Hannah Pingree wins ranked-choice runoff in Democratic primary for governor

 Hannah Pingree talks with the media at Bayside Bowl on June 9. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ AUGUSTA — Hannah Pingree was declared the winner in the Democratic primary for governor early Friday morning in an extremely close five-way race. In the final ranked-choice outcome, Pingree overcame an early lead from Nirav Shah. Clean energy entrepreneur Angus King III was the first candidate to be eliminated, after failing to crack double-digit support on election night, followed by Shenna Bellows and Troy Jackson. The results were announced shortly before 2 a.m. and [streamed online](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDZ5_h5ODHQ). Pingree will take on Bobby Charles, the [winner of the Republican primary](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/19/bobby-charles-holds-lead-to-win-republican-primary-for-governor-after-rcv-runoff/) after a ranked-choice runoff, and [independent Rick Bennett](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/02/21/could-maines-next-governor-be-an-independent/) in November’s race to succeed Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. At a press conference Friday afternoon in her campaign headquarters at the 449 Forest Ave. shopping plaza, Pingree addressed a few dozen high-spirited supporters and thanked voters and the other Democratic candidates. “We ran a nearly yearlong campaign and we had a very careful count. It was painstaking, but the results are in, and I am so honored to be the Democratic nominee for governor of the state of Maine,” she said to thundering applause in a room festooned with bouquets of blue and white balloons. Advertisement [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/20260619_Pingree0421.jpg) Hannah Pingree, winner of the Democratic primary for governor celebrates with supporters Friday in Portland. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F20260619_Pingree0421.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Hannah%20Pingree%2C%20winner%20of%20the%20Democratic%20primary%20for%20governor%20celebrates%20with%20supporters%20Friday%20in%20Portland.%20%28Shawn%20Patrick%20Ouellette%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) “Heading into November, I need every single one of you, whether I was your first choice or your fifth,” she continued. “Beating two Republicans like Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett is going to take a whole diverse coalition of stubborn, amazing Mainers. We are going to pull together and we are going to win this.” Asked how she’ll win the support of voters who didn’t select her in the primary, Pingree said, “I look forward to working with all my opponents who have said they want to pitch in and help, and I look forward to earning the votes of every single person across the state, Democrats, Republicans and independents.” Another questioner asked if her time as governor would effectively be a continuation of the Mills administration. “We are facing challenging times, and this president has made life much more difficult for Maine people,” Pingree responded, noting that while she’s proud of her work with Mills, the state is up against a “crisis of affordability.” “I’m ready on day one to get to work,” she said. “I know Maine people are struggling. I think my record in public service actually delivering for people and working across the aisle — that’s what Maine people want to see.” Related [Bobby Charles holds lead to win Republican primary for governor after RCV runoff](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/18/bobby-charles-holds-lead-to-win-republican-primary-for-governor-after-rcv-runoff/) In a statement issued Friday morning, Pingree said she was grateful for the results and thanked voters, as well as the other Democratic candidates. “I’m grateful, I’m ready and there is no time to waste,” she said. “Heading into November, I need all of you — whether I was your first choice or your fifth or you didn’t participate in the primary at all — because beating Bobby Charles and Rick Bennett requires a diverse coalition of Mainers in this state pulling together.” Advertisement [Shah led in first-choice votes on election night](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/09/extremely-close-maine-democratic-governor-primary-likely-headed-to-ranked-choice-runoff/), with 26.8% support, according to unofficial results from The Associated Press. He was followed by Pingree (23.3%), Jackson (21.1%) and Bellows (20.6%). With the top four candidates all within seven percentage points of one another, it was unclear heading into the runoff who might come out on top. [Pingree, Jackson and Bellows cross-endorsed one another](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/22/these-3-maine-governor-candidates-are-forming-an-alliance/) weeks before the election — a strategy that appears to have mostly worked. Related [Catch up on Maine's ranked-choice primary results](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/09/catch-up-on-maine-statewide-and-local-election-results/) Pingree, 49, of North Haven, [ran on her record as a former lawmaker](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/09/hannah-pingree-grew-up-in-maine-politics-is-she-the-next-governor/), Maine speaker of the House and official in the Mills administration. The leader in fundraising throughout the race, she was endorsed by the governor and dozens of lawmakers and state officials. Like the other candidates, Pingree made pushing back on the Trump administration a priority in her platform, but she also pitched herself as a consensus-builder who could work across the aisle when needed. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43653117_20260618_RankedChoice_06.jpg) Hannah Pingree staffers Trixie Betz and Ellie Edgell hold hands as results of the Democratic gubernatorial primary are read off at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta early Friday morning. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) Shah, 49, of Brunswick, [ran on his record of leading Maine](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/15/how-covid-19-prepared-nirav-shah-for-the-maine-governors-race/) through the COVID-19 pandemic while he was director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to 2023. He led the race in several polls, so his early frontrunner status on election night was not surprising. Advertisement Bellows, 51, of Manchester, stood out among the candidates for her pushback on Trump in recent years, arguing on the campaign trail that she was the only one with experience standing up to the president and his administration. As secretary of state, Bellows made national headlines in 2023 with her [decision to keep Trump off the Republican primary ballot](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/12/28/maine-secretary-of-state-says-donald-trump-cant-appear-on-states-2024-presidential-primary-ballot/). In February, she announced [she wouldn’t give undercover vehicle license plates](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/17/maine-pauses-issuance-of-undercover-license-plates-after-request-from-border-security/) to immigration agents, prompting state Republican leaders to [discuss impeaching](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/02/04/are-republicans-trying-again-to-impeach-shenna-bellows/) her. Jackson, 57, of Allagash, spent 20 years in the Maine Legislature and served three consecutive terms as Senate president up until 2024, when he was termed out of seeking reelection. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43653117_20260618_RankedChoice_07.jpg) Hannah Pingree staffers Jonathan Asen, who leads the campaign, and Katherine Knox read Hannah Pingree the results of the ranked-choice runoff in the Democratic gubernatorial primary at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta on Friday. Pingree won the runoff, beating Dr. Nirav Shah in the final round. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) On the campaign trail, he talked about building a political system that better represents working-class Mainers and expressed frustration that bills to improve the lives of workers had been repeatedly blocked by both Republican Gov. Paul LePage and Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Jackson was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont progressive. Graham Platner, Maine’s progressive U.S. Senate candidate, said last month [that he ranked Jackson first](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/22/graham-platner-shares-picks-for-maine-gubernatorial-primary/) on his ballot, possibly giving a preelection boost to Jackson’s popularity with voters. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [hannah pingree](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/hannah-pingree/), [Nirav Shah](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/nirav-shah/), [Shenna Bellows](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/shenna-bellows/), [Troy Jackson](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/troy-jackson/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/rachel-ohm) [Rachel OhmStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/rachel-ohm) Rachel covers state government and politics for the Portland Press Herald. It’s her third beat at the paper after stints covering City Hall and education. Prior to her arrival at the Press Herald in. [More by Rachel Ohm](https://www.pressherald.com/author/rachel-ohm)