Nirav Shah, Former Maine CDC Director, Announces Run For Governor

India-West Staff Reporter

BRUNSWICK, ME – Democrat Nirav Shah, the former Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and former Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. CDC, has announced his candidacy for Governor of Maine on October 20, emphasizing his record of public service, leadership through crisis, and commitment to improving the lives of Mainers.

An attorney, economist, and public health leader, Shah is best known for guiding Maine through the COVID-19 pandemic with what many described as calm, science-based leadership. Now, he says, he’s ready to bring that same steadiness and problem-solving approach to the Blaine House.

“Maine is at a crossroads, and we need a governor who knows how to lead through challenges and deliver results,” Shah said. “I’m running to honor what works, fix what doesn’t, and ensure our state remains a place where people can thrive.”

During his tenure as Maine CDC Director, Shah,47, rebuilt an agency weakened by years of neglect and positioned it to respond effectively to the greatest public health crisis in a century. Under his leadership, Maine achieved one of the highest vaccination rates and lowest COVID-19 death rates in the nation. His early actions—securing protective equipment, expanding testing capacity with Maine-based companies, and communicating transparently—were widely credited with saving lives and strengthening public trust.

“As Maine CDC Director, I learned what’s possible when we face hard times with empathy and resolve,” Shah said. “As governor, I’ll bring that same energy to address the cost of living, strengthen our rural healthcare system, and build an economy that works for everyone.”

In recognition of his effective leadership, former President Joe Biden appointed Shah as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency’s second-in-command. After serving at the national level, Shah returned to Maine, where he is now a visiting professor at Colby College, mentoring future public health professionals.

Shah’s story is also one of perseverance and gratitude rooted in his immigrant background. The son of Gujarati Indian parents who immigrated to the United States in the 1970s, Shah grew up in Wisconsin in a family that blended Indian and American traditions, the campaign told India-West. His father worked as a physician, and his mother was a preschool educator—instilling in him a lifelong belief in education, service, and community.

“My parents came to this country with little more than hope and determination,” Shah reflected. “Maine gave us a home and a future. Now, I want to give back by helping every Mainer—no matter where they come from—have that same opportunity.”

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and biology from the University of Louisville in 1999 before pursuing graduate studies in economics at Oxford University.

In 2000, Shah began his medical training at the University of Chicago, where he went on to earn both a Doctor of Medicine and a Juris Doctor—completing the dual degrees in 2008. A recipient of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, Shah combined his backgrounds in law, medicine, and economics to shape a career focused on health equity and evidence-based policy.

Shah lives in Brunswick with his wife, Kara, and their German Shepherd, Fritz. When not teaching or volunteering, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and exploring Maine’s local breweries.