Democratic House Leadership Update
The House Democratic Caucus met today, Wednesday, November 13, to choose their leadership team for the 132nd Legislature. The meeting was administered by outgoing Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross.
The House Democrats first heard from the four candidates for Speaker of the House. These were current House Democratic Assistant Majority Leader or “Whip”, Kristen Cloutier, Lewiston; Ed Crockett, Portland; Jim Dill, Old Town; and newly re-elected Ryan Fecteau, Biddeford who served as Speaker from December 2020 through December 7, 2022. After the second round of voting, Fecteau regained the position of Speaker of the House
Next, the Caucus heard from the candidates for Assistant Majority Leader. The candidates were Lydia Crafts, Newcastle; Lori Gramlich, Old Orchard Beach; and Nina Milliken, Blue Hill. Gramlich was elected after the second round of voting.
Only previous House Majority Leader Matt Moonen, Portland, ran for the position of Majority Leader. The Caucus cast one unanimous vote to elect him to the position which he had previously held from December 2018 to December 2020. Rep. Fecteau and Rep. Moonen worked together as Assistant Leader Majority Leader respectively for those two years.
The elections for Senate President, Speaker of the House, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House, their Assistants, and the Sergeant of Arms of both Chambers will be voted by all the members of each body on swearing-in day, Wednesday, December 4.
Also, on that day there will be a joint session in which all elected members present will elect the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, and the State Auditor. The party caucuses will meet beforehand to decide who they will put forward, if anyone, as their respective candidates.
There will be a contest in the Democratic caucus for the Attorney General nomination. Current Attorney General, the Hon. Aaron Frey, is being challenged by current Kennebec and Somerset Counties’ District Attorney, the Hon. Maeghan Maloney. At this time, we are unaware of anyone running against either current Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, or current State Auditor, Matt Dunlap. Current Treasurer, Henry Beck, has decided to not run for re-election. The only candidate for this position of whom we are aware at this time is current House Democratic Majority Leader Maureen Terry.
The Preti team will send out another update when these contested elections are decided and if any if any other changes in candidates occur.