Nirav Shah Leads Maine Primary With $510,000 Haul

India-West Staff Reporter

BRUNSWICK, ME – Former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah has emerged as the early frontrunner in the Democratic primary for governor, pairing a first-place poll ranking with a $510,000 opening fundraising haul.

A new Pan Atlantic Research poll, conducted between late November and early December, shows Shah leading the Democratic field with 24% support among likely primary voters. The lead comes as Shah reports contributions from nearly 1,600 individual donors across all 16 Maine counties. The fundraising total reflects a broad grassroots base, including healthcare workers, educators, and small business owners.

Campaign Manager Kayla vanWieringen noted that the “deep trust” built during his tenure at the Maine CDC has become the foundation of his candidacy. “Mainers saw Nirav Shah lead with clarity, compassion, and courage during one of the most difficult moments in our state’s history,” vanWieringen said in a statement. “These results show Mainers believe he is the person to guide us through the challenges ahead.”

Shah, an attorney and economist who recently served as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. CDC, has centered his platform on housing affordability, healthcare funding, support for working families, and broader economic growth. He has also positioned Maine as a bulwark against federal policies he describes as “overreaches” by the Trump administration.

In response to the poll and fundraising milestones, Shah emphasized a focus on the rising cost of living and strains on the healthcare system.

“I’m honored and humbled by the support Mainers are showing,” Shah stated in a release to regional media. “What I hear every day—from nurses and small business owners to teachers and retirees—is that Maine people are ready for something different. This poll reflects that hunger for change, but it’s only one data point. I’m running to earn Mainers’ trust every single day.”