State Sen. Joe Baldacci sets sights on Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat

BANGOR, Maine (WMTW) - State Sen. Joe Baldacci, brother of former Maine Gov. John Baldacci, is looking to take his experience in state politics to Capitol Hill.

Baldacci is running in the Democratic primary race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, seeking Congressman Jared Golden’s seat.

“I’ve delivered, I have a record and I want to work for you in Washington,” Baldacci said.

The youngest of eight, Baldacci grew up in the back of the house of his family’s restaurant, Momma Baldacci’s, in Bangor. He says it was a lesson about business and working with others.

Decades later, Baldacci is keeping his roots in the town where he was raised.

He currently represents Bangor in the state Senate. Previously, Baldacci was Bangor’s mayor and on the city council. Congressman is the next title he’s looking for.

The attorney with a 30-year political career says he wasn’t planning on running for Congress, but got into the race because he did not want to see the seat handed to the GOP.

“There’s too much at stake,” Baldacci said. “The direction of the country is off course.”

An advocate for universal health care coverage, Baldacci says his main campaign focus is protecting Social Security and Medicare.

“The solvency of those programs are threatened, and we need to work to resolve that,” Baldacci said. “We need to raise the income cap.”

Baldacci is also looking to stop engaging in what he calls unnecessary wars and tariffs to get everyday costs down.

“It would also help give better economic certainty to the business community and to investors, people looking to create jobs in America,” Baldacci said.

As a state senator, Baldacci says he’s supported bills that restrict immigration enforcement’s access to Mainers.

“We have every right as a nation to deport people who are here illegally and commit crimes, but we don’t have a right to have a terror force that just dumps into American cities and stirs up a ton of discontent,” Baldacci said.

Come this June, Baldacci shares the ticket with State Auditor Matt Dunlap, political newcomer Paige Loud and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood. He says his legislative record is the most up to date, according to our media partners WMTW.

“I’ve actually been in the trenches of what you have to do,” Baldacci said,

If Baldacci could pick one thing to accomplish on his first day in office, he says he would like to repeal tariffs and save Mainers millions of dollars.

As election season ramps up, Baldacci wants voters to know he has a solid record.

“I’ve been there when they needed somebody,” Baldacci said. “I have delivered, so it’s a proven record and proven results.”

The second congressional democratic primary is on June 9.