Ryan Fecteau

{{short description|American politician and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Ryan Fecteau

|office = 103rd Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives

|term_start = December 4, 2024

|term_end =

|predecessor = Rachel Talbot Ross

|successor =

|term_start1 = December 2, 2020

|term_end1 = December 7, 2022

|predecessor1 = Sara Gideon

|successor1 = Rachel Talbot Ross

|state_house2 = Maine

|district2 = 132nd

|term_start2 = December 4, 2024

|term_end2 =

|predecessor2 = Erin Sheehan

|successor2 =

|state_house3 = Maine

|district3 = 11th

|term_start3 = December 3, 2014

|term_end3 = December 7, 2022

|predecessor3 = Paulette Beaudoin

|successor3 = Tiffany Strout

|birth_name = Ryan Michael Fecteau

|birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1992|9|18}}}}

|birth_place = Biddeford, Maine, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Dylan Doughty|2024}}

|education = Catholic University (BA)

|website = {{URL|ryanfecteau.com|Campaign website}}

}}

Ryan Michael Fecteau (born September 18, 1992) is an American politician who serves as the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. A Democrat, Fecteau represents Maine House District 11, consisting of a portion of Biddeford. At the time of his first election as Speaker of the House in December 2020, Fecteau was both the youngest active state Speaker in the United States and the first openly gay person to serve as Speaker of the Maine House.

Fecteau was born and raised in Biddeford, Maine and graduated from Biddeford High School. He attended the Catholic University of America where he was active in student government and LGBTQ+ advocacy. He was first elected to Maine House District 11 in 2014 when he was 21 years old and was re-elected in 2016, 2018 and 2020. In November 2018, Fecteau was elected Assistant Majority Leader of the Maine House, and in December 2020, and again in December 2024, he was elected Speaker of the House. He is an account executive at Catalist.

Early life and education

Fecteau is a native of Biddeford, Maine and the grandson of French-Canadian immigrants.{{R|biddefordsfecteau}}{{R|Advocate2020}}{{R|PPHspeakernom}} He was raised by a single mother who worked in healthcare, and Fecteau grew up in subsidized housing;{{R|Advocate2020}} the family often relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program{{R|towercua}} for food. Fecteau graduated from Biddeford High School,{{R|biddefordsfecteau}} spending two years as the student representative to the Biddeford School Committee during his time there.{{R|2014millenials}}

After high school, Fecteau attended the Catholic University of America{{R|biddefordsfecteau}}{{R|PPHspeakernom}} where he majored in both political science and theological & religious studies. He was the president of the CUAllies, the University's LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and led a campaign to have the group officially recognized by the University, an effort which ultimately failed.{{R|towercua}}{{R|cualliesrejected}}{{Cite web|last=Lukpat|first=Alyssa|date=June 1, 2021|title=Catholic University LGBT club continues decade-long fight for official status|url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/catholic-university-lgbt-club-continues-decade-long-fight-official-status|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=National Catholic Reporter|language=en}} While at CUA, Fecteau was the first openly gay speaker of the Student Government General Assembly{{R|towercua}} and completed internships at the Democratic National Committee, the Human Rights Campaign, Catalist, and in the office of US Representative Chellie Pingree.{{R|speakerbio}} He was the first person in his family to graduate from college.{{R|PPHspeakernom}}{{R|Advocate2020}}

Career

Fecteau has worked as a field organizer for Mainers United for Marriage in 2012, was the chairman of the Biddeford Democratic Committee from 2011 to 2012, and was an editorial director at Trueline Publishing in Portland, Maine.{{R|ballotpedia}}{{R|2014millenials}} He has worked at several Ogunquit, Maine businesses since 2014 and at the Perkins Cove.{{R|2018raceannouncement}} In late 2020, he was hired as an account executive at Catalist.{{R|cnnyoungestspeaker}}{{R|PPHspeakernom}}

Political experience

File:Maine State Capitol (35759599072).jpg

In 2013, while he was still a student at CUA, Fecteau began his campaign for Maine House District 11. He traveled to Maine on weekends to campaign and recruited friends to call voters during the weekends when he could not make the trip.{{R|towercua}} Fecteau defeated fellow Democrat David Flood 65%–35% in the 2014 House District 11 Democratic primary and beat Republican Debi Davis 67%–33% in the general election.{{R|ballotpedia}} He was 21, the third-youngest member of the Maine legislature and the youngest openly gay state representative in the United States.{{R|advocatefirstelection}}{{R|biddefordsfecteau}}

Fecteau ran unopposed in the 2016 Democratic primary and defeated Republican Renee Morin 68%–32%.{{R|ballotpedia}}

