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Dustin Ward
Dustin Ward (independent) ran for election to the Maine State Senate to represent District 20. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Ward completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Dustin Ward earned a high school diploma from Presque Isle High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Maine in 2010, and a graduate degree from the Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in 2019. His career experience includes working as a consultant and racial equity and reconciliation advocate.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Maine State Senate District 20
Bruce Bickford defeated Bettyann W. Sheats and Dustin Ward in the general election for Maine State Senate District 20 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bruce Bickford (R) | 50.1 | 11,174 |
 | Bettyann W. Sheats (D) | 45.7 | 10,187 | |
 | Dustin Ward (Independent)  | 4.2 | 930 | |
| Total votes: 22,291 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 20
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Bettyann W. Sheats in round 1 .
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Total votes: 1,453 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 20
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Bruce Bickford in round 1 .
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Total votes: 1,793 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ward in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dustin Ward completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ward's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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A ForWard voice for those who have been unheard and underrepresented; rural communities who are seen as too small to be impactful, marginalized members who rarely have voice in key matters, and voters who have moved away from party politics.
ForWard measures of practical solutions taking the place of having only words as sufficient. Offering steps towards real goals that are clear enough to impact people.
ForWard communication as a facilitator to bridge multiple issues, with multifaceted outcomes for municipalities. Advocating for Towns, Cities, and rural communities to see positive change for their future
With much of our political dynamic fractured, we need a way towards building back a collaborative future.- I am committed to bridging the diverse perspectives that enrich our district, transforming innovative ideas and solutions, into tangible realities that achieve our collective goals.
- My mission is to champion a progressive, inclusive vision for Maine—a vision that places people at its heart, transcends partisan politics, and zeroes in on practical, tangible solutions. Running as an independent candidate, I am driven by the conviction that the diverse voices of all Mainers deserve representation, not just those who pledge allegiance to a particular party.
- I am committed to leading and learning, especially in areas where experts and other members have worked extensively in the various fields of impact. I like to believe that Vote ForWard ‘24 is not just a campaign; it's a movement towards a Maine that works for everyone, guided by our shared values of prosperity, inclusivity, and resilience. Together, through open dialogue, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to these principles, we can face any obstacle and ensure that the best days for Maine are yet to come.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
