Joe Baldacci
Joe Baldacci (Democratic Party) is a member of the Maine State Senate, representing District 9. He assumed office on December 1, 2020. His current term ends on December 1, 2026. Baldacci is not running for re-election to Maine State Senate District 9 in 2026.
Baldacci (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026.
Biography
Joe Baldacci lives in Bangor, Maine. Baldacci earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Maine in 1987 and a J.D. from the University of Maine in 1991. His career experience includes working as a lawyer. Baldacci co-founded the Maine Association for Public Interest Law.[1]
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Baldacci was assigned to the following committees:
- Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee
- Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Chair
- State and Local Government Committee, Chair
2023-2024
Baldacci was assigned to the following committees:
- Senatorial Vote Committee
- Health and Human Services Committee, Chair
- State and Local Government Committee
2021-2022
Baldacci was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2026
See also: Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026
Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Democratic primary)
Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 (June 9 Republican primary)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Maine District 2
Matthew Dunlap (D), Paul LePage (R), and Gregory Ward (Independent) are running in the general election for U.S. House Maine District 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Matthew Dunlap (D) | |
 | Paul LePage (R) | |
| Gregory Ward (Independent) (Write-in) | ||
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for U.S. House Maine District 2
The following candidates advanced from the Democratic ranked-choice voting primary for U.S. House Maine District 2 on June 9, 2026: Matthew Dunlap in round 3. The results of Round 3 are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds use the tabs above to select a round and the table will update.
Candidate | % | Total votes | Transfer | Round eliminated | ||
| Matthew Dunlap | 52.5 | 35,924 | 10,243 | Advanced (3) | |
 | Joe Baldacci | 47.5 | 32,555 | 6,632 | 3 | |
 | Jordan Wood | 0.0 | 0 | -25,377 | 3 | |
 | Paige Loud | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total votes: 78,805 Total exhausted votes: 10,326 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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The following candidates advanced from the Democratic ranked-choice voting primary for U.S. House Maine District 2 on June 9, 2026: Matthew Dunlap in round 3. The results of Round 2 are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds use the tabs above to select a round and the table will update.
Candidate | % | Total votes | Transfer | Round eliminated | ||
| Matthew Dunlap | 33.4 | 25,681 | 2,748 | Advanced (3) | |
| Joe Baldacci | 33.7 | 25,923 | 957 | 3 | |
| Jordan Wood | 33.0 | 25,377 | 2,665 | 3 | |
| Paige Loud | 0.0 | 0 | -8,194 | 2 | |
| Total votes: 78,805 Exhausted votes through round 2: 1,824 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
The following candidates advanced from the Democratic ranked-choice voting primary for U.S. House Maine District 2 on June 9, 2026: Matthew Dunlap in round 3. The results of Round 1 are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds use the tabs above to select a round and the table will update.
Candidate | % | Total votes | Transfer | Round eliminated | ||
| Matthew Dunlap | 29.1 | 22,933 | 0 | Advanced (3) | |
| Joe Baldacci | 31.7 | 24,966 | 0 | 3 | |
| Jordan Wood | 28.8 | 22,712 | 0 | 3 | |
| Paige Loud | 10.4 | 8,194 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total votes: 78,805 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jared Golden (D)
Republican primary
Republican primary for U.S. House Maine District 2
The following candidates advanced from the Republican ranked-choice voting primary for U.S. House Maine District 2 on June 9, 2026: Paul LePage in round 1.
Candidate | % | Total votes | Transfer | Round eliminated | ||
| Paul LePage | 100.0 | 69,233 | 0 | Advanced (1) | |
| Total votes: 69,233 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Clark (R)
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
Joe Baldacci received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
2024
See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Maine State Senate District 9
Incumbent Joe Baldacci defeated Richard Cyr in the general election for Maine State Senate District 9 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Baldacci (D) | 58.6 | 11,601 |
| Richard Cyr (R) | 41.4 | 8,196 | ||
| Total votes: 19,797 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sean Hinkley (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Joe Baldacci in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 1,111 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Sean Hinkley in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 1,382 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Baldacci in this election.
Pledges
Baldacci signed the following pledges.
