Rachel Ohm

Jared Golden says he won’t seek reelection in 2026 The Lewiston Democrat, who is in his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced his decision in an op-ed Wednesday.

Very big #MEpolitics news.
www.pressherald.com/2025/11/05/j...

5 things Maine residents should know about the referendums on Tuesday’s ballot Here's a recap of the proposals to require photo ID and make changes to absentee voting, and to put in place a red flag law.

Planning to vote tomorrow? Here's a review of the two referendums Maine will be considering for voter ID and changes to absentee voting, and a red flag law. www.pressherald.com/2025/10/31/5...

Susan Collins says Tuesday’s election may be key to ending shutdown Maine's senior senator says she hopes a public commitment from the Republican majority leader to hold a vote on health care subsidies will be enough for Democrats to reopen the federal government.

Susan Collins says Tuesday’s election may be key to ending shutdown

Maine joins 24 states suing Trump administration over expected lapse in SNAP benefits The federal food assistance benefits are expected to be suspended starting Nov. 1 due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Maine joins 24 states suing Trump administration over expected lapse in SNAP benefits. www.pressherald.com/2025/10/28/m...

Nirav Shah enters race to become Maine’s next governor In addition to serving as director of the Maine CDC, Shah, a Democrat, was a top federal health official in the Biden administration and is now a visiting professor at Colby College.

Nirav Shah enters race to become Maine’s next governor

Janet Mills looks to challenge Susan Collins in an effort to flip U.S. Senate The two-term Democratic governor will have to fend off primary challenges from several others, including Graham Platner, a 41-year-old veteran and oyster farmer whose campaign has garnered attention.

Gov. Janet Mills enters the Maine Senate race to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, shaking up the Democratic primary and pledging to take on Trump. Story via @randybillings.bsky.social.
www.pressherald.com/2025/10/14/g...

Hundreds of new Maine laws take effect Wednesday. Here are a few to know. The laws include protections against online harassment of children, changes to labeling requirements for abortion medication and legislation that would make it easier for residents to purchase their m...

Hundreds of new Maine laws take effect Wednesday. Here are a few to know. www.pressherald.com/2025/09/23/h...

Susan Collins ‘extremely alarmed’ at Trump administration firing of CDC director Maine's senior senator reacted Thursday to the firing of U.S. CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was let go by the administration this week following a reported clash with Health Secretary Robert F. Kenn...

"I see no basis for her firing," Collins said of the removal of CDC director Susan Monarez @pressherald.com reporter @rachelohm.bsky.social on scene at Collins event in Old Orchard Beach #mepolitics
www.pressherald.com/2025/08/28/s...

Dr. Nirav Shah says he’s considering run for Maine governor Shah was the face of Maine’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and went on to become a top federal health official during the Biden administration.

Maine’s former CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah is considering a run for governor.

“I think we are in a moment where all of us should be considering running for something,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Press Herald on Friday. “I’m considering throwing my hat into the governor’s race.”

Will the battle over congressional redistricting come to Maine? Democratic leaders in some states are considering changes to congressional maps in response to an effort in Texas, but such changes are unlikely to unfold here.

Some Democratic-led states are looking at changing congressional maps in response to efforts in Texas to redraw lines to favor Republicans in the 2026 elections. But experts and Democratic leaders say that's unlikely to happen in Maine.
www.pressherald.com/2025/08/05/w...

What’s behind the drop in Maine’s homelessness numbers? New data shows the number of people experiencing homelessness in Maine dropped for the third straight year this year, a decline that is largely attributed to the state moving away from using motels as...

New data released Monday show Maine is experiencing a drop in the number of people experiencing homelessness for the third year in a row.

Maine again fails to establish a statewide system to track rape kits Two bills to create a tracking system received support in the Legislature but weren't funded. A similar bill also failed to make it into law last year.

“This is the second time we’ve brought kit tracking bills to the Legislature. … It’s really an issue of survivors being able to understand what’s happened with their evidence, and Maine has already fallen behind without a system in place.”

www.pressherald.com/2025/07/10/m...

Maine voters head to polls to vote on school budgets, local races Turnout is likely to be relatively light for the off-year election, but controversial proposals could drive higher turnout in some communities.

Polling places across Maine are open til 8 p.m. to allow voters to weigh in on school budget proposals and, in many communities, elect local officials. Maine allows same-day voter registration.

The Collins team did not suggest I talk to Lance. I am not aware of him doing any current work for them, but will need to check on that and see if we should update the story.

Today: Gov. Janet Mills has signed into law LD1, a bill to protect Maine against climate change-driven storms.

www.pressherald.com/2025/04/22/m...