=Assistant Majority Leader=

In 2018, Fecteau was again unopposed in the primary and defeated Republican Emily Rousseau{{R|2018raceannouncement}} 62%–38%.{{R|ballotpedia}} On November 16, 2018, the Maine House Democrats elected him Assistant House Majority Leader. Matt Moonen served as Majority Leader and Sara Gideon was the House Speaker.{{R|assthousemajority}} Fecteau’s signature legislation was a ban on the harmful practice of conversion therapy in Maine. In 2018, despite the Legislature’s support, Governor LePage was the only Republican Governor in the nation to veto a conversion therapy bill.{{Cite web|date=July 7, 2018|title=Maine Republican Governor Paul LePage vetoed a bill on Friday that would have banned conversion therapy|url=https://www.newsweek.com/maine-governor-lepage-vetoes-gay-conversion-therapy-ban-1012981|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}} In 2019, Governor Janet Mills signed the bill into law.{{Cite web|date=May 30, 2019|title=Mills Signs State 'Conversion Therapy' Ban|url=https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2019-05-30/mills-signs-state-conversion-therapy-ban|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Maine Public|language=en}} Fecteau also worked on a bipartisan measure to expand affordable housing in Maine, the single largest investment in housing in Maine’s history.{{Cite web|last=Dwyer|first=Paul|title=Signed bill aims to create 1,000 affordable housing units in Maine over the next eight years|url=https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Signed-bill-aims-to-create-567811041.html|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=www.wabi.tv|date=February 12, 2020 |language=en}}

=House Speaker=

Fecteau ran unopposed in both the House District 11 Democratic primary and the general election in 2020.{{R|ballotpedia}} On December 2, 2020, the Maine House elected him as their 103rd Speaker.{{R|130thswornin}} While Fecteau ordinarily would have been sworn in by Governor Janet Mills, Mills was quarantining after possible exposure to COVID-19, so Acting Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Andrew Mead conducted the ceremony instead. At the time of his swearing-in, Fecteau was the youngest presiding officer in the United States, the youngest Maine House speaker since 1842 and the first out speaker in Maine history. {{R|cnnyoungestspeaker}}{{R|Advocate2020}}{{R|130thswornin}}

During his time as Speaker, he worked with Senate President Troy Jackson to pass LD 1, the COVID-19 Patient Bill of Rights{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=March 12, 2021|title=Maine approves 'bill of rights' for COVID-19 patients|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/03/12/maine-approves-bill-of-rights-for-covid-19-patients/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Press Herald}} and continue the work of the 130th Legislature through a hybrid model of virtual public hearings and occasional distanced sessions at a Civic Center{{Cite web|last=Mistler|first=Steve|date=December 2, 2020|title=In Historic Day, Maine Legislature Kicks Off Session At Augusta Civic Center|url=https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2020-12-02/in-historic-day-maine-legislature-kicks-off-session-at-augusta-civic-center|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Maine Public|language=en}} before returning to the state house in June 2021.{{Cite web|last=WGME|date=June 2, 2021|title=Maine Legislature returns to State House for first time since beginning of pandemic|url=https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-legislature-returns-to-state-house-for-first-time-since-beginning-of-pandemic|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=WGME}} His bill to expand dental care to 217,000 low-income Mainers was funded as part of the biennial budget.{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Kevin|date=June 3, 2021|title=Maine House and Senate advance bill to expand dental coverage under MaineCare|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/06/03/maine-house-advances-bill-to-expand-dental-coverage-under-mainecare/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Press Herald}}{{Cite web|date=June 5, 2021|title=Editorial: Lawmakers close to finally expanding access to dental care|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2021/06/05/opinion/editorials/lawmakers-close-to-finally-expanding-access-to-dental-care/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US}} Fecteau's multi-year efforts to fund capital improvements for Maine’s career and technical education centers finally passed in 2021 through his bill for $20 million and an additional $20 million was designated through American Rescue Plan funding.{{Cite web|last=Mendros|first=Dina|date=February 13, 2020|title=Biddeford lawmaker sponsors career technical education bill|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/13/biddeford-lawmaker-sponsors-career-technical-education-bill/|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Press Herald}} In June 2020 Fecteau joined with Republicans to defeat a bill aiming to extend overtime protections to farm workers; however, he did back a bill to provide farm workers the right to organize.{{Cite web|url=https://mainebeacon.com/dems-join-with-gop-to-sink-farmworker-wage-bill-but-pass-act-to-let-ag-workers-unionize/|title = Dems join with GOP to sink farmworker wage bill but pass act to let ag workers unionize|date = June 17, 2021}}{{R|newscenterofficialspeaker}}{{Cite web|title=Summary of LD 151|url=http://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/summary.asp?ID=280078122|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=legislature.maine.gov}} In the same year, legislation he worked on to reform the state’s troubled unemployment insurance system became law.{{Cite news|last=|date=July 16, 2021|title=New law sets out to modernize Maine unemployment insurance system|work=Maine Biz|url=https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/new-law-sets-out-to-modernize-maine-unemployment-insurance-system|access-date=July 16, 2021}} Because of another bill passed by Speaker Fecteau in 2021, Maine municipalities could be incentivized to adopt zoning ordinances that encourage more affordable housing in Maine towns.{{Cite web|last=Mistler|first=Steve|date=March 22, 2021|title=Bill Would Form Commission To Study Affordable Housing Shortages In Maine|url=https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2021-03-22/bill-would-form-commission-to-study-affordable-housing-shortages-in-maine|access-date=July 29, 2021|website=Maine Public|language=en}} He authored legislation that allowed property owners to build an accessory dwelling unit on lots previously zoned exclusively for single-family housing.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Maine Legislature advances bill to address housing crisis - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/15/metro/maine-legislature-advances-bill-address-housing-crisis/ |access-date=April 16, 2022 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}} He was later hired by Avesta Housing to serve on its board.{{cite web | url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/14/avesta-hires-former-maine-house-speaker-from-biddeford/ | title=Avesta hires former Maine House speaker from Biddeford | date=November 14, 2023 }} Fecteau was term-limited in 2022, and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Erin Sheehan in the House and by Rachel Talbot Ross as House Speaker.

