Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Adam Cote
Adam Cote was a Democratic candidate for governor of Maine in the 2018 election. He was defeated by Janet Mills (D) in the June 12 primary.
Click here for more information on the June 12 Democratic primary election. Click here for more information on the November 6 general election.
Biography
A native of Sanford, Maine, Cote had been a member of the Maine Army National Guard for twenty years at the time of his entrance to the 2018 gubernatorial election. While serving in the Guard, Cote deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he established the Adopt an Iraqi Village program. After obtaining his law degree, Cote joined Pierce Atwood as an attorney, where he worked to advise countries receiving aid from the US government on energy policy. Cote would eventually leave Pierce Atwood to found Thermal Energy Storage of Maine, a thermal energy storage provider. At the time of his entrance into the gubernatorial election, Cote was the attorney in charge of the energy and utility practices group at Drummond Woodsum.[1]
Education
- B.A. in international studies - Colby College (1995)
- J.D. - University of Maine School of Law (2001)
Elections
2018
- See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2018
General election
General election for Governor of Maine
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Janet T. Mills in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 630,667 |
|||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Richard Light (L)
- Betsy Marsano (G)
- Karmo Sanders (Independent)
- Ken A. Capron (Independent)
- John Jenkins (Independent)
- Jay Parker Dresser (G)
- Ethan Alcorn (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Janet T. Mills in round 4 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
|
Total votes: 126,139 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cynthia Soma-Hernandez (D)
- J. Martin Vachon (D)
- Patrick Eisenhart (D)
- Sean Faircloth (D)
- James Boyle (D)
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Shawn Moody in round 1 .
|
Total votes: 94,382 |
|||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Full Democratic primary results may be viewed by clicking [show] at the right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic primary election roundsFirst round
Second round
Third round
Fourth round
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
Cote ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing the first congressional district of Maine. Cote was defeated in the Democratic primary election.
| U.S. House, Maine District 1, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Chellie Pingree |
43.9% | 24,324 | ||
| Adam Cote | 28.4% | 15,706 | ||
| Michael Brennan | 10.9% | 6,040 | ||
| Ethan Strimling | 10.5% | 5,833 | ||
| Mark Lawrence | 4.9% | 2,726 | ||
| Stephen Meister | 1.4% | 753 | ||
| Total Votes | 55,382 | |||
| Election results via Maine Secretary of State. | ||||
Campaign themes
2018
| “ |
Priority #1: Growing Maine Jobs & Economy Unless anyone thinks “fewer jobs, more poverty” is a great rallying cry, then the 2018 election is going to be about new leadership, new direction, and change. If you talk to business leaders or anyone who has studied Maine’s financial situation, our fundamental challenge as a state is that – at the moment – we have a shrinking, aging population plus a terrible economic growth rate when compared to our region and the country. Those two facts mean that our state is currently on a trajectory towards a smaller economy where it gets harder and harder to, (a) make smart investments in education, infrastructure, trade promotion, etc.; and (b) take care of our most vulnerable neighbors as both our faith and tradition say we must. I am running to serve as governor because I feel a great sense of urgency that our next chief executive must make smart, progressive economic growth our number one priority. My campaign is going to be about listening and learning from people across Maine and laying out specific, positive ideas for how – together – we can build an economy that lifts all Mainers. Positive Leadership: Equality and respect for all People across Maine are working harder than ever, but they do not feel like they are getting ahead. Instead of providing real solutions to solve real problems like lack of statewide broadband access, or working together to pass legislation that could create thousands of jobs installing solar energy systems, negative leaders tell people the real barriers to success are the newest immigrants in town or the single mother working two jobs. As a political strategy, blaming “the other” has a long, dark history in Maine, our country, and the world. In addition to being morally wrong, it is not, has never been, and will never be an economic strategy. As a combat leader in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, I have seen the logical end of politics based on hate and division. One of the personal reasons Paulina and I decided to run for governor is we do not want our three girls and two boys ages 5-12 growing up in a state or country where demeaning others is the only model of leadership. In addition to being morally wrong, I know from many meetings and discussions that having a governor who demeans other people and the State of Maine makes it much harder for Maine-based companies to attract the top talent they need to grow or to attract new businesses and jobs to the state. I will be a governor who champions an inclusive, positive vision of Maine as a place where the best and brightest people, entrepreneurs and businesses are invited and welcomed to live, work and enjoy our incredible quality of life – no matter where they are from, how they worship, what color they are, or who they love. The Best Place in the World: Maine Like any state, we have our challenges, but we also have an incredible story to tell to attract people and businesses. Maine: Has unmatched physical and natural beauty, from over 3,500 miles of coastline, to the biggest mountain peaks east of the Mississippi, Consistently ranks among the highest in the country for quality of life, Has an abundance of renewable energy resources that, with the right new leadership, could make it the first state in the country to produce more renewable energy than it needs, and export the rest, Has the highest percentage of smart meter penetration in the country at 97%, making us an ideal place to build the first smart grid and attract innovative businesses, Has the fastest growing population of young farmers in the country and an unbelievable, award-winning local food scene, Has a world-famous lobster fishery and dozens of other fresh seafood and agricultural products