Former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah is running as a Democrat in the Maine governor’s race.
Shah announced his run this morning, saying he’d focus on the economy, the cost of living and housing, and rural health care which he claims in failing under President Trump.
He joins a crowded field of candidates trying to replace Governor Janet Mills, who is term limited.
Shah is best known for his daily briefings to Mainers online and on TV during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He joined President Biden’s administration in 2023 as a deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He left the CDC in February.
He currently a visiting professor at Colby College.
“As Maine CDC Director, I saw how we could get through incredibly tough times together with empathy, resilience, and vision,” said Shah in a news release. “I’ll bring those same values as governor to tackle big challenges: the unsustainable increases to the cost of living and housing, an economy that’s not delivering for people, and a rural health care system that’s struggling and will only get worse because of Trump.”
Other Democrats in the race for governor include Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Senator Angus King’s son Angus King III, Jason Cherry, Kenneth Pinet, former State Senate President Troy Jackson, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree’s daughter and former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree.
Republican candidates include Jonathan Bush, the cousin of former President George W. Bush, lawyer Bobby Charles, real estate broker David Jones, State Senator Jim Libby, health care entrepreneur Owen McCarthy, and former fitness executive Ben Midgley.
