Here’s a look at what’s on the ballot in Knox County this November. For information on how and where to vote, see our resources page. If you have questions about the upcoming election, please contact your town clerk.
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County races
In Knox County, the following county offices are elected: Judge of Probate, Register of Probate, Sheriff, County Commissioner (three seats), and District Attorney. In Knox County, the county treasurer and register of deeds are appointed positions. You can read about what each of these offices do by clicking the dropdowns below.
County commissioners are elected to oversee county government operations in each of Maine’s 16 counties, from the budget to the county jail to emergency management services. In recent years, they have been responsible for distributing millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act and opioid settlement funds.
Counties have either three, five or seven commissioners, each of whom serves a separate district within the county. This year, Franklin County is expanding from three to five commissioners to reflect its growing population.
Commissioners serve four-year terms. At least two county commissioners in each county are on the ballot this November. Of the 37 county commissioner seats up this year, only 15 are contested races.
The sheriff is the top law enforcement officer in the county, responsible for enforcing laws and ensuring public safety. The sheriff oversees the county jail, manages deputies and other staff, and works with other law enforcement agencies.
Duties include enforcing state and local laws, providing security for county courts, serving legal documents and executing warrants. A county sheriff can be either appointed or elected. This year, the sheriff position is up for election in Aroostook, Franklin, Kennebec and Sagadahoc counties.
There has been some concern over mental health training protocols within sheriff departments across the state in the wake of the Lewiston shooting.
Treasurers are the bookkeepers of a county’s finances: they manage county expenditures, ensuring funds are spent where directed by county commissioners, and provide annual reports on county revenues.
Androscoggin, Cumberland and Knox county commissioners all appoint their treasurers, while voters in the rest of Maine’s counties elect their treasurer every four years. Only the Waldo County treasurer is up for election this November.
County treasurers must be residents of their county but do not require any licenses or qualifications. This caused some controversy in 2018, when Hancock County elected a treasurer without finance experience.
Probate judges oversee wills, estates, name changes and guardianships of adults and minors. They must be attorneys and are elected to four-year terms. Maine’s probate courts operate independently in each county, and the judges are generally part-time elected officials.
Probate judges handle disputes related to wills and estates, approve the appointment of guardians (who have the authority to make decisions for adults the court deems incapacitated), and hear cases related to trusts and adoptions.
Probate judges are up for reelection this year in nine counties: Aroostook, Kennebec, Lincoln, Oxford, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo and York.
Samantha Hogan’s Maine Monitor series on Maine’s probate courts, which won her a Livingston Award for Young Journalists, uncovered systemic problems. Among her findings were that the probate courts do not employ investigators to check on adults under guardianships or conduct financial audits, and that eight adults under public guardianship died in unexplained ways in three years.
A register of probate serves as the custodian and record-keeper for all documentation relating to wills, guardianships and conservatorships, adoptions, trusts and name changes filed with a county’s probate office.
Paramount among the register’s responsibilities is ensuring that all documents, from name-change petitions to the transfer of real estate dictated by a will, are properly recorded and submitted into the public record. Among the register’s other duties are to certify and record name changes and account for and report to the county treasurer all fees paid to the probate office.
This year, registers of probate are on the ballot in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo and York counties.
The register of deeds is responsible for managing county property records: recording all documents and survey plans that affect property in the county as well as maintaining an index of buyers’ and sellers’ names.
Some countries are now providing fraud alerts as scams in which people attempt to sell or mortgage a property by impersonating an owner are growing.
The register of deeds is appointed in Androscoggin, Cumberland and Knox counties, and elected every four years in Maine’s other 13 counties. This year, only the Somerset register of deeds is on the ballot.
District attorneys are prosecutors that represent the government against people who have been charged with a crime, and are responsible for prosecuting the majority of criminal cases that occur within their districts (there’s an exception for murders, which are handled by the attorney general’s office).
After police charge an individual with a crime, the district attorney’s office determines whether there is enough evidence to bring a charge to court. Maine has a large backlog of criminal cases and is building a new network of public defender’s offices across the state to represent poor clients in cases brought by the district attorney’s offices.
All of the state’s eight district attorneys are elected to serve four-year terms and are up for reelection in 2026; none are on the ballot this year.
Here are the state’s eight prosecutorial districts and district attorneys:
First District — York: Kathryn Slattery
Second District — Cumberland: Jacqueline Sartoris
Third District — Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford: Neil McLean Jr.