that are of premiere quality and reputation, Is 90 miles from one of the largest markets in the world—the Washington-to-Boston corridor—and is within a short 90-minute flight of New York and Washington, DC, Is leading the world in the research and development of floating offshore wind turbines that could revolutionize energy generation, Has 130 Gigawatts (equivalent of 130 nuclear power plants) of strong, steady offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine within 50 nautical miles of its shores, Is the premier recreation destination east of the Mississippi for hiking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, sailing, kayaking, camping, and other outdoor activities. If you ask any of the thousands of Mainers who are living in other parts of the country, they will tell you they would love to come back to live and work in Maine. As the website for Live and Work in Maine puts it: “The competition for talent is global – and high demand talent has the ability to work and live where they choose. Maine’s quality of life should be marketed as a competitive advantage.” I agree wholeheartedly and would provide the new leadership and hard work required to ensure public resources and private efforts are leveraged to attract people, employers, and visitors interested in traveling for tourism and recreation. Maine has a great story to tell. We need a governor who is passionate about telling it. Access to Affordable Healthcare At the state level, I will immediately sign bipartisan legislation to expand MaineCare to cover an additional 70,000 Mainers. The current governor and his health advisors have been deadly wrong to have opposed and obstructed expansion five times. Thirty-one states, including 17 with Republican governors, agreed to the expansion, understanding both the health impact on individuals and the economic impact on their own states and rural hospitals. In Maine, MaineCare expansion would bring over $500 million per year into Maine, ensuring the survival of beleaguered rural hospitals and health care jobs across the state. For all of these reasons, I will work to support passage of Question 2 this fall – and if it isn’t resolved by then, I will sign MaineCare expansion into law as one of my first acts as governor. Women's Health I will defend Planned Parenthood. I will defend Roe v. Wade, and I will stand steadfastly with friends and allies in the women’s health community to oppose federal and state efforts to restrict a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions or to cut funding for women’s health care. The day before I deployed to Iraq, my wife Paulina and I found out we were expecting our first child. When I returned, our daughter was already five months old. It was so hard to be apart. All I could do was worry and be as supportive as possible from half a world away. Paulina shouldered the burden of being a military spouse, going to all of those prenatal check-ups and first visits with the pediatrician without me. We were lucky; she had a pregnancy without major complications and good insurance. When I was in Iraq, Paulina was making countless decisions without me. I trusted her. And I trust other women to make the decisions that are best for them and their families. Lifelong education and opportunity I grew up in a family of public school teachers and graduated from Sanford High School. I served on my hometown school board and helped lead efforts to rebuild Sanford’s high school into a modern school and vocational center before resigning my seat to be deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. I worked my way through Colby College before enlisting in the Army after graduation. I have had countless hours of additional education and vocational training through my service in the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineering Battalion. And I received a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. I will make education a top priority for Maine as governor. Taking an overall view of Maine’s pre-K-12, college, and community college systems, I have several key priorities: PRE-K-12: We need to honor the will of Maine voters who have twice directed the state to fund 55 percent of K-12 education costs. We cannot allow one-in-five Maine children to be “food insecure” – the worst record in New England and the 18th worst in the country. No child learns when they are hungry. This is a failure for all of us in Maine and fixing it will be one of my top priorities. We need to set a goal of leading the country on quality universal pre-kindergarten opportunities. It is known fact, per Maine State Chamber of Commerce funded research studies, that for every dollar invested in pre-K education, taxpayers save money in future costs related to addiction, incarceration, and other similar costs. Studies show that we start to lose Maine young people by around eighth grade if they do not believe they have a path to either an affordable college education or a rewarding, skilled career. We need entire communities, as well as teachers and policymakers, to get creative and involved to make sure they do. COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE: We need to make college affordability a priority. While Maine has one of the highest percentages of high school graduates, we have one of the lowest percentages when it comes to graduates who go on to receive a two or four year degree. I applaud the recent decision by several University of Maine schools to offer an innovative, individualized approach to helping students afford their tuition above and beyond their Pell Grant awards, but we need to do more. I am listening and studying the best approaches for Maine and will have more to say on this issue during the campaign. We need to work harder at providing access to skills training, apprenticeship programs and other innovative approaches to connect young people, and those who want or need to make changes during their careers, with the skills they need for new, well-paying jobs and careers. I will also work to get business leaders and University of Maine and Maine Community College system leaders working together and moving more quickly to ensure we are providing the education, training, and skills Maine companies are looking for and need in order to grow right here in Maine. Bold Energy Leadership Ten years from now, Maine could be the first 100% renewable energy state in the country – in fact, we could produce more energy than we consume as a state and become the first “exporter” of renewable energy in the country. We can also build our economy and grow jobs by becoming a global leader in industries that support renewable energy, such as smart grid technology, demand and response technologies, non-transmission