Donna Bailey

Donna Bailey
Member of the Maine Senate
from the 31st district
Assumed office
December 2, 2020
Preceded byJustin Chenette
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 14th district
In office
December 5, 2018 – December 2, 2020
Preceded byJim Dill
Succeeded byLynn Copeland
Personal details
Born1961 (age 62–63)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJoseph Parrette
Children2
ResidenceSaco, Maine
EducationBates College
University of Maine School of Law (JD)
ProfessionAttorney
Websitehttps://www.dbformaine.com/

Donna Bailey (born 1961) is an American politician and attorney from Maine. A Democrat, she serves in the Maine Senate representing District 31, which includes her residence in Saco, as well as the towns of Old Orchard Beach, Hollis, Limington and part of Buxton. Bailey grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire, and attended Berlin High School, Bates College and the University of Maine School of Law. She worked in real estate law, family law and probate law in private practice and was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2016. In 2020, Bailey was elected to her first term in the Maine Senate.

Early life and education

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Bailey was born in 1961[1] and grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire.[2] Her mother and grandfather worked in mills and factories, and Bailey was one of the first Head Start students as a young child. She began working at age 14 and graduated from Berlin High School in 1979, continuing to Bates College where she earned a degree in European history in 1979.[2]

Bailey credits a maternal great aunt, Hilda Brungot, with inspiring her to pursue a law career. Brungot was the longest-serving woman state representative in the New Hampshire General Court. Bailey attended the University of Maine School of Law and completed her J.D. in 1986.[2]

Beginning her legal career in real estate law, Bailey worked for the Maine Title Company for four years before opening a private practice in 1991. She continued in private civil practice, including real estate, family and probate law.[2] She served as the York County Judge of Probate for four years.[3]

Political career

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Bailey first ran for the Maine House District 31 in 2016. She was unopposed in the primary and won the three-way general election with 50% of the vote. She was again unopposed in the 2018 House District 31 Democratic primary and won the three-way general election with 57% of the vote.[4] While serving in the House, Bailey was the House Chair of the Judiciary Committee, the House Chair of the Maine Indian Claims Task Force, an appointee to the Pre-Trial Justice Task Force, and chair of the subcommittee to re-write the Maine probate code.[1]

In 2018, Bailey ran again for House District 31 and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. In August 2020, Maine Senate District 14 incumbent Justin Chenette dropped out of the race and Bailey announced that she would instead run for the Senate seat. She announced her Senate candidacy on August 12, 2020,[3][5] and defeated Republican Craig Pendleton 55%-45% in the November general election.[4][6] Bailey serves on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs & Government Oversight committees.[7]

Personal life

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Bailey and her husband, Joseph Parrette, live in Saco.[8] They have two sons and two grandchildren. Bailey spends her spare time reading, researching genealogy, kayaking, hiking, gardening and spending time with family.[2][9]

Electoral history

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Maine House

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2016 Maine House District 14 Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 100%
Total votes 100.0%
2016 Maine House District 31 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 2,614 50.3%
Republican Jeffrey Christenbury 1,588 30.6%
Independent Jacob Johnston 995 19.2%
Total votes 5,197 100.0%
2018 Maine House District 14 Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 962 100%
Total votes 962 100.0%
2018 Maine House District 14 General Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 2,609 57.1%
Republican Stephen DuPuis 1,282 28.1%
Independent Frederick Samp 678 14.8%
Total votes 4,569 100.0%
2020 Maine House District 14 Democratic primary[a]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 1,449 100%
Total votes 1,449 100.0%

Maine Senate

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2020 Maine Senate District 31 General Election[b]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donna Bailey 13,266 54.7%
Republican Craig Pendleton 11,007 45.3%
Total votes 24,273 100.0%[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gotthelf, Liz (21 October 2020). "Bailey, Pendleton Compete For State Senate District 31 Seat". Saco Bay News. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "About State Representative Donna Bailey". DBforMaine.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b Wells, Tammy (12 August 2020). "Democrat Bailey announces candidacy for Senate 31". Portland Press Herald/Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Donna Bailey (Maine)". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. ^ Gotthelf, Liz (12 August 2020). "Bailey Throws Hat In For State Senate 31 Race, Gombar Steps Out". Saco Bay News. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. ^ Lowell, Robert (4 November 2020). "Donna Bailey takes Senate District 31". Portland Press Herald. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Sen. Donna Bailey (D - York)". Maine State Legislature. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Donna Bailey (D-Saco)". Maine Legislature. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Donna Bailey, Maine Senate 31". Portland Press Herald/Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ After the Senate incumbent's August withdrawal, Bailey ran as the Democratic candidate in the 2020 Senate election.
  2. ^ Bailey initially ran in the 2020 House District 31 primary. Incumbent Justin Chenette dropped out of the race after winning the Senate 31 primary and Bailey became the nominee.
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