State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican firebrand who has been one of her party’s most prolific fundraisers, announced Monday morning she will not seek reelection to represent the Auburn region in the Legislature.
Instead, Libby will form a political action committee to support U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in her 2026 reelection campaign. Maine’s senior senator is seeking her sixth consecutive term in Washington and is awaiting the winner of a Democratic primary that includes Gov. Janet Mills and Sullivan oysterman Graham Platner as the top contenders.
The exit of the 44-year–old from the 2026 state legislature race comes after Libby and her Dinner Table group failed to pass a state referendum that would have implemented voter I.D. at the polls and would have placed restrictions on absentee voting. The referendum was voted down by Mainers on Nov. 4 as more than 60% of Maine voters rejected Question 1.
Libby’s Lead Maine Committee PAC is a partnership with Sentinel Action Fund, which is currently endorsing Republican candidates in Ohio, Montana and Pennsylvania.
“I’m excited to build a team that will empower Mainers to take part in shaping the future of our state. A key part of this effort will be the Lead Maine Committee’s partnership with the Sentinel Action Fund to mobilize voters and ensure Senator Susan Collins is re-elected in 2026,” Libby said Monday morning. “Defending this seat, and expanding conservative influence in the Maine Legislature, are critical to protecting our values from the far-Left policies of Janet Mills and her accomplices.”
Libby, who first won election to the House in 2020, drew national headlines in February after her social media posts singling out a transgender student in Maine who won a state track and field title led to President Donald Trump targeting Gov. Janet Mills and the state’s federal funding in Trump’s bid to force the state to ban transgender female athletes from female sports. That fight between the Trump administration and Maine is still pending in federal court.
Libby, whose party has been in the minority at the State House since 2018, had been floated as a gubernatorial contender before sharing her update Monday. Asked if she is considering running for any office in the future, Libby only said Monday her “goal is to create a political organization that could help elect many Republicans to office in Maine – that is how I can best serve today.”
She is also supporting former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat that will be vacated at the end of Democratic Rep. Jared Golden’s term in 2026.
Spokespeople for Collins and her reelection campaign did not immediately comment Monday on Libby’s announcement.
Maine’s primary election is June 9, 2026. The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.
BDN Reporter Billy Kobin contributed to this report.