Paige Loud

Paige Loud (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd Congressional District. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The issues hurting rural Maine—skyrocketing costs, disappearing healthcare access, and systems that fail working families—need to be fixed at the federal level. As a social worker, I’m the one people call when those systems break, and I know firsthand how policy failures translate into real suffering. I bring a perspective Congress is missing: someone who has sat at kitchen tables across this district helping families navigate hunger, housing insecurity, aging, and medical crises. I grew up in poverty in rural America, relied on the same programs my clients depend on today, and I know exactly where those programs fall short. I’m running now because Washington has made things worse, and both parties have failed to deliver real solutions.I am the only candidate who interfaces with constituents every day. I know the problems they are facing, and I know why the problems aren't getting solved. As a social worker, I'm also the only candidate bound to a code of ethics. I treat every client, and will treat every constituent, with equal respect and compassion regardless of life experience, belief, political party, or anything else. I'm the only woman, the only renter, the only survivor of gender-based violence and sexual assault, and the only candidate whose bodily autonomy is under constant attack by our government.Every day, social workers like me solve crises that should not exist: hunger, housing instability, and lack of medical care. I’m running because food, housing, and healthcare must be treated as human rights. We need Medicare for All, fully funded federal housing programs, and food systems that feed people—not corporations. We must tax the wealthy, create a Cost of Living Tax Cut so working people keep more of their money, and raise the minimum wage to a true living wage that adjusts with inflation. Congress must rebuild broken systems so everyone is guaranteed food, housing, and healthcare. We need social workers in Congress to get this done.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about housing, food, and healthcare because nothing else matters if people can’t survive. This is basic Maslow’s hierarchy: you can’t focus on work, school, or community when you’re hungry, sick, or worried about losing your home. In the richest country on Earth, these are political failures, not personal ones. I believe housing, food, and healthcare are human rights. That means Medicare for All, guaranteed housing, and food systems built to feed people—not pad corporate profits. When we meet people’s basic needs, families thrive, workers have power, and communities become stronger.