2022
See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Maine State Senate District 9
Incumbent Joe Baldacci defeated Suzette Furrow in the general election for Maine State Senate District 9 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Baldacci (D) | 59.2 | 9,055 |
| Suzette Furrow (R) | 40.8 | 6,253 | ||
| Total votes: 15,308 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Plowman (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Joe Baldacci in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 1,524 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: James Plowman in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 1,302 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
2020
See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Maine State Senate District 9
Joe Baldacci defeated Sean Hinkley and Kristie Miner in the general election for Maine State Senate District 9 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Baldacci (D) | 55.0 | 10,960 |
| Sean Hinkley (R) | 33.7 | 6,706 | ||
 | Kristie Miner (Unenrolled) | 11.3 | 2,248 | |
| Total votes: 19,914 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Hiatt (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Joe Baldacci in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 3,912 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 9
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: John Hiatt in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 1,910 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
2016
Maine's 2nd Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Incumbent Bruce Poliquin (R) defeated former state Sen. Emily Cain (D) and Jay Parker Dresser (Write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Poliquin defeated Cain in 2014 to win election to the seat. Neither candidate faced a primary challenger on June 14, 2016.[2][3][4]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Bruce Poliquin Incumbent |
54.8% | 192,878 | |
| Democratic | Emily Ann Cain | 45.2% | 159,081 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 224 | |
| Total Votes | 352,183 | |||
| Source: Maine Secretary of State | ||||
Baldacci briefly ran in the race. However, he dropped out in February 2016.[5]
2014
Baldacci was a potential candidate in the 2014 election for the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd District.[6] On December 31, 2013, Baldacci indicated he would not run.[7]
In a statement on his Facebook page Baldacci said, “My parents taught us to do the best job we can on the job in front of us. I believe more important than seeking higher office right now is my duty to complete as well as I can the jobs I have in front of me and complete obligations I had made some time ago.”[7]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Baldacci did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Baldacci's campaign website stated the following:
Working Hard to Make Government Work for You
The Maine Way used to be simple—work hard, be kind, and be persistent. And it used to pay off. But today, Mainers are finding it harder and harder to get ahead. Grocery prices keep going up, home ownership is a dream of the past, and our seniors are having to choose between paying for their medications or refilling their oil tank.
Mainers are doing what they’ve always done, but corporate greed, Washington dysfunction, and stagnant wages have made it impossible to get ahead. It doesn’t have to be like this, and Joe is ready to fight to change it. Growing up, Joe’s parents always told him and his siblings “everyone pitches in, and you look out for each other.” Now, Joe is ready to look out for you in Congress.
Protecting Social Security and Medicare
Social Security isn’t a privilege, it’s your right. Nearly 26% of people in Maine’s Second Congressional District are 65 or older and heavily rely on Social Security and Medicare to make ends meet. We need to protect your benefits while ensuring that generations to come are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This can all be done without taxes on your benefits, increasing the retirement age, or cutting programs that help seniors afford their much-needed prescriptions.
While in the legislature, Joe opposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs that would have drastically affected Medicare premiums and nursing home funding. They were able to reverse those cuts, providing much-needed funding to nursing homes, hospitals, and essential services for seniors living at or below 250% of the poverty level.
Defending Reproductive Rights
The government should never come between you and your medical decisions. Joe has been pro-choice his entire life. His strong belief in the Constitution, in every individual’s right to privacy, is his guiding force. We must protect abortion access while increasing funding for essential reproductive health care services including IVF, birth control access, cancer screenings, and STI testing.
Since 2022 when Roe vs. Wade was overturned, Joe Baldacci has earned a perfect score from Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. As the state faced severe cuts at the federal level for reproductive health care, Joe helped to secure $6 million in funding for Maine’s family planning services network. Additionally, when HIV/AIDS transmission rates increased in his district, Joe fought for additional funding for AIDS education in our schools.
In Congress, Joe will fight to codify Roe, increase funding for sexual health education, and ensure that people are getting the reproductive health care they need, regardless of ability to pay, because our communities are safer when they are healthier.
Funding Our Public Schools and Defending our Teachers
Investing in our schools, teachers, and children is an investment in our future. We have to properly pay teachers and support staff, decrease teacher-student ratios, and address the unfair funding disparities caused by the problematic property tax funding formula that leaves children in the most vulnerable areas behind.
A huge problem that our schools face is attracting and retaining quality workers. In Congress, Joe will fight to raise the minimum starting salaries for teachers and support staff so our students receive the best education with fewer disruptions and turnover. Additionally, Joe will fight for our most vulnerable students by increasing funding for special education and for schools in low-income communities. Currently in Maine, schools in lower-income districts have about $1,751 less per student than their counterparts in higher-income districts. We have to ensure that all children, regardless of family income level or zip code, receive the best education possible.
