Everything on your Nov. 3 ballot in Bangor
City Council is only part of it. Here is every race a Bangor voter will see, from U.S. Senate to School Committee, with each candidate's party and hometown and, in the big races, what they have said on the top issues.
Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. Positions come from news coverage of the October debates and from campaign announcements, and each one links to its source. We do not endorse anyone. Your state House district depends on your address: check it with the Maine voter lookup.
Federal
U.S. Senate
Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term. Troy Jackson became the Democratic nominee in July after the primary winner, Graham Platner, withdrew. Maine SOS, July 27Maine SOS, Sept. 22Maine Public, Oct. 7
- Susan Collins Republican · BangorIn the U.S. Senate for 30 years; chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 7
- Troy Jackson Democrat · AllagashLogger and former state lawmaker who served six years as president of the Maine Senate. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 7
Where they stand
| Topic | Susan Collins (R) | Troy Jackson (D) |
|---|---|---|
| Health care | Opposes Medicare for All, calling it a "big government" takeover that would mean longer waits. Voted against the final "One Big Beautiful Bill," in part over its Medicaid cuts, after voting to let it reach the floor so she could add a $50 billion rural health fund. Maine Public, Oct. 7 | Supports universal coverage for everyone under Medicare. Called the $50 billion rural health fund "a pittance" next to the Medicaid cuts. Maine Public, Oct. 7 |
| ICE (federal immigration enforcement) | Reform it, don't abolish it: "You cannot abolish ICE. It does need reform." Says the ICE funding bill her committee passed includes money for body cameras, training and inspectors general. Maine Public, Oct. 7 | Abolish ICE. Criticized the estimated $35 billion in added ICE funding that passed Collins' committee: "You don't put more money into an agency that is killing people across this country." Maine Public, Oct. 7 |
| The war with Iran | Says she voted nine times to end the war once it passed the 60-day limit presidents have to fight without approval from Congress. Maine Public, Oct. 7 | Blames Collins and other Republicans for not pushing back on President Trump over the war, which has driven up oil and heating oil prices. Maine Public, Oct. 7 |
| Collins' voting record with President Trump | Cites an analysis showing she voted with Trump 72% of the time and against her own party more than any other senator. Maine Public, Oct. 7 | Cites an analysis showing Collins voted with Trump 96% of the time. Maine Public, Oct. 7 |
U.S. House, 2nd District
An open seat: Rep. Jared Golden is not running again. This race uses a ranked-choice ballot. Maine SOS, July 27Morning Star, Oct. 1Maine SOS
- Matt Dunlap Democrat · Old TownMaine state auditor. Maine SOS, July 27Morning Star, Oct. 1
- Paul LePage Republican · AugustaFormer governor of Maine. Maine SOS, July 27Morning Star, Oct. 1
Where they stand
| Topic | Matt Dunlap (D) | Paul LePage (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Health care | Campaigned on Medicare for All, which he says would take time. First, restore the Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that expired at the start of 2026. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Opposes Medicare for All and would not support expanding Medicaid. Points to the federal $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to support rural care. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| Energy costs and the war with Iran | Pass a war powers resolution to end the war in Iran, which he says would bring oil prices down quickly. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | "I do not support the war in Iran," but does not believe in the War Powers Act. Would ask the president to restrict diesel exports and suspend state and federal fuel taxes. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| Tariffs | "Tariffs are a tool, they should not be used as a blanket policy." Wants Congress to exercise more authority over them. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Does not support the tariffs as they are structured now; wants the president and Canada's prime minister back at the negotiating table. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| Housing | Make financing easier for builders, such as a federal revolving loan fund. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Focus federal housing money on the elderly, and stop people in the country illegally "from coming into our state and taking what housing is available." Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| ICE (federal immigration enforcement) | ICE should exist in some form, but not the way it is operating today. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Says ICE has "run roughshod" over communities but can be improved with proper training, transparency and accountability. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
Statewide
Governor
An open seat: Gov. Janet Mills cannot run for a third straight term. Positions below are from the first two televised debates, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 2Maine Public, Oct. 9
- Rick Bennett Independent · OxfordState senator and former chairman of the Maine Republican Party; left the party in 2025. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 9
- Bobby Charles Republican · LeedsFormer federal prosecutor and U.S. assistant secretary of state. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 2
- Hannah Pingree Democrat · North HavenFormer speaker of the Maine House; led Gov. Mills' Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. Maine SOS, July 27Maine Public, Oct. 2Morning Star, Oct. 1
