See the former jobs of the governor of Maine
In 2018, 36 out of the nation's 50 states held elections for governor. A record-shattering 16 women were major party nominees the position, nine of whom were successful, making the current number of female governors tied with the all-time high number set in 2004. The LGBTQ+ community also made historic strides, as Colorado's Jared Polis became the first openly gay man to be elected governor in the United States, and Oregon's Kate Brown, who is bisexual, was reelected in her state.
Fast forward to the 2022 elections, and 36 states will once again elect—or reelect— their governors. But who are these powerful politicians, and what were they doing before they took their states' reigns?
Stacker analyzed the former roles every current governor had before taking office and found varying resumes, from positions as cabinet secretaries to the CEO of an ice cream company. Read on to find out where your state's governor developed and honed the leadership skills that propelled them to public office or check out the national story here.
Janet T. Mills (D-Maine)
The first woman governor of Maine, Janet T. Mills began her career as a diner waitress and newspaper delivery girl. Upon graduating law school, she rose through the ranks of the Maine legal system as an assistant attorney general, district attorney, and eventually attorney general. She also co-founded the Maine Women's Lobby to help victims of domestic violence and served four terms in the Maine House of Representatives.
While all 50 governors bring with them experiences from different walks of life, some share several commonalities. A total of four current governors have served in the military, and 15 were at one point the lieutenant governor of their states. Eleven governors previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, while just one was a former U.S. senator.
Keep reading below to see the former jobs of governors of other states in your region.
New Hampshire
Harnessing his passion for the environment, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu embarked on a 10-year career as an environmental engineer, where he helped orchestrate the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. In 2010, while serving as the CEO of the Waterville Valley Resort, he was tasked with a vast expansion of the resort in tandem with the United States Forest Service. Sununu then went on to serve three terms on the New Hampshire Executive Council.
Vermont
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott started his first business—a boat rental and lawn mowing service—at age 18. A few years later, he opened a motorcycle shop and then went on to work for Dubois Construction, where he climbed his way up the ladder. Scott and his cousin eventually bought the company, and the experience inspired him to run for Vermont Senate in 2000. In 2005, he started the Wheels for Warmth program, which uses old tire donations to fund heating fuel assistance programs.