alternatives, and distributed energy solutions. That is a bold, progressive vision for Maine’s future. All the pieces are here: We have the natural resources, the research and development expertise, the entrepreneurial capabilities, and a history of being pioneers in clean energy solutions. What we are missing is the experienced leadership to put the pieces together. I have worked for 16 years in energy law and energy policy, and I have led a number of energy businesses. I helped devise an energy storage solution that would have prevented ratepayers from funding a $20 million transmission line built on the Boothbay peninsula and recently helped close one of Maine’s largest solar power deals in Kennebunk. I was also honored nationally by President Obama’s White House in 2013 as a “Champion of Change” for my work as “a veteran working to advance clean energy and climate security.” As governor, I will have a ten-year plan for renewable energy leadership. I will immediately submit a solar energy bill like the one Speaker Sara Gideon showed great leadership in creating alongside a broad coalition of stakeholders, including rooftop, grid scale, and community solar solutions. That bill was killed by only two votes by the current governor. This change alone could help Maine create or support thousands of good paying jobs for engineers, plumbers, electricians, installers and others. While Massachusetts has over 14,000 people employed in solar energy, Maine’s poor policy means we only have a few hundred jobs. As the only energy expert and entrepreneur running for governor in either party, I will be releasing detailed plans to: Unleash Maine’s solar energy potential by passing legislation to grow rooftop, grid scale, and community solar solutions and jobs across the state, Ensure that Maine, through work by the University of Maine, becomes the world leader in the design and manufacture of offshore floating wind turbines and stays on track to generate at least 5 Gigawatts – the equivalent of five nuclear power plants — of power from the Gulf of Maine by 2030, Continue to support Maine’s leadership regionally when it comes to generating properly sited onshore wind energy, Support and help promote Maine’s other local renewable energy sources and the entrepreneurs working to build leadership in their fields, including tidal power generation, biomass, wood-based biofuels, and other energy technologies, Champion Maine as the ideal place for America’s first true smart grid, linking our highest in the nation penetration of smart meters (97 percent) to our abundant sources of local, renewable energy while pioneering the storage infrastructure required to make intermittent sources provide consistent, cost effective renewable energy to Maine citizens and export the rest to the region, Actively champion Maine as the leader and future hub of renewable energy innovation and technology leadership. We will aggressively seek out and attract federal, private and foundation capital investments to build Maine’s research and development infrastructure, so entrepreneurs looking to build the next generation, clean energy economy will want to start or grow their business and create jobs here in Maine. Protecting Maine's Environment As someone who cares deeply about growing Maine’s economy and creating jobs, I believe our next governor must have a vision that sees our natural beauty – and policies that protect that natural beauty – as one of Maine’s top economic assets when it comes to both: Growing and supporting Maine’s rural economy, our fishermen and women, and all the small businesses and communities who depend on the tourism and recreation income for their livelihood, Attracting new people, entrepreneurs and businesses to Maine. My vision of environmental leadership, which I will talk about more during the campaign, has a few core principals. Among those are: Honoring our heritage. Generations of Mainers of all stripes, regardless of party, have cared about conserving Maine’s great natural heritage. We must do the same. Continuing Senator Muskie’s legacy. Senator Muskie led our country in creating the first clean water and clean air laws. Those were hard fought battles against entrenched interests at the time, but there is no one who can argue that we are not immeasurably better off today as a result of his farsighted leadership. Maine must continue to provide that leadership for the next generation, meeting the new challenges we face today. Believing in science and doing what is right for Maine. Ask a fisherman, a hunting lodge owner, or a world-renowned scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and they will tell you: our climate is changing. And, more importantly, those changes are already having massive consequences for Maine. Maine must lead aggressively. That means Maine becoming 100% renewable energy within ten years, actively supporting the Paris Climate Agreement, and joining the United States Climate Alliance on day one, and working urgently with Maine fishermen and women and scientists to protect the health of the Gulf of Maine fishery. Respect for traditional uses and access to Maine lands. We need to make sure all voices in all parts of Maine are heard when it comes to environmental policies and priorities, including the voices of people who have traditionally enjoyed access to Maine’s land for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other forms of recreation. School Safety: Filling the Leadership Gap with a Comprehensive Approach Meanwhile, my kids had lockdown drills and one of my daughters woke up with nightmares after the latest shooting in Parkland, Florida. And if this needed to be any more real, Ellsworth officials just intervened with a young person who had told friends he wanted to be “the most notorious school shooter in American history.” No one in this race has more experience with firearms than I do. I got my first shotgun at age ten from my Maine Guide grandfather. I grew up hunting and fishing all over Maine. I am also a 20-year combat veteran who served and lead Soldiers during three combat tours in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan where we lost lives. I own several guns. No one can credibly question my second amendment credentials – and I support common sense gun safety measures, as well as a comprehensive approach to working together to reverse this awful trend. Leadership has been missing We have not had leadership on this issue in Augusta, from anywhere, over these past years. It will begin in the first month of my administration. I will bring students, parents, teachers, law enforcement, health professionals, sportsmen and women, and citizens from all parts of Maine together at the Blaine House for a School Safety Summit. I will lead a process that addresses the issue of school violence in a comprehensive way that leads to action. That is the way change will happen. I worked hard to save Iraqi students, young people, and families from violence in Iraq with my Adopt an Iraqi Village program. I am sure as heck going to do everything in my power to make sure Maine schools don’t become killing grounds here at home. Effective background checks Anyone who wants to buy a gun needs to show they are not a danger to themselves or others, which means effective background checks – and anyone who wants to carry a gun needs to demonstrate they know how to use it safely and responsibly. I believe one of the reasons Maine has been unable to enact laws for effective background checks is that we have not brought sportsmen and women and rural Mainers into the process of designing a law that can be effective and earn the votes and support of Maine people. As a sportsman, a rural Mainer, and a second amendment supporter who understands weapons – I will make sure those voices are at the table and respected. I believe we can find a way to both make our schools safer and respect Maine’s unique traditions. Combat firepower for combat only (or safe, professional sport ranges) In combat, like most Soldiers, I carried my M-4 rifle and seven 30-round magazines. I know there are friends of mine who will not like to hear it, but in this day and age, with the tragedies we are facing, if you are not in combat I do not believe you need combat firepower. As someone who actually understands weapons, here’s what that means – there really is no such thing as an “assault weapon.” What we need to do is prevent people from having high-capacity magazines that allow them to shoot any weapon 30-times down range without reloading. Again, that is the firepower I had in combat. Some have talked about doing away with 10-round magazines. While some people who do not understand weapons may think banning these magazines alone is decisive, I know there are people who will just tape smaller capacity ones together to make reloading faster, as they did the last time a specific magazine size was specified by law. It is still worth doing, since those few seconds could be crucial in today’s world. I don’t know if this has ever been suggested or would be possible, but – for law abiding citizens who really like to fire off higher round magazines within the confines of safe, secure, professional shooting ranges for sport, maybe there is a way to allow for that, if we all show each other respect and work together in good faith. No bump stocks We outlawed fully automatic weapons (machine guns) in the 1930s. Bump stocks turn weapons into machine guns. They should be illegal. Period. Stop hollowing out our healthcare system We have to realize that these school shootings are not just about gun laws or background checks – and that changing those laws alone won’t solve the problem. Many of these situations involve young people who are deeply alienated and in real turmoil before resorting to these heinous violent acts. Some of them have left warning signs leading up to these incidents. The problem is we have so hollowed out our healthcare system at the state, federal, and local level, school and community health professionals who could intervene are so overwhelmed and understaffed, those clues are not acted on. It should be crystal clear we all have an interest in ensuring we have a health system that is able to identify and intervene effectively before these situations result in violence. Adequate public health and mental health systems should be seen as smart investment in strong, healthy communities – and the best way of intervening with people going through the kind of turmoil that leads to these school shooting tragedies. Comprehensive approach We do our children, our communities, our state, and country a disservice by retreating into our predictable corners. We need to look at all of the issues contributing to a culture where these school shootings and mass shootings are becoming more and more common. In addition to responsible gun rules and adequate investment in healthcare, we need a discussion on other issues as well. Culture. Do we really think it is appropriate to have young kids with developing brains watching hours and hours of video games that are all about shooting everything on screen? Do we do enough to keep other violent content on TV, movies, or music away from young, developing brains? What actions can we take to change that de-sensitizing culture? Can the people who make those products come to the table and be part of a constructive conversation? Parents and guardians. I know we have all seen some of these stories about telltale signs leading up to these incidents and wondered – where were the parents or guardians? I know every child is not lucky enough to have a safe, secure, stable home and there are plenty of parents who struggle with real challenges. However, we need to be clear, somehow, that parents and guardians have a primary responsibility for raising red flags and asking for help. Perhaps there is an education campaign that lets parents and guardians know where and how to access help when they have concerns. Effective exercise of your voting rights. Some people are always mystified that some gun safety proposals have 80% or better public support in a poll, but then lose in Congress or the state legislature. Here’s why: People who oppose gun safety laws always vote based on that one issue. People who support gun safety laws rarely do – because they also, rightly care about ten other issues, like school funding, etc. We need to make sure we vote for people who will vote for sensible gun safety laws if we want change. I will provide the leadership that has been missing in Maine on the issue of school and gun safety. With a comprehensive approach and working together, we will reverse this awful trend and protect our children, our teachers, and our schools. Infrastructure and economic competitiveness While the American Society of Civil Engineers has given Maine a "C-" on its 2016 report card and noted that literally billions of dollars are needed to shore up drinking water, wastewater, roads and bridges, the current administration has done very little to take advantage of what have been historically low interest rates to propose any kind of bold vision for building Maine’s competitive infrastructure. For anyone with any business sense, this is just an awful missed opportunity for our state and our people. In fact, according to the most recent U.S. Census data, Maine ranks 46th in the country in terms of per capita public investment in infrastructure. This is an essential area where I will