Chellie Pingree

Chellie Marie Pingree, a member of the Democratic Party, has served as the U.S. Representative for Maine's 1st congressional district since 2009. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she moved to Maine as a teenager and later earned a B.A. from the College of the Atlantic in 1979. Before entering federal politics, Pingree was an organic farmer and small business owner on North Haven island, where she founded a knitting business and later a local inn and restaurant. She began her political career on the local school board and as a tax assessor before serving in the Maine Senate from 1992 to 2000, where she became the first woman to serve as Senate Majority Leader in 1996. Between 2003 and 2006, she led the non-profit advocacy group Common Cause as its president and CEO. In Congress, Pingree is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and sits on the House Agriculture Committee. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Maine’s 1st District and was part of the first majority-female congressional delegation in U.S. history. A prominent advocate for sustainable agriculture and food policy, she has authored significant legislation such as the Food Recovery Act to reduce food waste and has been a key figure in shaping the U.S. Farm Bill. Her legislative work frequently focuses on rural economic development, environmental conservation, and expanding access to healthcare for veterans and rural populations.

Pingree supports 'Medicare for All' and considers healthcare a human right; she has introduced legislation to lower prescription drug costs by allowing imports from Canada and remains a staunch supporter of reproductive rights. On environmental issues, she is a leading advocate for organic farming and climate change mitigation, frequently pushing for policies that reduce food waste and incentivize sustainable agriculture. Her economic platform includes raising the federal minimum wage, increasing corporate disclosure, and supporting small businesses through federal grants and stimulus. Regarding immigration, she supports comprehensive reform that provides a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and streamlines legal immigration while opposing family separation and large funding increases for ICE detention centers. In foreign policy, she has historically opposed the Iraq War, supports aid to Ukraine, and advocates for diplomatic resolutions to global conflicts, including in the Middle East.