ICYMI: “Bellows Says She Won’t Back Down After Clashes” With Trump Administration [Portland Press Herald]
“Bellows is the only one who has had high profile clashes with the president and his administration”
Augusta – In case you missed it, new reporting from the Portland Press-Herald is highlighting how different gubernatorial candidates would respond to Donald Trump. Mainers have come to count on Shenna Bellows for doing the right thing- even when it’s hard.
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Portland Press Herald: How will Maine’s next governor work with Trump?
By Rachel Ohm
December 1, 2025
As Maine secretary of state, Democrat Shenna Bellows made a controversial decision to keep Donald Trump off 2024 ballots in the presidential election. More recently, she told his administration to “jump in the Gulf of Maine” in response to requests for voter information.
The top Democrats vying to succeed her have been uniformly critical of Trump, though Bellows is the only one who has had high-profile public clashes with the president and his administration.
In 2023, Bellows, as secretary of state, issued a decision to keep Trump off the presidential ballot citing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the Capitol and a constitutional amendment that prohibits insurrectionists from holding office.
I’m the only candidate in this race that has experience standing up to Trump,” Bellows said. “I’ve been doxed, swatted, attacked and I’ve never, and will never, back down.”
At the same time, Bellows said that like Mills she would work with Trump if it would benefit Maine. “The philosophy that has governed my entire career is, ‘No permanent friends and no permanent enemies,'” she said. “I’m willing to work with anyone who will deliver for Maine.”