Following Sheehan's retirement, Fecteau announced his candidacy for his former seat.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-26 |title=Ryan Fecteau, former Maine house speaker, announces campaign to return |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/politics/maine-politics/97-8f4f498a-2fe1-4e6e-adcc-eb6cf6622918 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=newscentermaine.com |language=en-US}} He was re-elected unopposed in November. In December 2024, Fecteau was re-elected to a second, non-consecutive term as Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.{{Cite web |last=Cover |first=Susan |title=Fecteau, Daughtry chosen to lead Maine House and Senate |url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2024/12/04/fecteau--daughtry-chosen-to-lead-maine-house-and-senate |website=Spectrum News |access-date=December 13, 2024 |date=December 4, 2024}}

Personal life and recognition

Fecteau lives in Biddeford with his Goldendoodle, Pancake.{{R|cnnyoungestspeaker}} In 2015, he received Youth Innovator of the Year award from The Trevor Project, a group focused on suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and queer youth, at their annual TrevorLIVE event.{{R|trevorlive}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2014 Maine House District 11 Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 495

|percentage = 65.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = David Flood

|votes = 263

|percentage = 34.8%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 756

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2014 Maine House District 11 General Election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 2,475

|percentage = 67.1%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Debi Davis

|votes = 1,209

|percentage = 32.8%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,684

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2016 Maine House District 11 Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes =

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes =

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2016 Maine House District 11 General Election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 3,194

|percentage = 67.9%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Renee Morin

|votes = 1,512

|percentage = 32.1%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,706

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2018 Maine House District 11 Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 949

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 949

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2018 Maine House District 11 General Election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 2,395

|percentage = 62.0%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Emily Rousseau

|votes = 1,466

|percentage = 38.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,861

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2020 Maine House District 11 Democratic Primary}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 1,271

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 1,271

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box begin no change | title= 2020 Maine House District 11 General Election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Ryan Fecteau

|votes = 4,113

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,113

| percentage = 100.0%{{R|ballotpedia}}

}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Maine House of Representatives district 11 General Election, 2020

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ryan Fecteau (incumbent)

| votes = 4,096

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 4,096

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Maine House of Representatives district 132 General Election, 2024

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Ryan Fecteau (incumbent)

| votes = 4,096

| percentage = 100%

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,524

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |title=Ryan Fecteau, Gay and 28, Breaks Ground as Maine House Speaker |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/11/13/ryan-fecteau-gay-and-28-breaks-ground-maine-house-speaker |website=The Advocate |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413011158/https://www.advocate.com/politics/2020/11/13/ryan-fecteau-gay-and-28-breaks-ground-maine-house-speaker |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=November 13, 2020}}

{{cite web |last1=Thistle |first1=Scott |last2=Miller |first2=Kevin |title=Keeping their distance, Maine lawmakers sworn in for historic session |url=https://www.centralmaine.com/2020/12/02/maines-legislature-sworn-in-under-pandemic-restrictions/ |website=Centralmaine.com |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413011635/https://www.centralmaine.com/2020/12/02/maines-legislature-sworn-in-under-pandemic-restrictions/ |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=December 2, 2020}}