Where they stand
| Topic | Rick Bennett (I) | Bobby Charles (R) | Hannah Pingree (D) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | Revive manufactured housing, audit what slows down permits, and use state funds as a guarantee so first-time buyers need smaller down payments. On $100 million a year: "it gets us nowhere near what we need to do." Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Cut red tape so homes get built faster: "The only way you get the housing stock up is to methodically encourage building." Says $100 million a year is not enough. Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Spend $100 million a year to speed up housing production, and require the state Department of Environmental Protection to respond to housing proposals within 90 days. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| Property taxes | Expand the Property Tax Fairness Credit and increase state funding for county jails to ease county taxes. Maine Public, Oct. 2 | Quadruple the homestead exemption to $100,000 and have the state repay towns 100% of the cost. Would end "unfunded mandates" on towns and look for savings in schools. Maine Public, Oct. 2 | Double the homestead exemption, paid for by taxing second homes owned by non-residents more. That would take a change to the Maine Constitution. Maine Public, Oct. 2 |
| State taxes and spending | Open up the state budget process to public hearings. Says the budget "has grown 77% in 10 years, twice the rate of inflation." Morning Star, Oct. 1 | Cut income taxes (he has not said by how much) and cut at least $1 billion from state spending in his first year. Morning Star, Oct. 1Maine Public, Oct. 2 | Supports the new 2% surcharge on income over $1 million: "I believe in taxing wealth, not work." Did not commit to spending cuts, pointing to a $1 billion budget shortfall. Morning Star, Oct. 1 |
| The state law limiting local police cooperation with ICE | Supports it: "ICE has not earned the benefit of the doubt in the way that they've acted in Maine." Maine Public, Oct. 9 | Opposes it, and blames it for ICE's conduct: "State and local and federal law enforcement should always be talking to each other." Maine Public, Oct. 9 | Supports it. Maine Public, Oct. 9 |
Maine Legislature
Maine Senate, District 9
An open seat: Sen. Joe Baldacci ran for Congress instead. Both candidates are running as Clean Election candidates, with public campaign financing. Maine SOS, July 27WABI, Jan. 13BDN, Oct. 7
- Stephen Carey Unenrolled · BangorRunning as an independent, not enrolled in any party. Maine SOS, July 27BDN, Oct. 7
- Amy Roeder Democrat · BangorState representative from Bangor in her third House term; chairs the Legislature's Labor Committee. Maine SOS, July 27WABI, Jan. 13
Where they stand
| Topic | Stephen Carey (U) | Amy Roeder (D) |
|---|---|---|
| Stated priorities | His campaign website pledges to "audit the books in Augusta," lower energy and other costs and "protect biological girls' sports, scholarships and spaces." BDN, Oct. 7 | Affordability: "take on the rising costs of housing, childcare, and energy." WABI, Jan. 13 |
Maine House, District 21
Source: Maine SOS, July 27Maine House, Oct. 9
- Frank Casella Republican · Bangor
- Ambureen Rana Democrat · Bangor
Maine House, District 22
Uncontested. Republican Colleen O'Neal won her primary but withdrew in July, too late for a replacement. Maine SOS, July 27Maine SOS, Sept. 22Maine House, Oct. 9
- Laura Supica Democrat · Bangor
Maine House, District 23
An open seat: Rep. Amy Roeder is running for state Senate. Maine SOS, July 27Maine House, Oct. 9WABI, Jan. 13
- Brian Ames Republican · Bangor
- Victoria Kornfield Democrat · Bangor
Maine House, District 24
Uncontested. Maine SOS, July 27Maine House, Oct. 9
- Sean Faircloth Democrat · Bangor
Penobscot County
County offices
Every county race on Bangor's ballot has one candidate. Maine SOS, July 27City of Bangor, June 9
| Office | Candidate | Party | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| District Attorney, District 5 | Chelsea Lynds | Democrat | Hampden |
| Sheriff | Troy Morton | Republican | Eddington |
| Judge of Probate | Beth Seaney | Republican | Hermon |
| Register of Deeds | Susan Bulay | Republican | Old Town |
| County Treasurer | Glenn Mower | Republican | Bangor |
City of Bangor
Bangor City Council
12 candidates for 3 at-large seats. This is the race the rest of VoteBangor covers in depth. City of Bangor
Bangor School Committee
Uncontested: three candidates for three at-large seats. The city has not said whether Jamie Beck, whose husband is City Councilor Michael Beck, can take office if elected; the City Charter bars immediate family of sitting councilors from serving on city boards, and the city's legal department says that does not keep her off the ballot. Beck says the rule was not meant to cover the School Committee. Fox Bangor, Sept. 8BDN, Sept. 2City of Bangor
- Jamie Beck Nonpartisan · Bangor
- Katie Brydon Nonpartisan · BangorCurrent School Committee member, seeking a second term. Fox Bangor, Sept. 8LWV forum, Oct. 7
- Emily Tilton Nonpartisan · Bangor
School Committee candidates at the League of Women Voters forum Watch at 0:00
Ballot questions
No statewide referendum questions. We found no questions certified for the Nov. 3 ballot. The one citizen initiative that tried to qualify, on school sports and facilities by sex, was ruled invalid for lacking valid signatures, and Maine's highest court upheld that on July 10. A $45 million farm and forestry bond failed in the Legislature in April. WABI, July 10Maine Public, April 15
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Candidates are from the Maine Secretary of State's certified list Maine SOS, July 27Maine SOS, Sept. 22. See an error? Sean@MaineWhisper.com