Mills and Pingree meet to initiate Maine executive power transfer
Maine Governor Janet Mills met with Governor-elect Hannah Pingree in Augusta on Friday to initiate the formal transfer of executive power following Tuesday’s gubernatorial election, WABI reported. The sitting governor pledged full administrative cooperation ahead of the January inauguration.
The transition meetings follow Pingree’s victory to become Maine’s 76th governor. Mills announced that the incoming governor would receive complete institutional support from her current staff as preparations ramp up for the January 6 swearing-in ceremony.
Tonight, Maine people chose Hannah Pingree to lead our state for the very same reasons I asked her to serve in my administration 8 years ago: her deep experience, sound judgment, and relentless optimism for Maine’s future. I congratulate the Governor-elect on her victory.
Augusta Transition Meetings Begin
Mills and Pingree delivered joint public remarks on Friday morning in Augusta, taking questions from reporters regarding the impending handoff of executive responsibilities.
Pingree served as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future from January 2019 until May 2025. She stepped down from that cabinet post to launch her gubernatorial campaign.
The Governor-elect will receive full collaboration and support from my administration as she prepares to be inaugurated in January as Maine’s 76th Governor,
Mills stated following the election.
Mills pointed directly to that shared history during their Friday statements.
Roger Katz and Maulian Bryant Lead Transition Team
The executive handoff comes immediately after Pingree announced the core personnel tasked with managing her transition team and inaugural planning. Former State Sen. Roger Katz and former Penobscot ambassador Maulian Bryant will co-chair the Transition Committee. That specific body carries the responsibility of vetting candidates for cabinet positions.
On the administrative side, Scott Ogden and Karen Geraghty will co-direct the professional staff transition team. Ogden brings federal congressional office experience, while Geraghty previously served as mayor of Portland.
State statute mandates that incoming governors establish two separate committees for transition and inaugural functions. Maine law allocates $5,000 in public funds to cover administrative support for these efforts. Any expenses exceeding that statutory allowance must be raised independently by the governor-elect.
Transition Staff Plans Future Personnel Rollouts
Pingree’s transition staff plans to release additional personnel rollouts and name the remaining members of the Transition Committee in the coming days. Job seekers can submit applications for executive office and cabinet slots through a dedicated public portal established by the transition team.
The formal transition period runs continuously through January 6, when Pingree will be inaugurated as Maine’s 76th governor.