In her first legislative term, Democrat Chloe Maxmin of Nobleboro saw four of her bills including her Green New Deal legislation enacted. The Green New Deal was the most prominent new law. All four bills emerged after discussions with voters on the 2018 campaign trail. Her Green New Deal originally had five provisions, but was pared down to two in final passage. The final wording called for state workforce initiatives and construction of a grid-scale generation employing a certain percentage of people from a state apprenticeship program and providing installations on newly constructed Maine schools.

Maxmin described her Green New Deal as having a “big scary name,” with modest goals for transforming Maine into a renewable energy economy. “It’s pretty simple legislation. There is no cost to taxpayers and it ensures Mainers are treated equitably as we transition to new kinds of energy,” Maxmin said. 

Maxmin, a climate activist, believes low-income and rural Mainers are more impacted by new climate change policies and she wanted legislation to mitigate a potential harmful economic impact.

Maxmin, 28, was motivated at an early age to work on public policy. Maxmin graduated from Lincoln Academy in 2010 with an eye toward running for public office. She graduated from Harvard University in 2015 with a degree in Social Studies. “My degree studies how people influence politics. I always knew I wanted to run for office, and thought I’d do it a little later,” she said. “But I ran in 2018 because I love our community and culture so much, and I know how much our lives are impacted by politics.”

Maxmin won the 2018 Democratic primary defeating Alan Plummer, 730-184. Her general election was closer. She defeated Republican Michael Lemelin, 2,272 to 2,054 to win the House District 88 seat which represents Chelsea, Jefferson, Whitefield and part of Nobleboro. She grew up on the family venison farm in Nobleboro. In Augusta,  she served on the Legislature’s Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Committee. “Growing up on the farm, you learn the value of hard work. I learned it’s small farms and small businesses that keeps our rural economy going.”

This fall, she is looking for a larger political platform as she challenges two-term State Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro. Dow is the Senate Republican Leader. After one term in the House, Maxmin believes it’s difficult being heard in the House of Representatives with 151 members compared to the Senate with 35. “There are so many critical issues not being addressed. There are people who feel abandoned and unheard by our government. I see running for the senate as a different way to address these policy differences and the start of a process where people can believe in government, again,” she said. 

As a legislator, Maxmin believes a less partisan tack would bring opposing political parties together toward better public policy. “I look at this work as being about values, not about party. It’s my duty to represent our community which brings solutions to healthcare, broadband, and transportation access,” she said. “I don’t see that logic being reflected in Augusta, so I’m talking a different approach.”

Regardless of party or which legislative chamber, all legislators were challenged by governing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, the legislative session ended prematurely, leaving hundreds of bills without a vote. Maxmin favored holding an emergency session to deal with the unfinished business and ongoing pandemic regulations, but Republicans and Democrats couldn’t agree on an emergency session. “When we adjourned I expected to go back and voted twice to do so. It’s not only our duty, it’s our job. That’s what we were elected to do.”

Maxmin also heard from Mainers unable to receive their unemployment benefits during the pandemic. She tried contacting state officials to find answers, but was unsuccessful. Maxmin was critical of state officials’ “lack of transparency” during the pandemic. “People were freaking out about paying their bills and waiting on their benefits. It was frustrating not being able to get the answers and not being able to compensate health care workers for the additional risk, too,” she said. 

If elected, Maxmin faces difficult decisions in a budget shortfall which may hit $1.4 billion in the next 2.5 years. In the past Legislature, Maxmin voted in the majority for additional school, state revenue sharing with municipalities, healthcare and transportation funding. In the next Legislature, she hopes to preserve as many state programs for low-income and rural Mainers as possible. “How we manage the financial situation is the big question facing the state. I will deal with it using a couple guiding principles. I don’t want the burden to fall on the back of property taxpayers or by cutting essential programs for low-income people. How we rebuild after COVID-19 should be thoughtful and strategic.”

Other legislative priorities include expanded broadband coverage and health care access for rural Maine. “Health care is a different conversation in rural Maine than in Bangor, Portland, or Lewiston. Affordability is a big challenge especially with so many people losing their jobs due to COVID-19. Everyone needs access to health care,” she said. 

After graduating from Harvard, Maxmin worked for some political organizations, worked odd jobs and was a bartender. When she is not in the legislature, Maxmin advises young adults working for political organizations.