Representative Chellie Pingree, Democratic from Maine

Chellie Pingree

Maine's 1st congressional district

ME-1 Midterms Intelligence

Pingree sits on safe political ground in ME-01, a Portland-centered seat with a D+23 lean that still shows a faint rightward drift. After 17 years in office and slots on Appropriations and Agriculture, she is less a vulnerable incumbent than a durable conduit for district priorities. The constituency is older than the national norm—22.1% over 65—with a high-homeownership, high-cost profile that mixes affluent coastal communities with working waterfront and rural pockets. That creates a politics anchored in conservation, food systems, and federal spending, but filtered through cost-of-living and local control.

For advocates, this is a values-driven district where economic framing still matters. Pingree’s lane is strongest when policy connects agriculture, natural resources, and community resilience to tangible local benefits; that is especially true in a district where healthcare and education account for 26.1% of jobs and veterans make up 7.9% of residents. The pressure points are affordability and mental health, not ideological conversion. Campaigns should lead with stewardship, small-producer economics, and place-based investment—not partisan urgency.

Representative Chellie Pingree represents Maine's 1st congressional district, serving 695,717 constituents. The district has an estimated median household income of $88,029 and an unemployment rate of 3.3%.

Economic & Demographic Snapshot

695,717Population
↑ 12,572
$88,029Median Incomenat'l $37,585
↑ $7,645
3.3%Unemploymentnat'l 3.5%
↓ 0.1%
4.6%Poverty Ratenat'l 12.4%
↑ 0.1%
74.2%Homeownershipnat'l 65.5%
→ no change
$1,400Median Rentnat'l $1,163
↑ $190
0.6%Public Transitnat'l 5%
→ no change
24.7 minMean Commutenat'l 26.4 min
↑ 0.1 min

Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2017-2021 vs. 2019-2023). All figures are statistical estimates with 90% confidence level.

Maine District 1 Demographics

Median Age 44.3 (vs 38.5) · Homeownership 74.2% (vs 65.5%) · Bachelor’s+ 43.9% (vs 33.7%) · Poverty 4.6% (vs 12.4%) · Income $88,029 (vs $37,585)

Age Distribution

Skews older than the national average (median age 44.3 vs 38.5 nationally). The largest age cohort is 60–69 at 15.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

White residents are the largest group at 89.3%.

* Hispanic includes respondents of any race. Racial categories include both Hispanic and non-Hispanic individuals.

Education

Highly educated: 43.9% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above the 33.7% national average. 17.1% hold a post-graduate degree.

Income Distribution

Median household income is $88,029, well above the $37,585 national median.

Housing

Homeownership at 74.2% (vs 65.5% nationally). Median rent is $1,400. Median home value is $392,300.

How People Get to Work

68.3% drive alone. Average commute is 24.7 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates
Data represents 5-year statistical estimates for increased reliability.

Maine District 1 FAQ

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Representative Pingree focuses on Agriculture and Food, Public Lands and Natural Resources and Armed Forces and National Security. Deliver personalized constituent letters to Maine's federal, state, and local officials — live in under five minutes.

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