Chellie Pingree

Pingree was first elected in 1992. She was outspoken against going to war against Iraq, although counseled by party insiders to avoid that subject. She won re-election in 1994[3] and 1996. In 2000, she was unable to seek re-election due to term limits.

Pingree served as the Senate Majority Leader in the Maine Senate representing Knox County. She was elected Maine's second female Senate Majority Leader on December 4, 1996.

During her tenure as a state legislator, Pingree gained nationwide headlines when she authored the nation's first bill regulating prescription drug prices, Maine Rx.[4] Pingree also shepherded Maine's largest land-bill initiative, Land for Maine's Future.[5]

2008

In April 2007, Pingree filed papers for her bid to run for Maine's 1st congressional district.[7]

On August 15, 2007, EMILY's List endorsed Pingree's campaign for Congress in Maine's 1st district.[8][9] In December 2007 she received the endorsement of 21st Century Democrats.[10] She was endorsed by a number of labor organizations and many individuals and state officials, including Congressman Rush D. Holt, Jr.; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; Maine Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell; former Maine Senate Assistant Majority Leader Anne Rand; State Representative Paulette Beaudoin; progressive writer and activist Jim Hightower; the United Auto Workers; Planned Parenthood, and the League of Conservation Voters.[11]

Pingree was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2008. She was sworn in to Congress on January 6, 2009.[12]

2010

In 2010, she ran for reelection, and won, defeating Republican challenger Dean Scontras by a 57–43 margin. She overcame strong anti-Democrat and anti-incumbent political sentiment to become just one of eight Democrats in the House of Representatives to receive a higher percentage of the vote than in 2008.

2012

On February 29, 2012, an Associated Press story mentioned that Pingree was starting to circulate petitions to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Olympia Snowe, which she confirmed on The Rachel Maddow Show later that night.[13] She withdrew her name from the race on March 7 and ran for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.[14]

2016

In 2016, Pingree defeated Republican challenger Mark Holbrook by around 16 points.[15]

2018

In late 2017, Pingree's name was mentioned as a potential Democratic candidate for governor of Maine, to succeed term-limited incumbent Paul Lepage. In mid-December, she announced plans to run for re-election to the House.[16] Pingree again faced Holbrook in the 2018 general election.[17] The race was not considered competitive, and she defeated Holbrook by around 26 points.[18]

2020

Pingree was re-elected in 2020.[19]

Soon after her election, she joined the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which she is now vice-chairwoman. In September 2010, a video surfaced on the internet showing Pingree at Portland International Jetport disembarking from a private jet owned by her then-fiancé, hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman. This drew criticism due to past statements made by Pingree critical of legislators using private aircraft. Pingree declined to respond.[20][21] The House Ethics Committee, in a bipartisan letter, stated the travel was permissible under House ethics rules.[22]

Pingree announced on April 26, 2013, that she would not run for Governor of Maine in the 2014 election. She stated that she was "happy" to serve in the House, and that the possibility of a three-way race also factored in to her decision.[23]

On May 23, 2013, Pingree introduced in the United States House of Representatives the York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2013 (H.R. 2197; 113th Congress). If passed, the bill would require the National Park Service (NPS) to study a segment of the York River in the state of Maine for potential addition to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System.[24] The study would be to determine how the proposed designation would affect current recreational and commercial activities.[25] The study would cost approximately $500,000.[26]

• Committee on Appropriations (2013–present)
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

• Committee on Agriculture (2009–2012)
  • Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture
• Committee on Armed Services (2009–2012)
  • Subcommittee on Military Personnel
  • Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces

• Congressional Progressive Caucus[27] (Vice-Chair)
• Congressional Arts Caucus[28]
• Afterschool Caucuses[29]
• Blue Collar Caucus[30]
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[31]
• Medicare for All Caucus

Pingree consistently receives high approval ratings from labor, pro-choice, and environmental interest groups.[33] In 2010, Pingree received a rating of 100% from the AFL-CIO, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the League of Conservation Voters.[33]

Pingree typically receives moderate to low approval ratings from socially and economically conservative groups such as the American Family Association and Citizens Against Government Waste, who in 2009 gave Pingree ratings of 0% and 1% respectively. In 2010 the American political magazine National Journal gave Pingree a Composite Conservative rating of 9%, and a Composite Liberal rating of 92%.[33]

Pingree is opposed to granting the President fast track authority in negotiating trade agreements, having voted against doing so on June 12, 2015. Pingree stated that such agreements needed more transparency and debate, not less.[34]

Pingree helped draft the Fair Elections Now Act, a proposal to provide public 'Fair Elections' funding for popular candidates who raised a sufficient number of small local contributions.[35] Pingree has spoken out against the 2011 Supreme Court ruling McComish v. Bennett which limited public financing systems for congressional candidate campaigns. Representative Pingree favors a campaign finance system that provides increased opportunities for candidates who lack the benefits of private interest and independent expenditure committee funding.[35]

Pingree has consistently voted against resolutions promoting aggressive foreign policy.[36] Pingree voted "yea" in March 2011 on a resolution to remove forces from Afghanistan. In June 2011, Pingree voted "yea" on House Resolution 292, preventing President Barack Obama from deploying ground forces in Libya.[36]

In 2017 Pingree did not attend the inauguration of Donald Trump and instead visited a Planned Parenthood center and a business owned by immigrants. She attended the Women's March on Washington the following day and stood on stage with other politicians who had also refused to attend the inauguration. “We need to do everything we can to let the incoming administration know we are not happy about their agenda. I’ve had unprecedented numbers of my constituents calling me worried about healthcare, the environment, public education, and they feel disrespected,” she said.[37] In July 2019, Pingree joined 95 Democrats voting for a Trump impeachment resolution. Maine representative Jared Golden and 136 other Democrats joined with their Republican colleagues to kill the resolution.[38]

In July 2019, Pingree voted against H. Res. 246 - 116th Congress, a House Resolution introduced by Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL) opposing efforts to boycott the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.[39] The resolution passed 398-17.[40]

On December 18, 2019, Pingree voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump from office. [41]

• Wright, Virginia. "Maine's Newest Political Dynasty". Down East: The Magazine of Maine (January 2009).