Contact: Aly Ferguson
aly@newpolitics.org; 480-363-6465
WASHINGTON D.C. (February 12, 2026) — New Politics today endorsed Shenna Bellows for Governor of Maine. Bellows, a dedicated public servant who has served her community through AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, and currently serves as Maine's 50th and first female Secretary of State, represents the principled servant leadership that New Politics aims to uplift.
Emily Cherniack, Founder and Executive Director of New Politics, released the following statement:
“Shenna Bellows knows what it means to serve because she's spent her entire career doing it—from serving in the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, to leading the ACLU of Maine, serving in the state senate and breaking barriers as Maine's first female Secretary of State. Bellows is focused on what matters to all Mainers: good schools, affordable healthcare, and the opportunity to build a good life. That's the kind of leadership that transcends party lines and gets results, and New Politics is proud to back her campaign.”
Shenna Bellows grew up in Hancock, Maine, as the daughter of a carpenter and a greenhouse worker. Her family didn't have electricity or running water until she was in the fifth grade, but her parents instilled in her the values of resilience, hard work, and community. After earning her B.A. in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College, Shenna dedicated herself to service, volunteering with the Peace Corps in Panama and AmeriCorps VISTA in Nashville, Tennessee. She returned home to Maine to serve as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, where she fought to protect the rights and freedoms of all Mainers. In 2016, Shenna won a state senate race in a districtthat also voted for Donald Trump, proving that her message of opportunity, affordability, and quality education resonates across party lines. As Maine's Secretary of State, she has modernized government services with initiatives like online BMV appointments, automatic voter registration, and secure online voter registration. She has also stood firm in protecting Maine's election integrity against attempts at federal interference. Now, Shenna is running for Governor because Maine needs leaders with the vision and courage to meet the challenges of this moment. Learn more at bellowsformaine.com.
New Politics is an organization that revitalizes American democracy by recruiting, developing, and electing leaders across the ideological and political spectrum who have committed their lives to serving their communities and our country, either through military service, national service organizations like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, or by demonstrating strong service-based leadership in their community. New Politics support includes strategic advising and training in all aspects of a candidate’s campaign, such as fundraising, communications, organizing, hiring, and team building. New Politics has raised over $40 million to support over 475 candidates, successfully electing more than 200 of them to office, from Congress to School Board.
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