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Rachel Talbot Ross

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Rachel Talbot Ross
Democratic Party
Maine State Senate District 28
Tenure
2024 - Present
Term ends
2026
Years in position
1
Predecessor: Benjamin Chipman (D)
Prior offices:
Maine House of Representatives District 118
Years in office: 2022 - 2024
Predecessor: Chad Grignon (R)
Successor: Yusuf Yusuf (D)
Maine House of Representatives District 40
Years in office: 2016 - 2022
Successor: Stanley Zeigler (D)
Compensation
Base salary
$25,000 for the first regular session. $20,000 for the second regular session.
Per diem
$70/day for lodging (or round-trip mileage up to $0.55/mile in lieu of housing, plus tolls). $50/day for meals.
Elections and appointments
Last election
November 5, 2024
Personal
Profession
Executive
Contact
Official website
Official Facebook
Official X
Campaign Facebook
Personal Facebook
Personal X
Personal Instagram
Personal LinkedIn

Rachel Talbot Ross (Democratic Party) is a member of the Maine State Senate, representing District 28. She assumed office on December 3, 2024. Her current term ends on December 1, 2026.

Talbot Ross (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Maine State Senate to represent District 28. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

The Maine House of Representatives unanimously elected Ross to serve as the Maine Speaker of the House in November 2022, making her the first Black speaker of the Maine state House. She left the state House in 2024.[1]

Talbot Ross worked as the City of Portland’s director of equal opportunity and multicultural affairs for 20 years and as president of the Portland branch of the NAACP.[2] Talbot Ross founded three nonprofit organizations focused on racial justice in Maine, including the Maine Black Community Development, Maine Freedmon Trails, and the Martin Luther King Jr., Fellows.[3] Talbot Ross chaired the Maine Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil RIghts and the African American Collection of Maine at the University of Southern Maine.[4]

Talbot Ross first ran for public office in 2016, winning election to the Maine state House in District 40. After twice winning re-election in District 40, Talbot Ross won election District 118 following redistricting. In November 2020, Talbot Ross became the assistant majority leader in the Maine state House.

During her time in the legislature, Talbot Ross has sponsored legislation to create Maine's Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Tribal Populations, which she chaired. She also sponsored bills to include racial impact analysis in the legislative process and expand tribal legal authority over domestic violence against Native Americans in Maine.[4]

Talbot Ross was one of five Black House speakers honored at a White House ceremony in February 2023. During her trip to the White House, Talbot Ross said, "While it is an honor to be included at events at the White House, it was equally critical that I used my platform and this trip to highlight Maine’s need for federal support in the areas of housing, food insecurity, support for the care economy and crucial investments in infrastructure."[1]

Talbot Ross' father, Gerald Talbot, was the first Black person elected to the Maine Legislature in 1972. After Maine Democrats nominated Rachel Talbot Ross to serve as speaker of the house, she said, "What I would like to do is take all of the voices, all of the lived experiences – so very different from the top of the state to the bottom – and to really listen to those, to use all of that experiences to the best of our ability. I am not the only one making history. We all are making history today. I am proud of my state. I am proud of my colleagues and I can't wait to get out there and get to work."[2]

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Talbot Ross was assigned to the following committees:

2023-2024

Talbot Ross was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Talbot Ross was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Talbot Ross was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Noteworthy legislation

Below is a list of noteworthy legislation sponsored by this individual, including legislation that received substantial media attention, was part of a national trend or debate, or may be considered a noteworthy part of the individual's career.

  • LD 777: Talbot Ross sponsored LD 777, which established the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial and Ethnic Populations. Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed the bill on June 21, 2019.

Elections

2024

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Maine State Senate District 28

Rachel Talbot Ross won election in the general election for Maine State Senate District 28 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Talbot Ross
Rachel Talbot Ross (D)
 
100.0
 
18,254

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 18,254
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Maine State Senate District 28

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Rachel Talbot Ross in round 1 .

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,848
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for Maine State Senate District 28

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Susan M. Abercrombie in round 1 .

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 232
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Talbot Ross in this election.

2022

See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Maine House of Representatives District 118

Incumbent Rachel Talbot Ross won election in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 118 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Talbot Ross
Rachel Talbot Ross (D)
 
100.0
 
2,865

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,865
Candidate Connection = 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 118

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Rachel Talbot Ross in round 1 .

