Hannah Pingree

Hannah Pingree was born in {{Birth based on age as of date|48|2025|06|10|noage=yes}} in Belfast, Maine.{{Cite web |date= |title=Meet Hannah |url=https://hannahforgovernor.com/meet-hannah-pingree/ |access-date=June 28, 2025 |website=Hannah Pingree for Governor |language=en-US}} She grew up on the island of North Haven, where her father Charlie Pingree is a boat-builder.{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Walter |date=October 3, 2008 |title=Chellie Pingree: Maine island living shapes longtime politician's views |url=http://www.bangordailynews.com/2008/10/03/news/chellie-pingree-maine-island-living-shapes-longtime-politicians-views/ |access-date=2025-06-28 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}} She graduated from North Haven Community School and Brown University with a degree in political science.{{Cite news |last=Thistle |first=Scott |date=January 17, 2019 |title=Mills names former House Speaker Hannah Pingree to head new office of innovation |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/17/mills-names-hannah-pingree-as-head-of-new-office-of-innovation/ |access-date=June 28, 2025 |work=Portland Press Herald}} She was a 1998–1999 Fellow for Leadership in Public Affairs for the Coro Foundation in New York City.{{Cite news |date=December 3, 2008 |title=Hannah Pingree Elected Speaker of Maine House |work=US Fed News Service, Including US State News |id={{ProQuest|470832272}} |agency=HT Media}}

Prior to serving in the Legislature, Pingree worked as an intern at the New York City Office of Management and Budget in 1998, then as political director and "Election 2000" producer for iVillage.com from 1999 to 2001. She was a fundraiser for the unsuccessful United States Senate campaign of her mother Chellie Pingree in 2002,{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} who later was elected to represent Maine's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. From 2002 to 2004, she worked as development director of Waterman's Community Center.

Pingree served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010, representing the 36th district. During her legislative tenure, she served as Chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services and as a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs.{{cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/future/about/our-team?q=about/our-team|title=Our Team|work=Office of Policy Innovation & Future|access-date=June 10, 2025}}{{cite web |date=January 18, 2019 |title=Mills names former House Speaker Hannah Pingree to head new office of innovation |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/18/mills-names-former-house-speaker-hannah-pingree-to-head-new-office-of-innovation/ |access-date=June 10, 2025 |work=The Portland Press Herald}} Her legislative work focused on energy efficiency, housing, health care, and bipartisan budget initiatives.{{cite web|url=https://www.themainemag.com/hannah-pingree/|title=Hannah Pingree|work=The Maine Mag|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

In her third term, Pingree was elected House Majority Leader (2006-2008) at age 30, becoming the third woman in Maine history to serve in the role. She was subsequently elected Speaker of the House from 2008 to 2010, serving at age 32 as the second woman in Maine history to hold the position.{{cite web|url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/06/10/uncategorized/hannah-pingree-enters-maine-gubernatorial-race-2025-joam40zk0w/|title=Hannah Pingree enters the Democratic race to be Maine's next governor|work=Bangor Daily News|date=June 10, 2025|access-date=June 10, 2025}} In her final term (2008), she ran unopposed for reelection.

Pingree co-sponsored legislation that became the Kid-Safe Product Act, which addressed toxic chemicals in household products.

In 2009, while serving as Speaker, Pingree testified before a Congressional committee alongside her mother, advocating for national campaign finance reform based on Maine's Clean Elections system.{{cite web|url=https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=614|title=Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree call for national campaign finance reform|work=U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree|date=July 30, 2009|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

In 2010, Time magazine included Pingree in its list of 40 leaders under 40, describing her as a "rising star of American politics."{{cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2010/10/18/politics/time-magazine-honors-hannah-pingree/|title=Time magazine honors Hannah Pingree|work=The Bangor Daily News|access-date=May 11, 2016}}

After leaving the legislature, Pingree managed the family inn and restaurant, Nebo Lodge, and served on the North Haven Community School Board. She also served on the board of trustees of the Island Institute. She led fundraising campaigns to build an island community center, a new public school, and an elder-care facility on North Haven. She also managed North Haven Sustainable Housing, an organization that builds housing for year-round residents and island seniors, and hosted a weekly public affairs show on Maine Public Broadcasting Network.{{cite web|url=https://www.themainemag.com/radio/radio-guests/hannah-chellie-pingree/|title=Hannah and Chellie Pingree|work=The Maine Mag|date=February 23, 2018|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

In 2012, when U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe announced her retirement, Pingree briefly considered running for her mother's congressional seat if Chellie Pingree had decided to run for the Senate. She collected signatures for a potential congressional campaign but ended her consideration when her mother decided against the Senate race.{{cite web|url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2012/03/04/politics/aclu-advocate-portland-lawmaker-explore-1st-district-seat-race/|title=Hannah Pingree, ACLU advocate, Portland lawmaker explore 1st District seat race|work=Bangor Daily News|date=March 5, 2012|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

Pingree worked as a part-time consultant for Safer Chemicals, Safer Families, a national coalition advocating for better regulation of chemicals. On July 24, 2012, she testified before the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works about chemical regulations, particularly flame retardants.

