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Shenna Bellows

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Shenna Bellows
Bellows in 2014
50th Secretary of State of Maine
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2021
GovernorJanet Mills
Preceded byMatthew Dunlap
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 14th district
In office
December 7, 2016 – December 2, 2020
Preceded byEarle McCormick
Succeeded byCraig Hickman
Personal details
Born
Shenna Lee Bellows

(1975-03-23) March 23, 1975 (age 49)
Greenfield, Massachusetts,
U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Brandon Baldwin
​
(m. 2012)​
EducationMiddlebury College (BA)

Shenna Lee Bellows (born March 23, 1975) is an American politician and a non-profit executive director. On December 2, 2020, the Maine Legislature elected her to serve as the 50th Maine secretary of state.[1] She was executive director of the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine between 2018 and 2020, and she served as the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maine between 2005 and 2013.[2]

Bellows was the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate in Maine in the 2014 election, and was defeated by incumbent Republican Susan Collins. In 2016 she won election to the Maine Senate, and she served until resigning in 2020 when she became a candidate in the legislative election for secretary of state.

On December 28, 2023, Bellows ruled that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would be barred from the Maine primary ballot due to his conduct during the January 6 United States Capitol attack, pending an appeal. In the aftermath of that decision, she was doxxed and swatted, along with several other leading American activists and politicians, during the period of similar incidents nationwide.[3]

Early life and education

Shenna Bellows was born on March 23, 1975, in Greenfield, Massachusetts, the eldest daughter of Dexter Bellows, a carpenter, and Janice Colson, a nurse. She grew up in Hancock, Maine, where she attended Hancock Grammar School. Bellows grew up in a struggling family; she claims her family did not have running water or electricity, which the family could not afford, until she was in the fifth grade.[4][5]

When Bellows was 15, she was an AFS–USA foreign exchange student in Campos, Brazil. Bellows graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1993. During high school and college, Bellows worked as a research assistant at Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory.[6] She then attended Middlebury College, graduating magna cum laude in 1997 with highest honors for her thesis on economic and environmental sustainability.[7] During her junior year, she studied for a semester as an exchange student in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Early career

Bellows served as executive director of the ACLU of Maine for eight years. In that role, she built coalitions with both Republicans and Democrats to pass privacy and civil rights laws.[8] She was a leader of Mainers United for Marriage, working for seven years to pass same-sex marriage in Maine.[9] She was a leader on voting rights and co-chaired the 2011 Protect Maine Votes campaign to restore same day voter registration.[10][11] Most recently, she organized a successful privacy campaign to require warrants for access to private cell phone communications, and she led the opposition to warrantless drone surveillance.[12]

During her time at the ACLU, Bellows was a leader in the Maine Choice Coalition and the Coalition for Maine Women.[13] She was recognized for her work to advance women’s health and reproductive choice by awards from the University of Maine Women’s Studies Department,[14] Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center,[15] the American Association of University Women,[16] the Frances Perkins Center[17] and the Maine Democratic Party.

Prior to her work at the ACLU of Maine, Bellows was the national field organizer at the ACLU in Washington, D.C., organizing nationwide civil liberties campaigns including opposition to the Patriot Act, where she built broad coalitions that included librarians and gun owners alike.[18]

Bellows was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Nashville, Tennessee. There she assisted a start-up non-profit, Community IMPACT! in developing an asset building program to promote educational and economic empowerment for young people in Nashville’s largest public housing project.[19]

Bellows served as a small business development Peace Corps volunteer in La Arena de Chitré, Panama. In Panama, she launched a micro-lending program for artisans, started a Junior Achievement entrepreneurship program at a local high school, and was President of Women In Development/Gender and Development, dedicated to advancing economic and educational opportunity for women and girls.[20]

From 1997 to 1999 Bellows worked as a researcher and recruiter for Economists Incorporated, a privately held economic consulting firm specializing in microeconomic analysis in antitrust, regulatory and legal contexts in Washington, D.C.[21]

Political career

Bellows launched her candidacy for the United States Senate in 2014 on October 23, 2013.[22][23] In November, she was defeated.

