EDlection2018: Janet Mills Will Be Maine’s First Female Governor
EDlection2018: This is one of the many races we have examined for the 2018 midterms that could potentially impact state or federal education policies. Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to Newsletter and receive headlines directly in your inbox.
After waiting until Wednesday morning for the final tally of votes, Democrat Janet Mills has celebrated her victory as Maine’s first female governor. With 84 percent of the ballots counted, Mills secured 51 percent of the vote, giving her an 8-point advantage over Republican Shawn Moody.
Expressing her excitement for the future, Mills was quoted by the Portland Press Herald as saying, "I am so thrilled about what lies ahead. They say it is time for hope once again… and for a new era in Maine."
The newly elected Governor, Janet Mills, made her way to Becky’s Diner in Portland this morning. During a conversation with reporters, she emphasized that healthcare is a top priority for her administration. Additionally, she expressed her eagerness to collaborate with the recently elected legislative leaders and assemble her administration.
In a competitive electoral field, independent candidates Terry Hayes and Alan Caron also participated. Although all four candidates acknowledged the need for improvement in Maine’s K-12 schools, their ideas regarding the approach varied, with the exception of advocating for higher teacher salaries. Mills opposes the removal of the current 10-school limit on public charter schools and intends to increase the state’s contribution to school funding.
Janet Mills replaces the conservative Paul LePage, whose confrontational style created continuous conflict with both the state legislature and Mills herself, who served as the attorney general by appointment. During her tenure, Mills refrained from supporting LePage’s positions whenever she believed they were unlawful. She even joined a lawsuit against Betsy DeVos, the U.S. Education Secretary, over the Education Department’s decision to halt protection for students who had taken loans to attend "predatory" for-profit colleges.
EDlection2018: This is one of the numerous races our team has assessed for the 2018 midterms that could have an impact on state or federal education policies. Stay up to date with the latest news by subscribing to Newsletter and receive the most recent headlines directly in your inbox.
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