Fourth District — Kennebec and Somerset: Maeghan Maloney
Fifth District — Penobscot and Piscataquis: Christopher Almy
Sixth District — Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Waldo: Natasha Irving
Seventh District — Hancock and Washington: Robert C. Granger
Eighth District — Aroostook: Todd Collins
This year, there are three county races on the ballot: two county commission seats and register of probate. You can read about the candidates and see how they responded to our county office candidate survey by clicking on the races below.
Julie Allen, of Warren, is currently the deputy register of probate. She is running as a write-in candidate to replace register of probate Elaine Hallett, who is retiring after 45 years working for the county. Allen has served as deputy register for more than two decades and has worked for Knox County for 33 years.
Allen did not respond to The Monitor’s survey.
Morgan Hynd, of Warren, is running as a write-in candidate after the race saw no candidates in the June primary. The current commissioner, Richard Parent Jr. of Warren, is not seeking reelection after 16 years in the role. Hynd has served on the RSU 40 School Board for five years and is the director of the Bingham Program, a charity dedicated to improving health services in Maine. She is also on the board of the Maine Philanthropy Center and on the steering committee of the Children’s Oral Health Network of Maine.
Tell us a bit about your relevant experience for this position.
I have many years of experience supporting good governance in both the nonprofit and public sectors. In particular, my time on the RSU 40 School Board taught me the nuances of managing a large, publicly funded budget, and the responsibility of delivering exceptional services that the community can afford. While I have a lot to learn about county government, I know that the skills I have developed for the last 16 years will serve me well in this role.
Why should voters choose you?
I am running for this seat because I have a deep commitment to public service and I have the skills needed to fulfill the duties of this role. When I learned that no one was running for District 2, it felt like a good opportunity to put those skills to work and to better understand an important part of local government that has a significant impact on people’s lives.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the office you are running for, and how do you plan on addressing it?
At present, the most significant challenging facing Knox County is the hiring of a new County Administrator. The Board of Commissioners needs to be very clear on what kind of leadership is required to do this job well. They need to agree on what qualities are most important in that leader and they need to recruit based on that consensus. I’m a big proponent of professional development opportunities, as well as team building opportunities, and the County needs to include resources to make both possible. The right leader needs to feel supported by the Board while also having the autonomy to make decisions to keep the County running. It’s up to the Board of Commissioners to create the kind of environment that will attract high quality candidates to the position.
Anything else you think voters should know?
I am running as a write-in candidate for the Knox County Commissioner District 2 seat, serving Warren, Friendship, Cushing, Union, Appleton, and Washington. I am a resident of Warren and have lived in Knox County for 14 years. If you vote for me, please write in my first and last name and be sure to fill in the circle next to my name — your vote only counts if the circle is filled in!
Gordon V. Page, of Owls Head, has lived in Knox County for more than 40 years. He has served as the chair of the Owls Head Select Board and ran for the Maine Senate in 2020. He has served as the interim county administrator and as the interim president of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce. He previously worked in seafood processing, radio and cable TV, hospitality and rail transportation.
Tell us a bit about your relevant experience for this position.
High on the list of my relevant experience for this position is the fact that I worked closely with the current Knox County Court of Commissioners as the top appointed County official for five months as the interim County Administrator, and for the past year, I have served on the Knox County Charter Review Committee. From February through June of 2024, I worked full time for the County, and dealt on a daily basis with department heads and staff, as well as contract attorneys who assist in negotiating and navigating the many legal issues that the County is faced with. This experience has provided me with a behind-the-scenes understanding that no other candidate has of the opportunities and responsibilities of County government to provide the best possible service to the taxpayers and other County stakeholders.
A primary function of the County Commissioners is fiscal oversight to ensure that budgets are managed properly, that County employees are treated fairly, and that the tax burden is kept within reasonable limits. In addition to my many years of managing operations and projects for a variety of business types, including commercial and non-profit organizations, I was an elected member of the Owls Head Select Board and Board of Assessors from 2018-2023, serving two years as chair. I am currently serving as a member of the Owls Head Zoning Board of Appeals, and served as a member of the Owls Head Planning Board several years ago. Prior to moving to Owls Head in 1991, I was on the South Thomaston Fire Department, where I served as a Lieutenant and Training Officer.
Much of my experience over the past decade has been focused on municipal betterment through economic and community development. Through the years I have been recognized by the Maine Tourism Association and the Rockland Kiwanis Club, and in 2019 I was recognized by the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce as Community Person of The Year.
Why should voters choose you?
The short answer to why voters should choose me is my promise of dedication to the mission. My professional experience and my community involvement demonstrates that I possess the ability and drive to work hard, and in this instance, for the benefit of the taxpayers.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the office you are running for, and how do you plan on addressing it?