Maine officials refuse to sign Trump agreement on transgender athletes The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said earlier this month that it would give state and local officials in Maine 10 days to sign a proposed agreement banning transgender athletes or the ...

The Trump administration gave Maine 10 days to sign an agreement ending the policy of allowing transgender athletes in girls' sports. MPA & Greely HS say they won't sign. No word yet from Maine DOE.

www.pressherald.com/2025/03/27/m...

Social Security now requires Maine parents to visit an agency office to register newborns The change - immediately criticized by pediatric health advocates - eliminates a program that allowed parents to fill out a form at the hospital to secure a Social Security number for their children.

BREAKING NEWS #mepolitics @maddow.msnbc.com @nbcnews.com @randybillings.bsky.social @rachelohm.bsky.social @chelliepingree.bsky.social
www.pressherald.com/2025/03/06/s...

US Attorney General threatens Gov. Mills with lawsuit over transgender athletes 'Maine should be on notice,' Pam Bondi said in a letter to the Maine governor over compliance with President Donald Trump's executive order on transgender students competing in school sports.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday threatened to sue Gov. Janet Mills if she refuses to comply with President Trump’s legally questionable executive order over transgender student-athletes.
The administration has now launched 3 investigations into whether Maine is violating the Title IX law.

Maine lawmaker censured for posting photos of student she identified as transgender The House votes 75-70 along party lines to censure Republican Rep. Laurel Libby for singling out a student who won a track championship to protest Maine's policy allowing transgender athletes to parti...

After being censured in a party-line vote, Libby refused to issue a formal apology, so the Republican lawmaker from Auburn will not be allowed to speak or cast votes on the House floor until she does, @rachelohm.bsky.social reports.

www.pressherald.com/2025/02/25/m...

Federal judge pauses Maine’s new waiting period for gun sales Lawmakers passed the new waiting period as part of a slate of gun safety reforms following the October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston that killed 18 people.

A federal judge has granted a request from gun rights groups to temporarily pause a new three-day waiting period on firearm purchases.

@emduggan.bsky.social is at the State House today covering the protest against President Trump’s first weeks in office. Updates @pressherald.bsky.social ⬇️

Why Susan Collins said ‘No’ to Pete Hegseth as defense secretary Collins was one of two Republican senators to break ranks and oppose Hegseth Thursday, but it didn't stop the nomination from moving forward.

Collins was one of two Republicans, along with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, to vote against Pete Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News commentator, in a procedural vote on Thursday.

BREAKING: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announces she will vote against Hegseth nomination. Check @pressherald.bsky.social for updates

Gun safety advocates turn in signatures to force fall referendum on red flag law The Maine Gun Safety Coalition announced at a press conference Thursday morning that it is submitting signatures to put the measure on the ballot this November.

Supporters of a red flag law in Maine handed in over 80,000 signatures today to force a November referendum. "ERPO's provide a life-saving tool," said the head of the Maine Gun Safety Coalition.

www.pressherald.com/2025/01/23/g...

Republican proposal would repeal 72-hour wait on firearms purchases House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham is sponsoring a bill that would repeal the waiting period approved by lawmakers last year.

Republicans have a proposal to repeal Maine's 72-hour waiting period on firearms purchases, put in place last spring in the aftermath of the Lewiston mass shooting.

The law passed on thin margins, and the bill's sponsor says he hopes to pull Democratic support.

www.pressherald.com/2025/01/16/r...

Gov. Mills proposes the creation of a Maine department of energy The proposal would elevate the Governor's Energy Office to a Cabinet-level department if approved by lawmakers as part of the budget.

www.pressherald.com/2025/01/08/g...

Congrats, Dylan!

Mills administration warns lawmakers about looming budget gap The governor's budget office tells lawmakers that spending cuts, program changes and new revenues would likely be needed, but also warned against relying on rainy day funds or income tax increases.

And the Mills administration is warning that the state faces a $450 million gap for the next two-year budget. Via @randybillings.bsky.social.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/m...

Gov. Mills introduces bill to respond to severe weather fueled by climate change The proposal would establish a new state office and a grant program to help Maine residents make investments to safeguard their homes against extreme weather.

Gov. Janet Mills announced Monday her bill aimed at helping Mainers safeguard against severe weather and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/07/g...

7 things to expect from Maine’s new Legislature Democrats will maintain majorities in the House and Senate when lawmakers return Wednesday.

Today is the first day of the new Maine Legislature. Here are a few things to watch as the session gets started:
www.pressherald.com/2025/01/06/7...