About the Candidate
My commitment is to the health and wellness of the people of Maine.
Education
Baccalaureate in Nursing, Norwich University, VT
Previous campaigns and elected office(s) held
Elected to 4 consecutive terms in the Maine House of Representatives (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024)
Why are you running?
After serving eight years in the Maine House — including six years as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee — I am running to continue the vital work of supporting the health of Mainers across the lifespan. Building on our progress to ensure every Mainer can get the care they need without incurring crushing medical debt. Investing in the healthcare workforce to prevent understaffing. Protecting and expanding the safety net programs that provide a lifeline for our most vulnerable neighbors
Top three priorities
Healthcare affordability and access
Addressing the growing cost of living with a focus on housing, childcare, food and energy affordability
Defending Democracy: voter access, election integrity and protecting civil liberties
If you could change one thing about how Augusta functions, what would it be and why?
The entire Legislature turns over every two years, resulting in a loss of institutional knowledge and the collective understanding of how government functions, from complex processes and procedures to the historical context of specific statutes. Policy areas such as MaineCare funding, tax codes or environmental regulations take years to master, and quick turnover can stall progress. Extended terms might solve this, ensuring those in office have the time to become helpful for their constituencies.
What is the biggest challenge facing Maine? The biggest opportunity?
The intersection of federal budget cuts and the enactment of HR1 has created a high-stakes fiscal climate in Maine. Federal funds act as economic stimulus, particularly for MaineCare and SNAP, with every federal dollar brought into the state circulating through the economy multiple times. Our greatest challenge as state legislators is to balance the needs and rights of the people of Maine while ensuring the state’s fiscal stability.
As one of several dozen legislators in your chamber, how would you make a measurable difference for your constituents?
In a climate where chaos at the federal level is creating significant hardship and anxiety within the communities I serve, my presence as a four-term legislative veteran, my policy expertise and experience leading a committee will be a benefit to my state Senate caucus in coalesing around legislative initiatives that serve the greater good and ensure we are fulfilling our collective goal to improve the lives of all Mainers.