equality for all Maine people.”
“At a time when some would like to rollback progress for LGBTQ Mainers and their families, I’m proud to stand with these leaders who stand firmly against hatred, bigotry, and intolerance,” emphasized Ryan Fecteau, Maine Speaker of the House. “I know here in Maine that the rights of all Mainers will be protected so long as these champions for justice and equality are sent to Augusta in November.”
“Every Mainer deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter who they are or who they love,” said Mattie Daughtry, President of the Maine Senate. “I’m proud and excited to stand with EqualityMaine and with every candidate on this list, leaders I know will keep fighting for full equality, defend LGBTQ+ Mainers from discrimination, and make sure our laws reflect who we are as a state: fair, welcoming, and unwilling to leave anyone behind.”
About EqualityMaine
Founded in 1984, EqualityMaine is Maine’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ political advocacy organization. Its mission is to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration.