Jill Duson
For Senate District 27
Representing part of Portland and part of Westbrook
About Jill
A Community Leader
First elected to Portland City Council in 2001, Jill has been a steadfast leader in our city and statewide. Jill has served on the Portland School Board, led state agencies that help Maine’s elderly and people with disabilities, and served on multiple nonprofit boards. Elected to the State Senate in 2022, Jill looks forward to earning the chance to represent Portland and Westbrook for two more years in Augusta.
Jill’s career as an attorney and an advocate has been key to her ability to affect policy, including the State budget, which she has done as a member of the Appropriations Committee in her first term in the Senate.
A child of the Civil Rights movement, Jill was inspired by the activism of her mother and empowered local parents who partnered with allies and organizers to desegregate schools in her hometown.
Jill recognizes that those who came before her fought to open doors; she has dedicated a lifetime to serving our community and holding doors open for today’s students, families, emerging activists, and leaders. Jill is committed to paying the fight forward.
On the Issues
Education
“Education is the great equalizer.” As a chair of the Portland School Committee and the Portland City Council Finance Committee, Jill fought for resources to support schools, while at the same time holding school leaders accountable for creating a quality system where all students learn and thrive. In the State Senate, Jill has ensured the State maintains its full 55% contribution to education, investing in our kids to build a future for our cities and state. Jill has supported the expansion of Maine’s free community college program to reduce barriers to higher education and make it easier for all Maine people to get ahead.
Healthcare
Affordable and accessible healthcare is vital to growing our economy and ensuring a quality life for all Maine people. In the State Senate, Jill has supported bills to reduce the price of prescription drugs, reduce hidden costs of healthcare visits, and increase access to health insurance for children. Jill is proud to have sponsored the Bill (which unfortunately did not pass this session) to end the sale of flavored tobacco in Maine. Going forward she will continue to fight to reduce smoking and related health issues, especially in the Black community.
Environment
We need to protect Maine’s rich environment as a major asset that drives economic opportunity to our state. Maine is well-positioned to lead in the fast-growing blue and green economy sectors, and Jill has invested in strengthening our position even further. She championed the creation of the Blue Economy Task Force to bring together stakeholders from many marine industries to promote innovation, collaboration, and economic vitality.
Housing
Safe, affordable, and accessible housing is a core element of the American Dream. Jill has worked to make certain that housing options in Portland match the diverse needs of those who live, work and play in the city. Diverse housing choices need to include affordable and market-rate rentals, housing for first-time buyers, help for homeowners underwater, attention and advocacy for homeless residents, and options for growing families and aging seniors. In the Legislature, Jill led efforts to create transitional housing throughout the state to support the unhoused population while reducing the burden on municipalities and nonprofit organizations.
Endorsements
Building alliances to uplift Maine people, protect our freedoms, our jobs, our environment, and much more, I am proud to be endorsed by the following groups and organizations.
Why I’m running
“I am a hand raiser. I feel called to continue to partner, with so many of you, to secure the future of our cities, our neighborhoods, and our families. As your Senator, I will work to cement and build on progress made with State investments in education funding and access to medical care, I will push forward solutions to the crisis in affordable housing, and support state policies that help Maine families, workers, and businesses thrive. I am excited to answer this call to service.”
– Jill Duson
Paid for and authorized by the Candidate.