Angus King

Angus Stanley King Jr., born on March 31, 1944, is a prominent American lawyer and politician who has made significant contributions to the state of Maine. Since 2013, he has served as the junior United States senator, representing Maine as a political independent while caucusing with the Democratic Party. His political journey began with his tenure as the seventy-second governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003, where he was the only independent governor in the country.

Raised in Virginia, King relocated to Maine after completing his law degree. In 1989, he established Northeast Energy Management, Inc., focusing on electrical energy conservation projects. His political career took off when he won the Maine gubernatorial election in 1994 as an independent candidate in a competitive four-way race, and he was reelected in a landslide victory in 1998, enjoying high approval ratings throughout his governorship.

After stepping down from the governorship in 2003, King returned to the business sector before entering the political arena again. He successfully won the Senate election in 2012, succeeding the retiring Republican Olympia Snowe. King was reelected for a second term in 2018, following Maine's first instant-runoff voting elections, and secured a third term in 2024, continuing to represent the interests of his constituents.

As one of only two independents in the Senate, alongside Bernie Sanders of Vermont, King plays a unique role in American politics. His ability to work across party lines and his commitment to the people of Maine have solidified his reputation as a respected leader.