In 2017, Pingree became a prominent advocate for Maine's ranked choice voting law, writing op-eds opposing legislative efforts to repeal the citizen-initiated measure and calling for its preservation.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2017/06/30/hannah-pingree-ranked-choice-voting-gives-voters-more-voice/|title=Hannah Pingree: Ranked-choice voting gives voters more voice|work=Portland Press Herald|date=June 30, 2017|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

In January 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills appointed Pingree to lead the newly created Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/01/17/mills-names-hannah-pingree-as-head-of-new-office-of-innovation/|title=Mills names former House Speaker Hannah Pingree to head new office of innovation|work=The Portland Press Herald|date=January 17, 2019|access-date=June 10, 2025}} In this role, she oversaw cross-agency efforts on climate change, housing, economic development, and other long-term policy challenges. She also co-chaired the Maine Climate Council.

As co-chair of the Maine Climate Council, Pingree oversaw development of Maine's climate action plan, "Maine Won't Wait." According to the Mills administration, the plan led to the installation of more than 100,000 heat pumps by 2023, reaching the state's 2025 target ahead of schedule.{{cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-announces-departure-hannah-pingree-director-governors-office-policy-innovation|title=Governor Mills Announces Departure of Hannah Pingree|work=Office of Governor Janet T. Mills|date=May 15, 2025|access-date=June 10, 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/02/07/maine-gas-industry-heat-pumps/|title=Heat pumps prove popular in Maine, despite oil industry pushback|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 10, 2023|access-date=June 10, 2025}} The heat pump initiative faced significant opposition from fossil fuel industry groups, who argued the technology was not ideal for Maine's climate and funded campaigns questioning the effectiveness of heat pumps in cold weather conditions. The National Oilheat Research Alliance, representing heating oil sellers, funded promotional campaigns that directed viewers to websites containing what experts characterized as exaggerated or misleading claims about electric-powered heat pumps.

Under her leadership, GOPIF established the Community Resilience Partnership in 2021, which according to state data included 263 participating communities and provided $18.8 million in grants for climate and energy projects. Following severe storms in late 2023 and early 2024, GOPIF coordinated a $60 million relief package for Maine communities.

Industry observers have noted potential challenges for Maine's clean energy workforce development programs, including federal funding uncertainty and the possibility of tariffs affecting equipment costs.{{cite web|url=https://themainemonitor.org/heat-pump-workforce-development/|title=Can Maine's heat pump and workforce development boom last?|work=The Maine Monitor|date=May 20, 2025|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

GOPIF also worked on LD 1 legislation for emergency planning and severe weather preparation, which was enacted in April 2025. Pingree resigned from the position on May 16, 2025.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2025 |title=Hannah Pingree, a possible gubernatorial candidate, to leave Mills administration |url=https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-05-15/hannah-pingree-a-possible-gubernatorial-candidate-to-leave-mills-administration |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Maine Public |language=en}}

On June 10, 2025, Pingree announced her candidacy for the 2026 Democratic primary for Governor of Maine.{{cite web|url=https://www.wmtw.com/article/hannah-pingree-announces-campaign-for-maine-governor/65019587|title=Hannah Pingree announces campaign for Maine Governor|work=WMTW|access-date=June 10, 2025|date=June 10, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/06/10/hannah-pingree-announces-run-for-maine-governor/|title=Hannah Pingree announces run for Maine governor|work=Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel|access-date=June 10, 2025|date=June 10, 2025}}

Her campaign announcement included events in Rockland, Lewiston, Biddeford, and Portland, where she outlined a platform focusing on economic opportunity, climate resilience, affordable housing, and health care.{{cite web|url=https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/hannah-pingree-officially-launches-run-for-governor/|title=Hannah Pingree officially launches bid for governor|work=Maine Morning Star|access-date=June 10, 2025|date=June 10, 2025}}

A Pan Atlantic Research poll released in May 2025, before her official announcement, showed Pingree with 20% support among likely Democratic primary voters. She entered a Democratic primary field that includes Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Senate President Troy Jackson, and Angus King III, son of U.S. Senator Angus King. The Democratic nominee will face historical electoral trends, as Maine has not consecutively elected governors from the same party since the 1950s.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2025/06/10/hannah-pingree-announces-run-for-maine-governor/|title=Hannah Pingree announces run for Maine governor|work=Lewiston Sun Journal|date=June 10, 2025|access-date=June 10, 2025}}

Pingree is married to Jason Mann and has two children. She resides on North Haven with her family. Her sister Cecily is an artist and Maine Arts Commission Fellow.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal | last = Wright | first = Virginia | title = Maine's Newest Political Dynasty | journal = Down East: The Magazine of Maine | issue = January 2009 }}

• [https://hannahforgovernor.com/ Hannah Pingree for Governor] official 2026 campaign website
• [http://www.ynetvlive.com/video/499/YIP-Hannah-Pingree-Maines-Speaker-of-The-House-2010 Hannah Pingree Interview]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Interview with Maine Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=36769 | fec= | congress= }}

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Category:1970s births

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Maine Legislature

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:Democratic Party members of the Maine House of Representatives

Category:Living people

Category:Majority leaders of the Maine House of Representatives

Category:People from North Haven, Maine

Category:Speakers of the Maine House of Representatives

Category:Women state legislators in Maine