bring new leadership, innovation and change to state government. A top priority for economic growth and job creation will be a plan to make and attract major investments to give Maine region-leading infrastructure, including high-speed broadband in every part of Maine that is needed to compete in today’s global economy. A modern, innovative view of “infrastructure” also takes Maine’s natural resources into account. “Natural infrastructure” means recognizing: a healthy, resilient Gulf of Maine is essential to our entire fishing, coastal and rural economies, healthy, resilient Maine forests protect the deer, moose, fish and other game populations essential to our sporting and recreation economy and our clean water and clean air quality, healthy, resilient lakes, ponds, streams and rivers support our recreation and sporting economy and allow sea-run fish populations critical to our economy to grow and thrive, healthy and adequate watershed areas help prevent damage from flooding and reduce the need for “built” infrastructure like water filtration plants, which cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Agriculture leadership and infrastructure I will talk in more detail about building on this leadership over the course of the campaign, but here are some core ideas that will guide us: Helping more people start and succeed at small farming. How can we listen and partner with all folks farming in our communities to help them get started, get over the initial financial hurdles, and grow in sustainable ways? We want to continue to attract the best and brightest people to Maine’s agriculture economy and to help those farms – many in rural parts of our state – succeed. Cross laminated timber. Wood has always been and will continue to be an important commodity. There are whole new generations of products like cross laminated timber, advanced composites, wood based biofuels, and others where Maine can lead and grow our rural economy. We have some of the richest forests east of the Mississippi. As governor, I will partner with Maine’s wood products businesses, workers and communities to see how the state can help provide or attract the capital required for Maine to lead in these emerging industries. Craft brewing and barley. High quality craft breweries are an incredible success story for Maine. More than 80 new breweries have opened in recent years across all 16 Maine counties. Today, these folks are still getting their barley from farms and companies in the Midwest or beyond. Yet, barley is an exceptional rotational crop that can be grown right here in Maine. As governor, I will work to bring leaders together to find out how the state can support the growth of barley both for Maine brewers and as an export crop. Agriculture infrastructure and food hubs. One challenge that has received some discussion when it comes to building an even stronger “small farm economy” in Maine is food hubs. How can we make sure there is infrastructure available that allows farmers to easily save or freeze fresh produce and other products so they can be sold beyond the growing season? I will actively look at how the state can help support, create or attract the capital needed to build these food hubs. There is no reason Maine cannot become a booming provider of quality, local, natural and organic food for the northeast and beyond. Supporting and partnering to grow the agriculture and aquaculture sectors. Several private sector companies have studied Maine’s most competitive or potentially competitive industries and concluded that agriculture and aquaculture are both very promising sectors. The work, done by Focus Maine, projects that a smart focus on these sectors (plus biopharmaceuticals and knowledge workers) could lead to 10,000 jobs over the next ten years. I will look for ways to partner and support these efforts where it is appropriate for the state to do so. Broadband for agriculture and aquaculture businesses. Access to high-speed broadband is very important for the modern farmer. So many things — from irrigation and water use to fertilizing, etc. — can all be made more cost effective and competitive with access to wireless and GPS technology. All other businesses involved in selling or marketing Maine agricultural products obviously require access to affordable, quality high-speed broadband. Veterans and military families My election would mark the first time in 27 years that Maine had a governor who was also a veteran (McKernan, 1990). I would bring to office a passion for both those who have served and each and every one of the military family members whose sacrifice and support are essential. My 20 years of military service in the Maine Army National Guard and my leadership roles in three combat deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan have made me intimately aware of the challenges faced by current service members, veterans, and their families. I have also spent a lot of time with my brother and sister veterans from other wars, conflicts, and times in the service, and I understand many of their unique challenges. I have faced my own challenges and struggles with the Veterans Administration health system through various injuries, including two blown shoulders that led to my retirement from the Guard. I also understand how hard it can be, economically, to leave behind a small business when you serve in the Guard and are called for deployment. Those situations put enormous pressure on families, businesses, and whole communities. I will be a champion for active duty service members, veterans of all periods of service, and their family members. I will be a loud, clear, forceful voice for state and national policies that address their challenges – and a friend in the Blaine House. Maine's Native American Tribes As governor, I will ensure the tribes are a part of my administration, have a regular seat at the table and regular interaction with both me and my senior leadership team, and that their voices are heard and respected on the issues. Maine’s Native citizens face many of the same challenges the rest of Maine does, but even more acutely in many cases. As a state with very little racial diversity today, my administration would hold as one of its principal goals that life for Maine’s Native citizens gets measurably better during my time in office. Maine Seniors First and foremost, while Maine seniors are a diverse bunch when it comes to finances, there are many who struggle to make ends meet on fixed incomes. We need to protect retirement income that has been earned over a lifetime, whether it is Social Security, a pension, or being vigilant about rules regarding private retirement funds. Second, policymakers need to keep in mind that any spike in living