Shenna Bellows on Principles & Values

	Shenna Bellows on Principles & Values

We the people do have the power to make change

[At "Hands Off" rally]: "We don't have billions or millions here in Maine, we're just regular Mainers speaking up, but we the people do have the power to make change and to stand up for our communities and to help each other," explained Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who attended the rally as a guest speaker. Source: FOX Bangor (Fox News) on 2026 Maine Gubernatorial race , Apr 5, 2025

Maine is the best place on earth

[Campaign announcement]: "Today, I'm proud to announce I'm running for governor," said Bellows. "I love Maine. I know that we have the power to lead this country, quality education, and economic development and climate resilience."

"Maine is the best place on earth," said Bellows on Wednesday morning. "Maine values and our way of life are worth fighting for."

Source: Ellsworth American, "Announce," on 2026 Maine Governor race , Mar 26, 2025

Calls herself a progressive libertarian

Labeling herself as a progressive libertarian, the crowd seemed intrigued by Bellows' earnest and knowledgeable responses. How her stance on the global concerns will further her candidacy is somewhat of a question. By representing and meeting at the small-town, local level, she hopes that her message will spread. As federal [actions] effect local issues, it is important, she believes, to talk to those being directly effected. Source: Machias Valley News Observer on 2014 Maine Senate race , Dec 4, 2013

Head of Maine ACLU, and community organizer

Shenna Bellows has served as the Executive Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union since March of 2005. She returned home to Maine, where she grew up, after spending two years as a National Field Organizer at the ACLU Legislative Office in Washington, D.C. In Washington, Shenna was a leader in post-9/11 issues, developing a field program around the Patriot Act, as well as working to defeat several constitutional amendments that would have undermined the criminal justice system, freedom of speech, and LGBT rights.

In 2001 and 2002, Bellows was a Program Associate at Community IMPACT! in Nashville, TN, launching neighborhood-based, youth-centered programming in economically and racially diverse neighborhoods.

Source: Maine Humanities Council biography, mainehumanities.org , Nov 14, 2013

We have an opportunity for change in Washington

I am running for United States Senate because I believe we need more courage and honesty in Washington.

Unfortunately, both are in short supply.
But we have an opportunity for change.
To make things better.
To put government back to work for everyone and not just the few.
To get our country back on the right track.
And that work starts here and it starts today.

Source: Campaign kick-off speech in Portland , Oct 24, 2013

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*Other governors on Principles & Values:*			*Shenna Bellows on other issues:*
*ME Gubernatorial:* Angus King Paul LePage *ME Senatorial:* Angus King Betsy Sweet David Costello Demi Kouzounas Sara Gideon Susan Rice	*Mayoral/Gubernatorial races 2025* (seated Jan. 2026): NJ Governor: Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Rep. NJ-11. vs.Jack Ciattarelli (R), State Assemblyman (2011-2018). NYC Mayor: Zohran Mamdani (D), New York State Assembly, 2021-2025. vs.Andrew Cuomo (I), former governor of New York, 2011-2021. vs.Curtis Sliwa (R), CEO of the Guardian Angels. VA Governor: Abigail Spanberger (D), U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024). vs.Winsome Earle-Sears (R), Lt. Gov. 2022-2026. *Gubernatorial races 2026*: AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited) vs.Click Bishop(R) vs.Nancy Dahlstrom(R) vs.Tom Begich(D) AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited) vs.Doug Jones(D) vs.Tommy Tuberville(R) vs.Will Boyd(D) vs.Yolanda Flowers(D) AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election) vs.Fredrick Love(D) AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election) vs.Andy Biggs(R) vs.David Schweikert(R) vs.Karrin Taylor Robson(R) CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited) vs.Antonio Villaraigosa(D) vs.Eleni Kounalakis(D,Withdrew to run for state treasurer) vs.Eric Swalwell(D) vs.Tom Steyer(D) vs.Xavier Becerra(D) vs.Zoltan Istvan(L) CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited) vs.Greg Lopez(R) vs.Michael Bennet(D) vs.Phil Weiser(D) CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election) vs.Ryan Fazio(R) vs.Jen Tooker(R,withdrew) FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited) vs.Byron Donalds(R) vs.David Jolly(R) vs.Jason Pizzo(I) vs.Jerry Demings(D) GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited) vs.Brad Raffensperger(R) vs.Chris Carr(R) vs.Keisha Lance Bottoms(D) HI: Josh Green(D,(No opponent yet)) IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring) vs.Brad Sherman (IA)(R) vs.Randy Feenstra(R) vs.Rob Sand(D) ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election) vs.Terri Pickens(D) IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election) vs.Darren Bailey(R) KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited) vs.Cindy Holscher(D) vs.Jeff Colyer(R) vs.Ty Masterson(R) vs.Vicki Schmidt(R) MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election) vs.Mike Kennealy(R) MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election) vs.Dan Cox(R) vs.Christopher Bouchat(R) ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited) vs.Shenna Bellows(D) vs.Ed Crockett(I) vs.Robert Charles(R)	*Gubernatorial races 2026*: MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited) vs.Aric Nesbitt(R) vs.Perry Johnson(R) vs.Jocelyn Benson(D) vs.John James(R) vs.Mike Cox(R) vs.Tom Leonard(R) vs.Mike Duggan(I) vs.Garlin Gilchrist(D,withdrew) MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring) vs.Jeff Johnson 2026(R) vs.Lisa Demuth(R) vs.Mike Lindell(R) vs.Scott Jensen(R) vs.Amy Klobuchar(D) NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election) vs.Lynne Walz(D) NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election) vs.Jon Kiper(D) NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited) vs.Deb Haaland(D) vs.Gregg Hull(R) vs.Steve Lanier(R) NV: Aaron Ford(D,) vs.Joe Lombardo(R) NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election) vs.Antonio Delgado(D) vs.Bruce Blakeman(R) vs.Larry Sharpe(L) vs.Elise Stefanik(R,withdrew) OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited) vs.Vivek Ramaswamy(R) vs.Amy Acton(D) vs.Jon Husted(R,withdrew) OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited) vs.Charles McCall(R) vs.Cyndi Munson(D) vs.Jake Merrick(R) OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election) vs.Christine Drazan(R) PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election) vs.Ken Krawchuk(L) vs.Stacy Garrity(R) RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election) vs.Helena Foulkes(D) vs.Aaron Guckian(R) SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited) vs.Jermaine Johnson(D) vs.Nancy Mace(R) vs.Ralph Norman(R) SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election) vs.Dusty Johnson(R) vs.Jon Hansen(R) vs.Marty Jackley(R,withdrew) TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited) vs.Marsha Blackburn(R) vs.Carnita Atwater(D) TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election) vs.Chris Bell(D) vs.Gina Hinojosa(D) VT: Phil Scott(R,(No opponent yet)) WA: Jay Inslee(D,for re-election) vs.Bob Ferguson(D) WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring) vs.Mandela Barnes(D) vs.Sara Rodriguez(D) vs.Kelda Roys(D) vs.Francesca Hong(D) vs.Tom Tiffany(R) WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited) vs.Eric Barlow(R) vs.Megan Degenfelder(R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]