BOWDOINHAM – Democratic State Representative Sally Jeane Cluchey announced today that she is seeking reelection to the Maine House of Representatives from District 52, which includes the communities of Bowdoinham, Richmond, and the northern half of Bowdoin.
Since taking office in December 2022, Rep. Cluchey has worked hard to propose, improve, and pass legislation on a broad range of issues, from affordable housing and freshwater protection to health care and access to locally raised meat and wild game. She serves on both the Health Coverage, Insurance, and Financial Services (HCIFS) Committee and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) Committee.
Rep. Cluchey’s proudest accomplishment from this session was working across the aisle to expand access to birth control by allowing it to be prescribed by pharmacists. Working with the bill’s sponsor, Republican Senator Eric Brakey from Auburn, she drafted an amendment that made it one of the most expansive birth control access policies in the country. In the end, this bill – LD 351 – brought together nontraditional partners like Maine Family Planning, the Christian Civic League, and the Maine Medical Association, and won unanimous support from the Legislature.
Food security continues to be a major priority for Rep. Cluchey, who also serves as chair of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry. After learning that the greatest bottleneck to Maine’s local meat supply is a lack of slaughtering and processing facilities, she sponsored LD 1767, which will provide technical expertise to support small businesses in this market. The bill passed, became law, and received important funding beginning next year.
Fielding and resolving constituent concerns has been a key focus for Rep. Cluchey during her first term. In May 2023, when asphalt trucks were keeping residents awake with loud brake noises in downtown Richmond, she worked with the Town of Richmond and the Department of Transportation to resolve the issue. She worked directly with dozens of constituents in her district to help them secure key support resources, like emergency home heating assistance and SNAP benefits.
“Serving the people of District 52 has been an incredible honor, and I hope I can keep working in Augusta on their behalf to make our state safer and stronger,” said Rep. Cluchey. “I’m running for reelection because I love this community and I know we can continue making great progress together. If reelected, I’ll continue to work hard for you, keep you informed, listen with an open mind, question the status quo, and do all I can to support smarter, more efficient, and more just public policies that improve the lives of Mainers.”
“Rep. Cluchey’s service on the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife committee has been so helpful,” says conservation leader and Richmond resident Barbara Vickery. “She comes to committee meetings with an open mind, and was instrumental in passing a law strengthening Maine’s support for endangered species. Given the rapidly changing climate, we’re fortunate to have Sally’s thoughtful, rational voice speaking on our behalf in Augusta.”
“Sally’s leadership of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry demonstrates that she not only talks the talk, she walks the walk,” says Food Pantry volunteer and Bowdoin resident Bill Hamilton. “She also does a great job communicating with constituents through her newsletters and on social media. On top of that, that gal is brave as hell. There’s no one else I’d rather have representing me in Augusta.”
Rep. Sally Cluchey is running as a Clean Elections candidate. Qualifying contributions can be made at maine.gov/cleanelections. Learn more about Rep. Sally Cluchey and her reelection campaign at clucheyformaine.com. Read her updates from Augusta at sallycluchey.com.