costs – whether it is higher heating or health care costs, increased property taxes, or other costs – can force terrible choices between food, medicine, heat or other essentials needed to live comfortably. The cost of prescription drugs is a huge burden, and creating uncertainty about health care coverage is incredibly damaging and, I know in my community, very scary for people. One of the great wishes Mainers have as they get older is to be able to stay in their homes and communities, near their family and friends. There have been recent small pilot projects towards creating more senior housing to meet that need. There are other ways, as well, that the state can innovate, grow our economy and improve the quality of life for Maine seniors. Broadband infrastructure and home health care. One more reason to invest in true high-speed broadband across Maine is this: The entire medical industry is moving towards being able to offer more and more health care services, preventive care, and monitoring via home technology. This offers tremendous opportunities for Maine seniors to be able to stay in their homes longer and in better health, while reducing health care costs dramatically – but only if Mainers are able to connect at the speeds required. Renewable energy and home power and heating costs. One of the most variable costs, as Mainers know all too well, is the price of a gallon of home heating oil. When it jumps up, so many Mainers – again – are forced into the math of how many gallons of oil they can afford and do they need to split their prescription pill in half. I believe Maine’s renewable energy future, with abundant, local, dependable sources of power, will provide stability in power and heating that foreign oil never will. Innovation and aging in place. Maine Startup and Create week had a whole panel discussion with business leaders from around the country on “How can innovation support aging in place?” As that session noted, there are 10,000 baby boomers retiring every day in the country and many entrepreneurs and companies working on how to deliver quality services that help seniors stay in their homes. We should work to attract those businesses to both create jobs and provide services to Maine seniors. Rural Maine I was born and raised in Sanford, Maine – a rural former mill town. Like so many rural Maine families, I come from a family where the military and hunting and fishing are tradition. I will always ensure that rural Mainers and legislators and other elected officials representing rural communities are at the table and being heard as policies, priorities and agendas are being developed. Among the priorities I see and have heard when it comes to growing Maine’s rural economy are: Basic respect, a seat at the table, and a partner in the Blaine House. No tax cuts favoring Portland, Southern Maine, or Maine’s top one-percent at the expense of rural Mainers. The current administration’s tax policies offered large tax cuts for wealthy southern Mainers and higher local property taxes for rural communities. State government should strive to meet revenue sharing goals. Revenue sharing is an important way that wealthier, more densely populated areas can support the health of the whole state’s economy, especially rural areas. Attacks on revenue sharing are property tax hikes on rural communities. Broadband infrastructure. Rural children start out behind if their parents have to park outside public libraries or coffee shops to try to poach Internet signals so that their child can do their homework. Small and medium sized companies can’t grow – and larger employers cannot expand – where there is not adequate, regionally, and nationally competitive broadband speed available. Expanding Maine’s true high-speed broadband infrastructure will be my number one economic and job creation priority. Agriculture infrastructure. Maine is lucky to have a growing population of young farmers, a vibrant food scene, and, as sector data says, the opportunity to grow thousands of jobs in agriculture and aquaculture. With the right support and policies, these jobs can be an important lift for rural Maine. Recreation & Tourism Economy I will work to protect natural places and ensure that people have access to Maine’s natural beauty. As someone with a business background, I will conduct a review to ensure we are doing all we can as a state to advertise and attract people from all over the country to come spend their recreation dollars here in Maine. Born and raised in a hunting and fishing family from rural Maine, I would return the Blaine House to a place where sportsmen and women, conservationists, Maine Guides, lodge owners, outfitters, hunters, fishermen, snowmobilers, hikers, and others have a regular seat at the table and the opportunity to contribute to sensible policies. As the 1987 state law creating the successful Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program stated, “the future social and economic well-being of the citizens of this State depends upon maintaining the quality and availability of natural areas for recreation, hunting and fishing, conservation, wildlife habitat, vital ecologic functions and scenic beauty…” The central economic importance of smart conservation policies was also underscored in 2004 by a comprehensive joint study by the Muskie School of Public Policy and the Margaret Chase Smith Public Policy Center, which stated: “Maine land conservation especially under LMF is rightly to be viewed as a basic infrastructure investment in the future of Maine’s environment, economy, and cultural heritage. Like our rail or highway systems, it is a foundation upon which coming generations of Maine people will build their economy and culture, to reflect Maine values, needs, priorities, and diversity.” Budgets, priorities, and values Every line and item will be scrutinized and the priority will always be on how public dollars support the goal of creating good jobs, growing Maine’s economy and – wherever possible – supporting people who are working hard to make ends meet. I and anyone who works in my administration will always stay engaged, work hard, and show respect to anyone honestly participating. I will not, as governor, ever drop my budget and walk away from the process, refuse to participate or allow appointees to participate, and then veto the bipartisan solutions others develop. That is failed leadership, pure and simple. With a military and business background versus a traditional political one, I will expect rigorous cost projections to evaluate each program or proposed program. Wherever possible, I will insist on metrics showing return on investment (ROI) and program effectiveness. Openness to reform and new ways of doing things. A lot has