Nirav Shah concedes Maine Governor primary race

Shah led in first-choice votes but was overtaken after ranked-choice tabulations.

Malvika Choudhary

Fri, 19, Jun 2026 15:37 EDT 352

Nirav Shah Nirav Shah / Screengrab from the ad

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Former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah on June 19 conceded defeat in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary after ranked-choice voting elevated Hannah Pingree to the nomination.

"While it is not the result we hoped for, I want to express my gratitude for every person who believed in this campaign and in the better future we set out to build together," Shah said in a statement..

He said he called Pingree to congratulate her and pledged his support for her general election campaign.

Also Read: Nirav Shah holds narrow lead in Maine Democratic primary

"I was proud to call Hannah Pingree to congratulate her, and I want every Mainer to know I meant it with my whole heart," Shah said. "She ran a campaign of deep conviction and our state will be fortunate to have her carrying our banner into November."

According to the Maine Secretary of State's Office ranked-choice voting tabulations completed early June 19, Pingree won the Democratic nomination with 56.2 percent of the vote to Shah's 43.8 percent in the fourth and final round of counting, a margin of 12.4 percentage points.

The result marked a dramatic turnaround from election night, when Shah emerged as the frontrunner with 26.8 percent of first-choice votes. Pingree followed with 22.9 percent, while former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson received 21.8 percent, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows secured 20.6 percent, and clean energy entrepreneur Angus King III finished with 8 percent.

Under Maine's ranked-choice voting system, candidates with the fewest votes are eliminated and their supporters' next preferences are redistributed. After King, Bellows and Jackson were eliminated, Pingree gained enough second- and third-choice support to overtake Shah and secure the nomination.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5876321&forum_id=2Reputation#49954662)