News

Maine Secretary of State pushes back on lawsuit challenging transgender referendum

Maine Secretary of State pushes back on lawsuit challenging transgender referendum

Maine Secretery of State Shenna Bellows speaks at a news conference at the Maine State House in Augusta on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Whittle) Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio, Associated Press


Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows says a transgender athlete referendum should appear on the ballot despite a lawsuit claiming many signatures in support of it were invalidated.

The referendum asks voters if they approve of a requirement for Maine students to play on sports teams and use bathrooms and locker rooms in accordance with the sex listed on their birth certificate.

The suit filed by three Mainers claims that the referendum did not gather the required number of signatures.

In a brief filed Friday, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Bolton, who’s representing Bellows, said some signatures were found to be not valid, but not enough to justify pulling the question from the ballot in November.

Bolton acknowledged that other issues brought by the suit may deserve further scrutiny, but the court should only take them up if they make a difference in the outcome of the case.

Latest Headlines

8 hours ago in Local

South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Westbrook Bank

Jean Pierre Gendron pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland

8 hours ago in Local

Robbins Lumber Addresses Financial Condition Month After Fire, Explosion at Searsmont Mill

The company also gave an update on three Robbins family members who were severely injured in the fire and explosion.

11 hours ago in Local

Sanford police investigate after man allegedly throws juvenile’s bicycle into pond

Sanford police are releasing new details after video circulated on social media over the weekend that appeared to show a group of teenage boys assaulting a man.

11 hours ago in Local

Group of juveniles accused of breaking into cars, storage units in Somerset County

Six kids are accused of breaking into storage units and cars in Somerset County.

17 hours ago in Entertainment, Trending

Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce getting married at Madison Square Garden? What we know

Are Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce really getting married at Madison Square Garden? Frenzied speculation surrounding the superstar singer and football player's upcoming wedding has spiked over the past few days as reports swirl that the two are getting married the first week in July at one of New York's iconic landmarks.