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 485
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2020

See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Maine House of Representatives District 40

Incumbent Rachel Talbot Ross won election in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 40 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Talbot Ross
Rachel Talbot Ross (D)
 
100.0
 
3,885

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,885
Candidate Connection = 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 40

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Rachel Talbot Ross in round 1 .

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,432
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2018

See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Maine House of Representatives District 40

Incumbent Rachel Talbot Ross won election in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 40 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Talbot Ross
Rachel Talbot Ross (D)
 
85.7
 
3,134
 Other/Write-in votes
 
14.3
 
523

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,657
Candidate Connection = 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 40

Incumbent Rachel Talbot Ross defeated Herbert Adams in the Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 40 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Rachel Talbot Ross
Rachel Talbot Ross
 
75.7
 
811
Image of Herbert Adams
Herbert Adams
 
24.3
 
260

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 1,071
Candidate Connection = 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.

2016

See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2016.[5] Incumbent Benjamin Chipman (D) did not seek re-election.

Rachel Ross defeated Carol Taylor in the Maine House of Representatives District 40 general election.[6]

Maine House of Representatives, District 40 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Rachel Ross 100.00% 3,156
     Republican Carol Taylor 0.00%
Total Votes 3,156
Source: Maine Secretary of State


Rachel Ross defeated Herbert Adams and Anna Kellar in the Maine House of Representatives District 40 Democratic primary.[7][8]

Maine House of Representatives, District 40 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Rachel Ross 37.83% 199
     Democratic Herbert Adams 32.51% 171
     Democratic Anna Kellar 29.66% 156
Total Votes 526


Carol Taylor ran unopposed in the Maine House of Representatives District 40 Republican primary.[7][8]

Maine House of Representatives, District 40 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Carol Taylor  (unopposed)


Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Rachel Talbot Ross did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Rachel Talbot Ross did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Rachel Talbot Ross did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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.

Rachel Talbot Ross campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024Maine State Senate District 28Won general$2,419 $800
2022Maine House of Representatives District 118Won general$2,188 $19
2020Maine House of Representatives District 40Won general$1,585 N/A**
2016Maine House of Representatives, District 40Won $8,722 N/A**
Grand total$14,914 $819
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Maine

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2025.

  • Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
  • Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
  • Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
  • Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
  • Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
  • Maine Policy Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes related to taxes, spending, education, and regulations.
  • Maine Policy Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes related to taxes, spending, education, and regulations.
  • Maine Policy Institute — Legislators are scored on their votes related to taxes, spending, education, and regulations.
  • Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
  • Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
  • Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
  • Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
  • Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
  • Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
  • The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2024.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2023.

  • Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
  • Maine AFL-CIO — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor issues.
  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
  • Maine People's Alliance — Legislators are scored by MPA on "where they stand on community, investing in the future, fairness, equality, and justice for all Maine people."
  • Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
  • Maine Women's Lobby — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to gender equity.
  • Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.
  • Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund — Legislators are scored on their votes related to reproductive health issues.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2022.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2021.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2020.

  • Maine Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
  • Wabanaki Alliance — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that would put the tribes in Maine on equal footing with other federally recognized tribes.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2019.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2018.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2017.

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Maine State Legislature in 2016.

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External links

Candidate

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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Portland Harold Press, "Talbot Ross among Black leaders honored at White House ceremony," February 28, 2023
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Portland Press Harold, "Ascension to legislative leadership is bittersweet for Talbot Ross," January 4, 2021
    3. ↑ SenGov, "Representative Rachel Talbot Ross," accessed May 2, 2024
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Maine HouseDemocrats, "Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross," accessed May 2, 2024
    5. ↑ Politics1.com, "Maine," archived December 31, 2015
    6. ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "2016 Election Results," accessed December 20, 2016
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Maine Secretary of State, "List of Candidates who have filed for the June 14, 2016 Primary Election," accessed March 20, 2016
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Maine Secretary of State, "Tabulations for Primary Elections held on June 14, 2016," accessed August 11, 2016

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Benjamin Chipman (D)     		Maine State Senate District 28
    2024-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    Chad Grignon (R)     		Maine House of Representatives District 118
    2022-2024    		 Succeeded by
    Yusuf Yusuf (D)
    Preceded by
    -     		Maine House of Representatives District 40
    2016-2022    		 Succeeded by
    Stanley Zeigler (D)


    Current members of the Maine State Senate
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    Majority Leader:Teresa Pierce
    Minority Leader:Harold Stewart
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