Democrat Henry Ingwersen and Independent Jason Litalien offer sharply divided opinions about how to best serve Senate District 32

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

During a candidate forum earlier this month, Democrat incumbent Henry Ingwersen extolled his accomplishments and “dogged hard work” in the Maine State Senate while his challenger — Biddeford attorney Jason Litalien — repeatedly hammered away at increasing taxes, statewide fraud and declining school performance scores.

Ingwersen, 75, is a retired teacher from Arundel. He previously served in the Maine House of Representatives.

Litalien, 51, is a U.S. Air Force veteran who narrowly lost previous campaigns to serve as Biddeford’s mayor and as a member of the city council.

. . .

Maine Senate District 32 includes the city of Biddeford and the neighboring towns of Arundel, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

When asked to list his top-three concerns, Ingwersen pointed to defending and promoting affordable healthcare; affordable child care for Maine families and food insecurity to make sure no Mainer goes hungry.

Litalien said he wants to lower taxes by cutting waste; have schools focus on core curriculum subjects including reading, math and writing; and provide better oversight of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, in light of recent fraud investigations.

Ingwersen — who currently serves as senate chair of the Health and Human Services Committee – faced sharp criticism from Litalien during an Oct. 1 candidate forum in Biddeford.

“If you knew there was a problem, why haven’t you fixed it?” Litalien asked.

When asked why he wants a third term, Ingwersen said he has experienced “public office as a positive force” for Maine families.

“Now — more than ever — we need skilled, experienced leaders who will fight for [Maine people,]” Ingwersen said. “I am that leader. I have used my qualities of listening, building relationships and working incredibly hard to create and pass effective legislation that helps my constituents and the people of Maine.”

Litalien points out that he is a Biddeford native who owned a small restaurant and says there is a disconnect between state leaders and the people they represent.

“Maine families are paying more taxes while our schools underperform and agencies like DHHS go without real oversight,” Litalien said. “I have already shown that I will speak up when government spends first and asks later.”

Because he is running as an independent candidate, Litalien said he will be better able to serve the district by being accountable without worrying about political allegiance.

During the candidate forum, Litalien said he will not caucus with either Democrats or Republicans and described the caucus process as flawed.

“I am not running to pick a party fight,” Litalien said. “I don’t care about politics. I want accountability.”

Ingwersen, however, said he is proud of what he has achieved for the district by working with a bipartisan approach and reaching out to his colleagues on both sides of the political aisle.

“With my guidance as chair, 78 percent of the bills voted out of the Health and Human Services Committee over the last two years were unanimous and bipartisan,” Ingwersen said. “In the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, we voted unanimously on 80 percent of the bills.”

Affordability and the looming state budget gap

. . .

In September, the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services issued a forecast report of state revenues and expenditures. That report reveals a projected structural gap of roughly $1.3 billion.

Ingwersen said he is concerned about the budget gap, but also says the situation has happened before, and lawmakers are required to work with the governor and develop a balanced budget for the next two years.

The budget gap, Ingwersen said, is being driven by the Legislature’s commitment to provide 55 percent of local education costs; municipal revenue sharing commitments and providing funding for MaineCare for low-income residents — not to mention the state’s rising share of Medicaid costs.

“These are important obligations and investments that families in our community need and benefit from,” Ingwersen said. “Cutting spending for these programs is not something I would support. I will not balance the budget on the backs of working and middle-class Mainers.”

“I will not balance the budget
on the backs of working
and middle-class Mainers.”

— Henry Ingwersen

If elected, Litalien said he will prioritize controlling overall spending growth rather than raising taxes on families and small businesses.

“We should be requiring regular audits to find waste and improper payments (especially in high-growth areas like MaineCare and DHHS services), ending last-minute tax-and-spending bills and living within means so core services can be protected without automatic increases,” Litalien said.

“Savings from better oversight should go first to tax relief and reducing pressure on property taxes, not new programs. The goal is a sustainable budget that does not push higher costs onto residents,” he added.

Ingwersen said Mainers’ budgets are being adversely impacted by President Donald Trump’s recent decisions and policies.

“It is estimated that the average Maine household has paid a combined $4,300 more for goods and services since Trump was re-elected,” Ingwersen said, pointing to the Iran war, international trade tariffs and the impacts of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill “that gives tax breaks to the wealthy and takes healthcare and food away from working Mainers.”

Ingwersen also points out 31,000 adults are projected to lose their healthcare coverage due to new federal rules coming in January 2027.

Litalien said Mainers have been feeling a worsening economic pinch because of a failed legislative approach and misplaced priorities in Augusta over the last few years.

“I will focus on practical steps that improve the economy without simply spending more,” Litalien said. “We need to rein in state spending so we can lower the overall tax burden and stop last-minute increases.”

Litalien said he wants to strengthen municipal revenue sharing in order to ease pressure on local property taxes.

“I will focus on practical
steps that improve the economy
without simply spending more.”

— Jason Litalien

“We need to reduce unnecessary regulatory and administrative burdens on small businesses so they can hire and grow,” Litalien said. “We also need to lower energy costs through diversification and efficiency rather than new mandates that raise prices.”

The needs of an aging population

. . .

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maine has the highest median age in the country – with more than 23 percent of its population over the age 65.

“We need to allow older Mainers to age with dignity in this state with good retirement benefits and access to long-term care near their families and communities,” Ingwersen said, pointing to programs that he has supported, including funding community-based services; in-home care; meals programs, case management and caregiver respite.

Litalien says seniors on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable to rising property taxes, healthcare costs and changes in how services are delivered.

“My approach is straightforward,” he said. “I want to protect and expand property-tax relief so seniors can stay in their homes.”

Litalien also says he will demand “real oversight and accountability” at DHHS and in MaineCare so that taxpayer dollars go to actual care rather than improper payments or administrative waste.

“Rapid changes in technology and delivery systems make transparency and results more important, not less,” Litalien said. “We should ensure seniors have a practical voice in decisions that affect them, with open information rather than last-minute deals in Augusta.”

Now less than three weeks away from the Nov. 3 election, Litalien – a self-described independent – says he has not yet decided which candidate he will support in Maine’s three-way gubernatorial race.

Ingwersen said he will be supporting fellow Democrat Hannah Pingree.

Litalien says his senate campaign is yet another part of his commitment to give back to his community – a lesson he learned from his father about civic obligation.

“I have organized residents around downtown parking and developer subsidies while advocating for seniors facing rising property taxes,” Litalien said. “I believe we deserve measurable accountability from Augusta.”

Ingwersen said he has a proven track record of working hard and delivering results for the people of Maine.

“I want to go back to Augusta because I have the skills, the experience and the willingness to collaborate in order to deliver meaningful results for my constituents,” Ingwersen said.

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