Bellows announced on March 4, 2016, that she would run for the Maine Senate in district 14, including her hometown of Manchester and ten other towns in the Augusta area. She ran as a publicly financed candidate.[24] Bellows won election to the Maine Senate on November 8, 2016, and took office on December 7, 2016. She won reelection to the Maine Senate in 2018, defeating Republican Matt Stone with 57.9% of the vote.[25] She was reelected again in 2020, winning 56% of the vote over Republican Mark Walker.[26] Bellows resigned from the Senate on December 2, 2020.[27] A special election was scheduled for March 2021.[27]

In December 2020, Bellows was elected Secretary of State of Maine. She is the first female to hold the position.[28] In Maine, the secretary of state is elected biannually in December by a joint session of the Maine Legislature for a term that begins in January.[29]

Disqualification of Donald Trump from Maine primary ballot

Main article: 2024 presidential eligibility of Donald Trump

In December 2023, five Maine voters filed challenges to former president Donald Trump's petition to appear on the 2024 Republican presidential preference primary ballot in Maine.[30] On December 15, 2023, Bellows held a public evidentiary hearing to consider the validity of those challenges.[30][31] On December 28, 2023, she ruled that Trump would be barred from the Maine primary ballot due to his conduct during the January 6 United States Capitol attack, pending appeal.[32][33]

After ruling Trump ineligible, Bellows was doxxed, with her home address, phone number, and other personal data information published online.[34] Bellows was also swatted on December 29, 2023.[35] The incident was part of the series of violent threats against politicians, activists, and government buildings.[35] On January 3, 2024, bomb threats were further made against the Maine State Capitol, which led it to be evacuated, in what has been described as a likely continuation of the threats.[36]

On January 2, 2024, Trump appealed Bellows' December 28 decision to the Maine Superior Court.[37]

Political positions

Bellows supports abortion rights, describing herself as "a strong advocate for women's healthcare and reproductive freedom including access to abortion and contraception".[38] Bellows wants to greatly decrease subsidies for large agricultural corporations.[38] Bellows opposes the Citizens United v. FEC decision, and supports public financing of elections and strong disclosure requirements.[38] Bellows opposes the death penalty.[38] Bellows supports large cuts to the defense budget, and largely opposes military intervention by the U.S., saying "we cannot afford to be the world's military policeman".[38] Bellows supports federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.[38] Bellows opposes efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and supports expanding coverage through the Medicaid and Medicare programs.[38] Bellows led the effort to enact marriage equality in Maine as the head of Mainers United for Marriage.[38][39] She supports federal anti-discrimination protections against LGBT people.[40] In 2014, Bellows supported increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10, and indexing it to inflation.[40] In 2016, she supported a ballot initiative to gradually raise Maine’s minimum wage to $12 by 2020.[41] Bellows advocates for eliminating the cap on income taxable under the social security payroll tax in order to increase benefits.[38] Bellows supports decreasing the tax burden on lower- and middle-income families, as well as small businesses, but wants to "make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share" and does not support lowering taxes for high-earners or corporations.[38] Bellows supports large increases in corporate and capital gains taxes, as well as the personal income tax rates for higher-earning brackets.[38]

Personal life

Bellows lives with her husband, Brandon Baldwin.[22]

Electoral history

Maine Senate district 14

Democratic primary for the 2016 Maine Senate election, district 14
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shenna Bellows 1,947 81.74
Democratic Terry Berry 435 18.26
Total votes 2,382 100.0

[42]

2016 Maine Senate general election, district 14
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shenna Bellows 9,125 43.0
Republican Bryan Cutchen 8,071 38.1
Independent Joseph Pietroski 4,008 18.9
Total votes 21,204 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

[43]

United States Senate

Democratic primary for the 2014 United States Senate election in Maine
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shenna Bellows 47,909 73.6%
Other and Blank 17,176 26.4%
Total votes 65,085 100.0%

[44]

2014 United States Senate election in Maine
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Collins 413,505 67.0%
Democratic Shenna Bellows 190,254 30.8%
Total votes 603,759 100.0%
Republican hold

[44]