Protecting Maine's Oceans and Public Lands
Maine’s oceans and forests aren’t just beautiful landscapes, they’re our way of life. Mainers from the Coast to the County depend on our fisheries and our agricultural output for their livelihoods. We have a duty to protect our environment to ensure that future generations of loggers, farmers, and fishermen are able to thrive.
This is the 2nd most rural Congressional district in the entire country, and Joe will ensure that we are investing in affordable green alternatives to fossil fuels that will lower costs while also protecting the lands and oceans that Mainers for generations have enjoyed.
Making Housing More Affordable
More and more Mainers are thinking of homeownership as a thing of the past. We need to restrict predatory companies from coming into our state, buying up all of the housing inventory, and then renting units at prices that working Mainers cannot afford.
Additionally, Joe has sponsored legislation in the State House to increase property tax exemptions incrementally while adjusting for inflation yearly. He has also been a champion for mobile home park owners, sponsoring legislation for property owners to give advance notice to mobile homeowners if they are planning to sell their lots. This would give the homeowners the ability to come together and buy the space where they live if it is being sold. Joe would continue that fight in Congress, helping to keep people in their homes longer and turning Maine into a state of homeowners once again.
Supporting Working Families
We need to relieve the burden that many working parents feel by investing in quality, affordable childcare options and providing guaranteed family leave. Additionally, we need to pay our childcare providers wages that reflect the essential work they’re doing.
By expanding the Child Tax Credit and providing a monthly stipend to families with children, it would cut child poverty in half in the state of Maine. Also, in the legislature, Joe sponsored a bill for childcare providers to be reimbursed based on enrollment rates and not attendance rates, so the cost burden is not shifted to providers and families. We also have to invest in universal pre-K programs, ensuring that families who don’t have the ability to pay for private programs are not left behind.
Addressing the Health Care Crisis
There’s no way around it—our health care system is broken. We need to decrease insurance costs, decrease prescription drug costs, keep rural hospitals open and funded, and ensure that all medical bills are transparent and fair. No one should be choosing between buying food and buying medications, or paying for a trip to the doctor and paying their mortgage. We need universal health care.
Joe currently serves on the Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services Committee where he has extensive experience advancing legislation to make health care more affordable and accessible. Additionally, we have to continue to address the nursing and care workers shortage that we’re experiencing. Maine has the oldest population in the country and our people deserve to age with dignity—whether that is in their own home with help or in a facility. We have to compensate the workers who provide this essential care fairly, increase incentives for people to provide this care, and decrease workplace conditions that lead to burnout and turnover.
Standing for Civil Rights and Equality for All
Joe will fight for all Mainers regardless of gender, skin color, sexuality, ability, or income level. We have to stop the division and protect our vulnerable populations.
At the federal level, we need to pass the Equality Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and efforts to safeguard your private data so it cannot be used against you.
Making Corporations and Millionaires Pay Their Fair Share
It’s long overdue that corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. We are facing funding deficits for education, health care, veterans’ programs, environmental protections, childcare and more. Additionally, it is not fair that middle-class Americans are often paying higher taxes than people making millions of dollars yearly. We need to impose a modest tax on income over a million dollars annually and corporations who have thrived at the expense of workers.
— Joe Baldacci's campaign website (April 15, 2026)
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Baldacci did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Baldacci did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Baldacci did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2025.
- Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
- Maine Policy Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes related to taxes, spending, education, and regulations.
- Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
- Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2024.
- Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
- Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
- Wabanaki Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that would put the tribes in Maine on equal footing with other federally recognized tribes.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2023.
- Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
- Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
- Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2022.
- Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
- Maine Policy Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes on 14 bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
- Wabanaki Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that would put the tribes in Maine on equal footing with other federally recognized tribes.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2021.
- Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
- Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Maine State Senate District 9 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Maine Senate Democrats, "Joe Baldacci," accessed January 16, 2021
- ↑ Centralmaine.com, "Cain seeks 2016 rematch for Maine’s 2nd District seat," March 3, 2015
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Bangor City Councilor Joe Baldacci to run for US House seat," July 29, 2015
- ↑ CNN, "Election Results," accessed November 8, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedwithdraw - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedrun - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Press Herald, "Joseph Baldacci says he won’t run for Congress," accessed January 2, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Geoffrey Gratwick (D) |
Maine State Senate District 9 2020-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
City Councilor Bangor Maine |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Mayor Bangor Maine |
Succeeded by - |
