Meet Ed crockett
Lifelong Mainer. Problem-Solver. Executive. Dad.
Why I'm running
I am running for Governor because Maine needs a chief executive with the courage to put people first, not a political party. I have seen firsthand how dysfunctional the system has become, both here in Augusta and across the country. Too often it creates division and gridlock instead of solutions. Many of the candidates in this race have been tied to the system for decades, influenced by PACs and special interests. That is not who I am. I was not recruited by a party to serve in the Legislature, I will not accept money from lobbyists, and I am proud to be running as a Clean Elections candidate. My only commitment is to the people of Maine.
I am running as an Independent because the major political parties have lost their way and the trust of the people. Too many politicians are out of touch with our daily lives and are failing to deliver results. They are not passing enough bills, they are not solving enough problems, and too often they are more focused on politics than progress. It is time for a reset. Maine needs a Governor who will not buckle to partisan pressure but will work to bring people together and organize the Legislature to deliver real outcomes for Mainers.
I have never held a party position and I do not answer to party bosses. I listen, I put constituents first, and I vote for what works. As a socially conscious, fiscally conservative business executive and four-term State Representative, I have built a record of solving problems and delivering results. If doing the right thing means frustrating those who put party above people, then I am proud to stand as an Independent.
My Story & Experience
I grew up on Munjoy Hill as the youngest of eight children in a family that struggled with poverty, my mother’s health issues, and my father’s battle with alcoholism. Those early challenges shaped who I am today and gave me a lifelong belief in education, hard work, and resilience. With the encouragement of my mother, I attended the University of Maine at Orono (UMO) and double majored in Journalism & Broadcasting and later earned an MBA from Boston College. That set me on a decades-long career in sales and marketing, where I led initiatives for iconic Maine companies like Country Kitchen, Hannaford, Oakhurst Dairy, and Capt’n Eli’s Soda. Along the way, I learned how to negotiate complex deals, bring people together, and find solutions that worked for everyone. In the interview below, I share more about my story — growing up in Portland, the challenges my family faced, and the values of love, resilience, and community that shaped me. These experiences are why I’m committed to putting people first and why I’m running for Governor.
I carried that same approach into the Legislature, where I proudly served four terms representing Portland. I earned a reputation for listening first, focusing on outcomes, and cutting through partisanship to deliver results. On education, I fought to fully fund our schools at 55 percent, raised starting teacher pay to $40,000, and supported free meals for every K–12 student. I also helped make community college free for those in need, giving young Mainers more opportunity to succeed.
I worked to strengthen our workforce and economy by helping implement a 10-year Economic Development Plan, expanding broadband access across Maine, and adding $13 million to the Maine State Grant Program to ease college debt. On health care, I worked to make prescription drugs more affordable, directed nearly $20 million into behavioral health services, and supported $22 million for emergency housing for Mainers facing disabilities, mental health challenges, or substance use disorders. I also backed local relief, including $130 million in property tax relief without raising income taxes, increasing the Homestead Exemption by $5,000, and returning thousands of dollars in unclaimed property to constituents.
Through it all, I have remained committed to protecting Maine’s natural beauty, from our forests and waterways to the public lands that define who we are. Whether in business, public service, or as a father raising three children in Portland’s North Deering neighborhood with my wife Martha, I have always focused on doing what works for people. My record proves that I know how to solve problems, deliver results, and bring people together, not as a partisan, but as a leader who puts Maine first.
Maine does not need more partisan fighting. It needs a Governor who can bring people together and move us forward. I know how to organize, how to listen, and how to deliver. I am running to be that Governor: an Independent leader guided by fairness, hard work, and a deep love for our state.
Ed Crockett is running for Governor as an Independent because he believes Maine deserves leadership that puts people before parties. Our state faces real challenges, from rising costs to political gridlock, and Ed is stepping up to deliver solutions that work for all Mainers. A lifelong Mainer, father, and community builder, Ed has spent decades as a successful business executive and legislator, guided by fairness, hard work, and a deep love for his state. With proven leadership and independent vision, he’s ready to move Maine forward.