changed over the past 30-plus years. There are innovators in state and local government and in the private and not-for-profit sector across the country finding new ways to collect and analyze data, develop new solutions to problems, and measure success. We need a governor who sees reform and renewal as a smart way to leverage each public dollar more efficiently and deliver outcomes for Maine taxpayers. In a Cote administration, we will measure success by the number of new jobs created and by reducing the number of Mainers – especially children - living in poverty. While we can disagree about many things, we cannot accept living in a state where one-in-five Maine children – 55,000 kids, the worst rate in New England – go to bed and go to school hungry. Work, responsibility, and community Students need to work hard in school. Parents need to make sure their children are working hard in school. Everyone – rich, poor, in the middle – needs to pay what they owe in state taxes. We all need to save some of what we earn for the future. Every working age person who is able needs to try their best to find a job and work. Elected officials across every office in Maine need to ensure public dollars are used wisely to support policies and programs that deliver public good. And we all need to treat each other with respect. If I am governor, my office, my budget, and my daily work will focus on creating good jobs and ensuring that, wherever possible, state policies and incentives make life a little bit easier for those who are working hard to get ahead. Equal Pay for Equal Work In the Army, I was proud to serve with talented and courageous men and women, and we were all paid based on rank and time of service. Here is my view: if women earn equal pay serving their country in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, then they should expect to earn equal pay in Bangor, Presque Isle and Lewiston-Auburn. Equal pay for equal work means that families across Maine can be more financially secure and active in our economy. This isn’t just common sense; it’s good policy. As governor of Maine I will fight to make sure that every single citizen is paid fairly for the work they do, regardless of their gender. Maine's Drug Crisis Change and new leadership are desperately needed. I am working closely with leaders in the public and mental health communities to develop a comprehensive plan. Here are some ways I believe we need to lead: Declare an emergency. Arizona and Florida have both declared the opioid crisis an emergency and Maine should do the same. These numbers and the lives ruined are staggering. It is time to act. Stop trying to arrest our way out of a public health crisis. We need to help people battling addiction and get them the treatment they need. I applaud the work of the Scarborough Police Department and their “Operation Hope” program that places those struggling with opioid addiction into treatment programs, usually out of state. We need a governor and statewide leadership to address this challenge in every community. Join the National Governor’s Association Compact to Fight Opioid Addiction. In July 2016, 46 of the nation’s governors signed the NGA Compact – but Maine’s Governor did not. Forty-six other governors agree on improving access to Narcan and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and to increasing spending on addiction recovery programs. We need leaders – in the Blaine House and at the Department of Health and Human Services – who will get with the program and act. Fighting for fair trade and Maine workers While I have not spent a lot of time in Augusta, I was born and raised in a family of public school teachers in a rural former mill town. My Pepere (Grandfather) was a welder at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Over my 20-years of service and three combat tours with the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion, I have worked with thousands of skilled tradesmen and women. When it comes to trade, priority number one will be working with Maine workers and businesses to make sure the state is doing everything possible to open up new markets and new opportunities for Maine products and services. Priority number two will be actively fighting for national and regional policies that ensure Maine workers and Maine employers compete on a level playing field with workers from any other part of the world. I support an aggressive stance by the United States in renegotiating NAFTA. Maine has a critical stake in those talks with more than 38,500 Maine jobs connected to our largest export country, Canada, alone and more than 50,000 manufacturing jobs overall. I will fight for Maine’s wood products industry to ensure fair trade from Canada and also fight to prevent a “race to the bottom” because of low Mexican wages caused by weak labor representation. I also agree with former Maine Senator George Mitchell that our state and country have not done enough over the past 30-40 years to help workers who do get displaced by trade or changes in technology. That is why I have committed to making Maine a national leader on this issue and making it a central priority of my administration. Under a Cote administration, in addition to pursuing existing Trade Adjustment Assistance and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity funding, Maine will pioneer new, locally-based ways to match dislocated workers with in-demand jobs and the skills they need to fill them. In my military service, a core value is that you “leave no one behind.” I believe the same is true for Maine’s economy. We cannot afford to have thousands of Mainers left behind, not participating in our economy. We can do better with a governor who is committed to remembering those Mainers every day. Political Background and Values 1991: Registered to vote as a Democrat 1992-1995: Served in the Colby Democrats 1992: Caucused for California Governor Jerry Brown Presidential campaign in Sanford 1994: Volunteered for Joe Brennan's Gubernatorial Campaign 1996: Enlisted in the US Army, deployed to Bosnia 1998: Returned from Bosnia deployment and started law school at the University of Maine 2003-2005: Called up, prepared and deployed to Iraq War as member of the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineering Battalion Paulina had our first child while I was deployed and I had several shoulder surgeries on return 2006: Worked with Maine Democratic Party to found/start the Maine Young Democrats 2007-2008: Ran for Congress and came in second, won over 15,000 votes in Democratic primary Supported Chellie Pingree in the general election Served as Sen. Barack Obama’s Maine Veterans Coordinator in the general election 2010: Supported State Senator Libby