Every day, Maine educators and education support professionals work alongside colleagues with different backgrounds, experiences, and political beliefs. What brings us together is our commitment to students and public education.
This November, voters will choose leaders who will make decisions that affect Maine’s public schools, students, educators, and communities for years to come. From the Governor’s Office to Congress, elected officials will help determine public school funding levels, workforce policies, retirement and pension security, healthcare costs, and critical topics impacting our schools and communities.
Through questionnaires, interviews, and member-led screenings, educators and education support professionals evaluate candidates on issues that affect public schools, students, and school employees.
Endorsing candidates who share MEA’s priorities strengthens the union’s ability to advance policies that support Maine’s schools and communities. The endorsements reflect the voices of members from across the state, who selected these candidates as strong advocates for public education.
Among this year’s endorsements are three candidates running in key statewide and federal races: Hannah Pingree for Governor, Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate, and Matt Dunlap for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.
Hannah Pingree
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
Throughout her career in public service, Hannah Pingree has been a consistent supporter of public education. MEA members were drawn to her understanding of the challenges facing Maine schools and her commitment to ensuring every student has access to the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
“Several months ago, my family and I had the privilege of meeting Hannah Pingree at an event in Waterville,” said Erin Feldpausch (RSU 18 Education Association) at a press conference announcing the endorsement in August. “My 9-year-old son marched up to her and asked, ‘What are you going to do to help my school and my teachers?’ Hannah took his question seriously and spoke with him for several minutes about the importance of supporting schools, educators, and students.”
Throughout her career in public service, Pingree has been a consistent supporter of public education. She has called for strong investments in Maine’s schools, efforts to recruit and retain educators and school employees, and policies that support students’ academic success, well-being, and sense of belonging.
“As a lifelong Mainer who attended a small, rural public school from kindergarten through 12th grade, I have a deep belief in public education and profound respect for educators. I’ve chaired my local school board and I’ve seen the positive impact public schools have had on my two teenage kids,” said Pingree.
“As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I was proud to earn a 100% score from the Maine Education Association. Today I’m even prouder to have earned their endorsement for Governor.”
Troy Jackson
Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate
Former Senate President Troy Jackson has a long history of championing Maine’s public schools, educators, and education support professionals. Throughout his time in the Legislature, Jackson worked alongside MEA members on issues ranging from school funding and universal school meals to fair pay for school employees.
For MEA member Janet Kuech (Saco Valley I S P Assn) , one of Jackson’s most important accomplishments was his successful effort to establish a statewide minimum wage for Education Technicians and other Essential Support Professionals.
“In his last year as Senate President, Troy Jackson worked around the clock to secure a first-ever minimum wage for Ed Techs and all other Essential Support Professionals,” Kuech said. “Troy held up the state budget to insist my colleagues and I get paid a little better. He did everything he could to try and get us a better deal, and because of him, it worked.”
Kuech said Jackson understood both the challenges facing school employees and the important role they play in supporting students. His efforts helped establish a new wage floor for Education Technicians and other school support staff, creating a stronger foundation for local bargaining and helping address staffing shortages in schools across Maine.
“Troy fought for this increase because he knows what it is like to struggle, and he knows the value workers like me bring to our jobs,” Kuech said. “I know Troy will remember workers like me when he goes to Washington. I know he puts working people front and center in his decision-making.”
Jackson said his commitment to public education and working families has guided his work in Maine and would continue in the U.S. Senate.
“Our students deserve great schools, and our educators and school employees deserve the support and respect that comes with the important work they do,” Jackson said. “I’ll keep fighting for the investments our public schools need and for the working families who make our communities strong.”
Matt Dunlap
Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress District 2
A commitment to public education at every level and protecting the retirement security educators have earned is one reason MEA members were drawn to Matt Dunlap’s candidacy.
A University of Maine graduate, former University of Maine employee, father of a public school teacher, and former MEA member, Dunlap understands firsthand the value of public education and the role it plays in opening doors for Maine students.
At a press conference announcing the endorsement, Brian Berger, president of ACSUM, spoke about the importance of electing leaders who will support public higher education.
“We need leadership in Washington that supports higher education and especially public higher education to ensure equity and opportunity for anyone who wants or needs it,” Berger said.
Berger noted that Dunlap’s experiences as a University of Maine graduate, former university employee, and former MEA member give him a unique understanding of the challenges facing higher education today.
Crystal Ward (MEA-Retired) said the contrast between Dunlap and his opponent could not be clearer. She pointed to the lasting impact the 2011 cuts to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) continue to have on retired educators. Those cuts were championed by former Gov. Paul LePage to help fund tax cuts for Maine’s wealthiest residents.
“In 2011, Paul LePage and the State Treasurer pushed for huge cuts to the pension benefits of retired teachers,” Ward said. “Teachers like me who gave our careers to supporting students saw benefits cut and then frozen for years. Many of those cuts are still with us today.”
Dunlap said his commitment to public education is rooted in his own experiences as a student, a former MEA member, and the father of an educator.
“I’m proud to have the endorsement of the Maine Education Association,” said Matt Dunlap. “As a product of Maine’s public schools, a former MEA member, and the dad of an educator, I know our schools are the bedrock of our state — and I’ll always fight to give our teachers, educators, and students the resources they’ve been promised. Washington can always find money for tax cuts for the wealthy; it’s time we invested in our kids.”
WORKING TO ELECT PRO-PUBLIC EDUCATION CANDIDATES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT
MEA members are not just endorsing candidates. They are helping elect them.
In communities across Maine, educators, education support professionals, higher education faculty and staff, and retirees are volunteering their time to support MEA-endorsed candidates who share their commitment to strong public schools.
Members have hosted meet-and-greet events, made member-to-member phone calls, canvassed in their neighborhoods, and talked with colleagues, neighbors, and friends about the issues affecting Maine students and schools.
Those conversations matter. Decisions made in Augusta and Washington affect school funding, educator recruitment and retention, retirement security, higher education, and the resources students need to succeed. By helping elect candidates who support public education, MEA members are working to ensure educators have a voice in those decisions.
“It was surprisingly fun and rewarding. I think we motivated some people to get out and vote. People are really concerned about the direction things are going and want to make a difference, and this gave us the opportunity to encourage them to do that. I’m so glad I came.” -Ben Greenfield (AFUM)
MEA Endorsed Candidates 2026
Why do we endorse candidates?
MEA brings together members to screen candidates who support us and advocate for pro-education policies that support our schools, our students, and our professions. Endorsing and electing candidates who support MEA’s goals increases the union’s ability to pass favorable legislation.
See The full list of endorsed candidates
These candidates are part of a larger group of endorsed leaders seeking office at the local, state, and federal levels.
To view MEA’s complete list of endorsed candidates and learn more about the member-driven endorsement process.