References

  1. ^ Shepherd, Michael (December 27, 2018). "These Maine lawmakers will control 2019's biggest State House debates". Bangor Daily News.
  2. ^ "Honorable Shenna Bellows Maine's 50th Secretary of State". Maine Department of the Secretary of State. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Lee, Dave (January 4, 2024). "US Must Stop 'Swatting' From Becoming an Election Weapon". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Catanese, David (February 27, 2014). "National Security Drives Maine Race Against Collins". U.S. News & World Report.
  5. ^ Smith, George (January 15, 2014). "MAINE STREAM: Democratic candidate for Senate a grassroots phenomenon". CentralMaine.com.
  6. ^ Claiborne, James B.; Perry, Erin; Bellows, Shenna; Campbell, Jennifer (1997). "Mechanisms of Acid-Base Excretion Across the Gills of a Marine Fish" (PDF). The Journal of Experimental Zoology. 279 (5): 509–520. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-010X(19971201)279:5<509::AID-JEZ15>3.0.CO;2-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  7. ^ RandomNonviolence (October 27, 2013). "ME-Sen: Shenna Bellows: Great campaign launch against Susan Collins". Daily Kos. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  8. ^ Hench, David (September 27, 2013). "Maine ACLU's leader announces resignation". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  9. ^ Ricker, Nok-Noi (September 27, 2013). "Maine ACLU leader Shenna Bellows steps down". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
  10. ^ Bellows, Shenna (October 15, 2012). "College students: You cannot be denied your vote". www.bangordailynews.com. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  11. ^ Dolan, Eric (November 9, 2011). "Maine voters restore same-day voter registration". The Raw Story. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  12. ^ Moretto, Mario (October 8, 2013). "Shenna Bellows will run against Susan Collins in 2014". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  13. ^ "Broad Coalition Celebrates 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade". aclumaine.org. ACLU of Maine. January 22, 2013. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  14. ^ "Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program". umaine.edu. University of Maine. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  15. ^ "Dinner, auction to benefit women's health center". bangordailynews.com. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  16. ^ "AAUW-Maine Photos". aauw-me.aauw.net. AAUW-Maine. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  17. ^ "First Annual Garden Party". Frances Perkins Center. June 29, 2009. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ^ "Mid-Maine Global Forum - Program Announcement: "Challenging U.S. Torture in the Courts and Congress"". REM Community Network. January 13, 2006. Archived from the original on November 28, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  19. ^ "NASW-Maine Annual Conference" (PDF). NASW Maine. April 8, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  20. ^ Bellows, Shenna (October 24, 2000). "High School Scholarship for Young Girls in Panama". Peace Corps Panama Friends. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  21. ^ "Maine Humanities Council Fall Program". Maine Humanities Council. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  22. ^ a b Russell, Eric (October 9, 2013). "Former ACLU Director Will Challenge Susan Collins". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  23. ^ Fulton, Deirdre (October 24, 2013). "Former ACLU head Shenna Bellows launches US Senate campaign: 'Freedom of the underdog'". The Portland Phoenix. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  24. ^ "Shenna Bellows announces Maine Senate primary run". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  25. ^ Neumann, Dan (November 8, 2018). "Mainers voted out Republicans who ran on bigotry and fear". Maine Beacon.
  26. ^ "Election Results". WABI. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  27. ^ a b Mills, Janet T. (December 14, 2020). "Proclamation of State Senate District 14 Vacancy" (PDF) (Press release). Augusta, Maine: Maine Secretary of State. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  28. ^ Carrigan, Don; Mannino, Gabrielle (December 2, 2020). "Shenna Bellows becomes first woman elected as Maine secretary of state". News Center Maine. Augusta, ME. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  29. ^ Andrews, Caitlin (November 17, 2020). "The big changes eyed by 6 Democrats aiming to be Maine's next top election official". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, ME.
  30. ^ a b "Hearing scheduled for challenges to Trump primary nomination petition". Maine Department of the Secretary of State. December 11, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  31. ^ "Hearing Regarding Challenges to Trump Primary Nomination Petition". Youtube. Maine Department of the Secretary of State. December 15, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  32. ^ Bellows, Shenna (December 28, 2023). "In re: Challenges to Primary Nomination Petition of Donald J. Trump" (PDF). Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  33. ^ "Maine Secretary of State Decision in Challenge to Trump Presidential Primary Petitions". www.maine.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  34. ^ Moshtaghian, Artemis (December 30, 2023). "Maine elections official who removed Trump from primary ballot targeted in swatting incident, police say". CNN. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  35. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  36. ^ Duggan, Emily (January 3, 2024). "Maine State House evacuated as state capitols across U.S. face bomb threats". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  37. ^ Kingsley, Owen (January 2, 2024). "Former Pres. Trump appeals ruling that keeps him off Maine primary ballot". WGME.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Maine Congressional Election 2014 Political Courage Test". Project Vote Smart. 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  39. ^ Bates, Greg (July 9, 2014). "Collins declares support for marriage equality, but that's not good enough". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  40. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference 2014Interview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  41. ^ Bellows, Shenna (December 30, 2016). "RADIO ADDRESS: SEN. BELLOWS SAYS MINIMUM WAGE RAISE IS GOOD NEWS FOR NEW YEAR". Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  42. ^ Department of the Secretary of State (June 15, 2016). "Tabulations for elections held in 2016". Department of the Secretary of State.
  43. ^ The New York Times (November 9, 2016). "Maine 14th District State Senate Results: Shenna Bellows Wins". The New York Times.
  44. ^ a b Department of the Secretary of State (November 5, 2014). "Tabulations for elections held in 2014". Department of the Secretary of State.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Maine
(Class 2)
2014 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Maine
2021–present 		Incumbent
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