Maine Senate elects Mathea Elizabeth Larson Daughtry as president; she pledges accessibility and collaboration

Senators elected Mathea Elizabeth Larson Daughtry of Cumberland County as president of the Maine Senate during the chamber’s organizational session. The body moved to cease nominations and cast a single ballot; the chair then declared Daughtry duly elected.

Daughtry, who was nominated by Senator Rotundo and seconded by Senator Farren, used her acceptance remarks to stress institutional access and collaboration. "This is the People's House," she said, urging senators to ensure the legislature is “effective, respectful, inclusive, and accessible.” She recounted returning to the chamber after earlier disappointment in the system and framed her priority as “leaving this legislature a better place than I found it.”

Her speech invoked the chamber’s history and gaps in representation: she noted that portraits of Maine women and Mainers of color are scarce in the chamber and urged colleagues to notice how physical and institutional spaces include—or exclude—constituents. Daughtry also identified policy concerns she expects the new body to address, citing housing costs, health care access and supports for children and families.

Governor Janet T. Mills attended the session and administered or oversaw the oath process for senators earlier in the program. She welcomed newly elected and returning members and said she looked forward to working with the legislature this session.

The Senate paused briefly after Daughtry’s election to distribute supplement materials and to send a message notifying the governor that the new president was present to take required oaths. Senators were reminded to return later for a joint convention with the House.