Mitchell’s gubernatorial campaign and advised her on renewable energy policy 2011 - 2016: Fulltime, active duty with the Maine Army National Guard, including deployment to Afghanistan; Prevented from active, public political involvement by the Hatch Act Supported Mike Brennan's successful 2011 Portland Mayoral campaign behind the scenes as part of his kitchen cabinet 2013: Honored at President Obama’s White House as one of 12 veterans nationwide recognized for their private sector work as a “Champion of Change” for “working to advance clean energy and climate security” 2014: Supported my friend Congressman Mike Michaud’s gubernatorial campaign 2016: Left fulltime active duty in the Guard in December (and Hatch Act requirements) 2017: First Democrat to announce run for Maine Governor in April 2017 Asked to work with former President Obama’s Organizing for America (OFA) to rally support for protecting health care under the Affordable Care Act with Bangor Daily News op-ed on protecting veterans’ health care. 2018: Putting my full heart and soul into a tireless grassroots campaign to win back the Blaine House in November 2018, and then work just as governor to build an economy that works for all Mainers So, while I will certainly never win the “biggest political insider” award, I am proud of all the work I have done to help fellow Democrats, my country, and my community over the last twenty-six years. As a candidate for governor, I am working hard to unify our party so we can work together and win elections – from governor to town council, from Fort Kent to Kittery. What I am hearing from people across Maine is that, given what is happening to our state and country right now – this is not the time for petty squabbles and politics as usual. It is essential that we have leaders with a clear vision and strong values – and that we win in 2018. I believe people are looking for change and new leadership focused on a positive vision for Maine’s future. I hope you will join our campaign and help us win back the Blaine House. Young Mainers Creating good jobs. A lot of good jobs. Making college affordable and finding innovative ways to help with college debt. Increasing access to and affordability of skills, training, and apprenticeship programs linked to quality job opportunities. Making Maine synonymous with “renewable energy leadership and entrepreneurialism.” Demonstrating open, inclusive leadership that respects all people regardless of their race, religion, country of origin, or who they love. Zero tolerance for discrimination. Growing a vibrant innovation and entrepreneurial sector where young people with new business ideas can find mentors and financing to start a new business. Building best in class broadband infrastructure, because no young person or business will locate somewhere that doesn’t have it. Supporting and encouraging a vibrant and creative arts, music, food, farming, and brewing scene. Maintaining open access to Maine’s beautiful natural places. Inviting young Mainers to have a seat at the table and input on the issues. [2] |
” |
| —Adam Cote for Governor[3] | ||
Campaign finance
Following are campaign finance figures obtained from the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices containing information on all contributions to and expenditures by candidates as of May 1, 2018.[4]
Maine Clean Elections Act
The Maine Clean Elections Act is Maine's optional public financing program for political campaigns. Gubernatorial candidates participating in the program are allowed to solicit up to $200,000 in seed money contributions, which must be donated by individuals and cannot exceed more than $100 per donor. Participating candidates are also required to solicit at least 3,200 contributions of $5 or more to the MCEA's fund, known as qualifying contributions. In order to receive financing from the MCEA fund, candidates were required to file the required paperwork with proof of 3,200 qualifying contributions before October 16, 2018. Once a candidate has submitted their paperwork, they are no longer allowed to collect additional seed money contributions. Candidates may receive additional payouts from the fund by submitting proof of additional qualifying contributions. Each candidate could collect up to four payments of $150,000 each before May 22, 2018, in exchange for 800 qualifying contributions per payment, and an additional eight payments of $175,000 each could be collected before October 16, 2018, in exchange for 1,200 qualifying contributions per payment.[5] The only Democratic candidate who pursued MCEA fundraising was Betsy Sweet (D).
On May 22, 2018, the Portland Press-Herald reported that as a result of a clerical error in the most recent state budget, the Maine Clean Elections Fund would not be permitted to disburse funds to candidates after July 1. The Press-Herald reported that a special session of the legislature would need to be called in order to correct the clerical error.[6] On June 26, 2018, Maine Ethics Commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne sent a letter to legislators which stated that $1.3 million in funding that was in the commission's accounts could not be released to candidates as a result of the error. The letter stated that Gov. Paul LePage (R) had twice refused the commission permission to use $1.9 million in funding left over from 2016's clean elections fund to make up the shortfall.[7] Maine Citizens for Clean Elections filed a lawsuit against LePage calling on him to approve the release of the remaining funding from 2016. On August 2, 2018, the judge ruled in favor of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections. LePage announced on August 7, 2018, that he had released the requested funding.[8]
Campaign advertisements
|
See also
| Maine | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
- Governor of Maine
- Maine gubernatorial election, 2018
- Maine gubernatorial election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Drummond Woodsum, "Adam R. Cote," accessed October 6, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Cote for Maine, "Issues," accessed March 18, 2018
- ↑ Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, "Quick Candidate List," accessed May 3, 2018
- ↑ Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, "The Maine Clean Election Act," accessed January 22, 2018
- ↑ Portland Press-Herald, "Budget typo holding up millions in Maine ‘clean election’ funds," May 22, 2018
- ↑ Portland Press-Herald, "Clean elections fund running dry amid partisan wrangling," June 26, 2018
- ↑ Maine Public, "After Court Battle, Maine's Clean Elections Candidates To Get $1 Million In Campaign Funds," August 7, 2018
 |
State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
