John Henkelman
John Henkelman (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Maine House of Representatives to represent District 143. Henkelman is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026.
Henkelman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
John Henkelman earned a bachelor's degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2011 and a graduate degree from the University of New Hampshire in 2024. Henkelman's career experience includes working as a scientist.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 9, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 143
John Henkelman (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 143 on June 9, 2026.
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 143
Eric Small (R) is running in the Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 143 on June 9, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Eric Small | |
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| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Henkelman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Henkelman's responses.
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I will serve as a bridge between our local community and the state government, advocating for the resources and attention that our schools, small businesses, and infrastructure require to thrive. I believe that, much like the job as a Maine Guide, effective leadership involves listening to all constituents and making decisions based on evidence and long-term benefits rather than short-term political gains.
I am committed to being an accessible and accountable official who remains grounded in the daily realities of the people I represent. By focusing on practical solutions and fiscal responsibility, I will work to ensure that Maine remains a place where families can afford to live, work, and retire.- Reducing the Cost of Living:
Sanford families are feeling the squeeze every time they check out at the grocery store or pay for daycare. My priority is putting money back in your pocket by lowering barriers addressing the rising costs of essential goods and access to affordable childcare. I will support incentivized local food production and a ban predatory surveillance pricing.
I will advocate for universal childcare access by expanding state-level subsidies and tax credits and streamlining regulations for local providers. We must ensure it is possible for our neighbors to not just get by, but to truly get ahead. - Strengthening Sanford Family Health and Housing: A strong Sanford starts with a stable home and the peace of mind that a doctor visit will not break the bank. I am committed to increasing the supply of accessible housing in our district and ensuring healthcare for all is a reality for every Mainer. I will advocate for state incentives and reduced red tape to create missing middle housing for Sanford’s workforce and seniors. I will also work to grow our local mental health workforce and expand addiction recovery options to reduce the strain on Sanford’s police, emergency rooms, and city budget.
- Conserving Maine’s Future: We live in Maine because we value our outdoor way of life. My priority is protecting the Maine tradition of open access to our lands and waters to ensure that as our community grows, we do not lose the trails and woods that define us. I will work in the State House to secure grants specifically for our local trail networks. By investing in the maintenance of these multi-use trails, we can support our local outdoor economy and keep our town’s recreational spaces safe and accessible. By focusing on smart-growth in our city’s core, we can take the pressure off our rural areas and protect the quiet, wooded character that we all enjoy.
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
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 12, 2026