{{cite web |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |title=Maine Could Make History With Gay Governor, Youngest Out Legislator |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2014/06/11/maine-could-make-history-gay-governor-youngest-out-legislator |website=The Advocate |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150204185705/http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2014/06/11/maine-could-make-history-gay-governor-youngest-out-legislator |archive-date=February 4, 2015 |date=June 11, 2014}}

{{cite web|title=Youth Innovator Award to go to Ryan Fecteau |url=http://www.trevorlive.org/youth-innovator-award-to-go-to-ryan-fecteau/|website=Trevorlive.org|access-date=April 13, 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703042428/http://www.trevorlive.org/youth-innovator-award-to-go-to-ryan-fecteau/|archive-date=July 3, 2015}}

{{cite web |last1=Thistle |first1=Scott |title=Democrats nominate Ryan Fecteau as next speaker of Maine House |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/12/democrats-nominate-fecteau-as-next-house-speaker-for-maine/ |website=Portland Press Herald |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413015836/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/11/12/democrats-nominate-fecteau-as-next-house-speaker-for-maine/ |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=November 12, 2020}}

{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=Eva |title=Representative Ryan Fecteau Returns to CUA |url=http://cuatower.com/2019/11/representative-ryan-fecteau-returns-to-cua/ |website=The Tower: Catholic University's Independent Newspaper |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413153539/http://cuatower.com/2019/11/representative-ryan-fecteau-returns-to-cua/ |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=April 2020}}

{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Tammy |title=Biddeford's Fecteau is Maine House Speaker |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/12/08/biddefords-fecteau-is-maine-house-speaker/ |website=Portland Press Herald/Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413160000/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/12/08/biddefords-fecteau-is-maine-house-speaker/ |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=December 8, 2020}}

{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Gillian |title=House District 11: Two-term representative faces Republican |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/10/26/house-district-11-two-term-representative-faces-republican/ |website=Portland Press Herald |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413163429/https://www.pressherald.com/2018/10/26/house-district-11-two-term-representative-faces-republican/ |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=October 26, 2018}}

{{cite web |last1=Dezenski |first1=Lauren |title=Maine just elected the nation's youngest House speaker |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/maine-youngest-house-speaker-elected/index.html |website=CNN Politics |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413171308/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/02/politics/maine-youngest-house-speaker-elected/index.html |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=December 2, 2020}}

{{cite web |title=McLean Center Wednesday Colloquies "Democracy in the Hallways of a State House" |url=https://cua.campuslabs.com/engage/event/6179164 |website=The Nest, The Catholic University of America |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413174042/https://cua.campuslabs.com/engage/event/6179164 |archive-date=April 13, 2021}}

{{cite web |last1=Mannino |first1=Gabrielle |title=Fecteau officially becomes youngest Maine Speaker of the House in nearly 180 years |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/fecteau-officially-becomes-youngest-maine-speaker-of-the-house-in-nearly-180-years/97-1ae1a015-12b1-4faf-a7ce-ad1f93adf548 |website=News Center Maine |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413201803/https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/fecteau-officially-becomes-youngest-maine-speaker-of-the-house-in-nearly-180-years/97-1ae1a015-12b1-4faf-a7ce-ad1f93adf548 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |date=December 2, 2020}}

{{cite web |title=Ryan Fecteau |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Fecteau |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210413201903/https://ballotpedia.org/Ryan_Fecteau |archive-date=April 13, 2021}}

{{cite web |last1=Riley |first1=John |title=CUAllies Rejected |url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2012/12/cuallies-rejected/ |website=Metro Weekly |access-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210415184605/https://www.metroweekly.com/2012/12/cuallies-rejected/ |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |date=December 20, 2012}}

{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Gillian |title=Millennial candidates see youth as asset in State House races |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2014/10/20/millennial-candidates-see-youth-as-asset-in-state-house-races/ |website=Portland Press Herald |access-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210415200637/https://www.pressherald.com/2014/10/20/millennial-candidates-see-youth-as-asset-in-state-house-races/ |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |date=October 20, 2014}}

{{cite web |title=House Democrats elect Biddeford's Fecteau as Assistant Majority Leader |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/18/house-democrats-elect-biddefords-fecteau-as-assistant-majority-leader/ |website=Portland Press Herald/Journal Tribune |access-date=April 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210415195238/https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/18/house-democrats-elect-biddefords-fecteau-as-assistant-majority-leader/ |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |date=November 18, 2018}}

}}