By the November election, the current Knox County Administrator will have been on the job for six months. (Editor’s note: The county administrator resigned in September, after this response was collected.) Two of the three Commission seats, (District 2 and District 3), will be filled by newly elected Commissioners, and the District 1 seat holder will be finishing his 2nd year of a four year term. Despite the fact that the County can boast that it has many strong and seasoned department heads and very good employees, the new members of the commission will need to come up to speed very quickly. The County has collective bargaining agreements with four separate unions, owns and operates four aging brick and mortar facilities, employs 100 people, oversees multiple and varied departments, and is responsible for the care and safety of those individuals who are incarcerated in the County correctional facility, which is managed by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The commission will need to ensure that staffing at all levels is optimized, that it provides the administration with the necessary tools to perform, that County buildings are maintained, and that a culture of fairness and goodwill exists in the workplace. The municipalities of Knox County face a dearth of people willing to fill the important role of first responders. From 911 emergency telecommunicators to police officers to firefighters and EMS personnel, there is a need for more men and women to enter into those professions. As the number of fire calls goes down, primarily due to fire prevention education, the number of emergency medical calls continues to spiral up, primarily due to our aging population. Law enforcement organizations have also suffered from fewer applications due in part to significant negative national exposure of the bad apples in that profession, and the increased level of mental health crisis calls. The County needs to be a catalyst in solving these issues, and to further the conversation about regionalization, especially of fire and EMS assets. I have spent many years making it my business to know and understand the needs of the greater community, and to build a network of friends and associates who also prioritize their efforts in the best interests of their neighbors.
Anything else you think voters should know?
After having been a registered democrat for 22 years, and then a registered republican for 27 years, I became unenrolled in 2021. My independent status is a far better reflection of who I am as a person, and hopefully serves to eliminate the influence of partisan politics in day-to-day County business.
Marc Ratner, of Camden, previously served on the Camden Select Board. Before moving to Maine he worked for Warner Bros. Records in Los Angeles and as a reserve deputy and EMT with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He continues to work in the music business and has significant experience in search and rescue operations.
Tell us a bit about your relevant experience for this position.
I have spent years doing public service work. That continues here in Maine. I currently am on the Camden Budget Committee and before that was on the Opera House and Energy Committees. In-between my committee service I spent six years (two terms) on the Camden Select Board and using my rescue experience I am a board and active member of our local rescue team — Coastal Mountain Search & Rescue.
Why should voters choose you?
I became interested in the work of the Knox County Commissioners while on the Camden Select Board. I realized that most people were not even aware of the county role in our local government and it’s a very important role. Among other responsibilities the commissioners oversee both the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and the Knox Regional Communications Center. This past year the communication center had to close for some months and that impacted our public safety. Having years of law enforcement and EMT experience I know how important the 911 call system is and how essential the people that staff the center are. Maine has the oldest population in the country and Knox County has the oldest population in Maine. Odds are when someone in Knox County makes a 911 call — it will be for medical experience. While on the Camden Select Board I had many conversations with the local fire chiefs and town executives about how to improve our EMS system and how important and necessary it would be for the county to get involved and help bring to towns together. That is a goal of mine. In addition my municipal service totally prepares me for all the other work that the county is involved in. I believe that strong county involvement — almost like a big brother (or sister) can help bring the local towns together to solve issues that are bigger than just one town.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the office you are running for, and how do you plan on addressing it?
I am looking at an EMS system that needs help and towns that need help working with each other. The County needs to get more involved. The commissioners need to reach out and communicate with the towns and the citizens and bring them together. We need to get involved. We need to talk to each other.
Anything else you think voters should know?
One final very important note. District Three is far more than just the towns of Camden, Rockport, Hope & Owl’s Head — it also includes many of our local islands — Vinalhaven, North Haven, Isle au Haut, Matinicus and others. I am very aware of that — my wife spent five years working at the Island Institute and I learned much about island culture from her.
Senate races
The Maine Senate is the upper chamber of the Maine Legislature and has 35 elected members. Senate terms are two years, and senators are limited to four consecutive terms. Counties can consist of multiple districts, which may cross county lines.
Running for the seat are Nicole Grohoski (D) and Sherman Hutchins (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Anne Beebe-Center (D) and Scott Rocknak (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Cameron Reny (D) and Dale Harmon (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
House races
The Maine House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Maine Legislature, has 151 elected members. Representatives are elected for a two-year term, and are limited to four consecutive terms. Counties consist of multiple districts, which may cross county lines.
Running for the seat are Holly Eaton (D) and Jason Joyce (I).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Michael Ray (D) and Joseph McLaughlin (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Victoria Doudera (D) and Cory Raymond (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Valli Geiger (D) and Jamie Hopkins (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Ann Matlack (D) and Heather Sprague (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are William Pluecker (I) and Ray Alden Thombs Jr (R).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Running for the seat are Abden Simmons (R) and Jennifer Stone (D).
To learn more about this legislative district, visit our statehouse directory. On election night, the page will display real-time race results.
Federal races
This November, Maine voters will see three federal races on the ballot: the presidential race, a U.S. Senate race, and a U.S. House of Representatives race.
U.S. President & Vice President
Foremost for many this election is the presidential race. Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden dropped out in July, is running alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. She is facing former president Donald Trump, who chose Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.
In an arrangement unique to Maine and Nebraska, Maine awards two electoral votes based on the statewide total and one for each congressional district. In 2020, Joe Biden won three of Maine’s four electoral votes, carrying Maine overall with 9 percentage points and the 1st congressional district by 23 percentage points. The 2nd congressional district went for Donald Trump by 7 percentage points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won three of the four electoral votes, carrying the state by 3 percentage points, and Trump was awarded one for the 2nd congressional district.
Candidates:
Kamala Harris & Tim Walz (D)
Donald Trump & J.D. Vance (R)
Chase Oliver & Mike ter Maat (L)
Jill Stein & Rudolph Ware (G)
Cornel West & Melina Abdullah (Justice for All Party)
Declared write-in candidates:
Shiva Ayyadurai & Crystal Ellis (I)
Claudia De la Cruz & Karina Garcia (Party for Socialism & Liberation)
Robert Dyer & Daniel Whitten (Defenders of America Party)
Peter Sonski & Lauren Onak (American Solidarity Party)
U.S. Senate
Senator Angus King, the incumbent, has held this seat as an Independent since January 2013, and served as Maine’s governor from 1995 to 2003. (He has voted overwhelmingly in line with Democrats over the years.) Jason Cherry, a former criminal defense attorney and FBI special agent, is also running for the seat as an Independent. Long-time government employee David Costello is running as a Democrat. Former Maine GOP chair Demi Kouzounas is running as a Republican. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who has held her seat since 1997, is not on the ballot this year; she is up for re-election in 2026.
Candidates:
Angus King (I)
Demi Kouzounas (R)
Jason Cherry (I)
David Costello (D)
U.S. House of Representatives — 1st District
Both of Maine’s congressional districts are on the ballot this November. Voters in Knox County are in the 1st Congressional District. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, is the incumbent and has held the seat since January 2009. Ronald Russell, a Republican, is an Army veteran and business owner. Ethan Alcorn, an Independent, has had various jobs and previously ran for governor.
Candidates:
Chellie Pingree (D)
Ronald Russell (R)
Ethan Alcorn (I)
State Referendum Questions
There are five statewide referendum questions that will appear on the ballot this November:
An Act to Limit Contributions to Political Action Committees That Make Independent Expenditures: Do you want to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office?
This question, which stems from a citizen initiative, asks whether voters want to impose a cap on contributions to super PACs, political action committees that raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates. Supporters of the measure believe it would curb the amount of dark money influencing elections, and expect it to be challenged in court.
An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization: Do you favor a bond issue of $25,000,000 to provide funds, to be awarded through a competitive process and to leverage matching private and federal funds on at least a one-to-one basis, for research and development and commercialization for Maine-based public and private institutions in support of technological innovation in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing?
This question, a bond issue that stems from a bill passed earlier this year, asks whether voters want to designate funds to the Maine Technology Institute to bolster scientific research and technological innovation among public and private organizations.
An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Restore Historic Community Buildings: Do you favor a $10,000,000 bond issue to restore historic buildings owned by governmental and nonprofit organizations, with funds being issued contingent on a 25% local match requirement from either private or nonprofit sources?
This question, a bond issue that stems from a bill passed earlier this year, asks whether voters want to designate funds to the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, which will offer grants to nonprofits and government agencies looking to restore historic buildings in their communities.
An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Promote the Design, Development and Maintenance of Trails for Outdoor Recreation and Active Transportation: Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multi-use trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?
This question, a bond issue that stems from a bill passed earlier this year, asks whether voters want to designate funds to create the Maine Trails Program, which would develop and maintain trails across the state designated for activities such as hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and horseback riding; for ATVs and snowmobiles; and for both kinds of use.
An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag: Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official flag of the State?
This question, which stems from a bill passed last year, asks whether voters want to replace the current flag — blue with a coat of arms featuring a farmer and a fisherman — with the former pine tree and blue star design that was in use before 1909. The Secretary of State held a contest for the model flag design and selected a winner in August.
