Nate Libby

Nathan Libby is an American Democratic former politician from Maine. He represented Senate District 21, which serves Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city. Libby grew up in central Maine and attended Bates College where he majored in history and economics. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine and works as an economic development consultant, currently as the president of Community Concepts Finance Corporation. Libby served one term in the Maine House of Representatives from 2012 to 2014 and was first elected to the Maine Senate in 2014. He served as the Senate majority leader from 2018-2020.

Nate Libby
Majority Leader of the Maine Senate
In office December 7, 2018 – February 1, 2021
Preceded by	Garrett Mason
Succeeded by	Eloise Vitelli
Member of the Maine Senate from the 21 district
In office December 3, 2014 – December 7, 2022
Preceded by	Patrick Flood
Succeeded by	Magaret Rotundo
Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 73rd district
In office December 5, 2012 – December 3, 2014
Preceded by	Richard Wagner
Succeeded by	Lloyd Herrick
Personal details
Born	New Hampshire
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Andrea Libby (divorced)
Children	2 (1 with Andrea)
Education	Bates College (BA) University of Southern Maine (MBA)

Early life and education

Libby grew up outside of Waterville, Maine and attended Skowhegan Area High School, graduating in 2003. He attended Bates College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in history and economics in 2007. He was the first in his family to attend college. In 2020, Libby received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine.^[1][2][3][4]

Political career

Libby served on the Lewiston city council from 2011-2015 and has chaired Lewiston’s Universally Accessible Playground committee since 2016. He was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2012 and represented District 73 (now District 60) for two years.^[5][1][3][1]

On Friday, February 14, 2014, Libby announced he would seek the District 21 Senate seat held by Margaret Craven, who had just announced she would not seek re-election.^[6] In November 2014, he beat Republican Patti Gagne by less than 100 votes.^[7]

Libby ran unopposed in the 2016 Democratic primary, the 2016 general election and the 2018 Democratic primary.^[8] In the 2018 general election, he beat Republican Nelson Peters Jr. 60%-40%, and his Democratic peers unanimously elected him Senate majority leader.^[8][1]

November 2020, Libby was again selected as Senate majority leader.^[9] In early 2021, citing increasing professional and family obligations, Libby resigned his leadership position but remained in the District 21 seat.^[10][11][12].

Libby has served on the Government Oversight Committee, the Taxation Committee and the State and Local Government Committee.^[1]

In July 2021, after Lewiston City Councilor Safiya Khalid alleged racism at a meeting of the Lewiston Democratic Party, Libby dismissed her complaints and suggested Khalid's opponents were not racist.^[13]

Personal life

Libby was married to his ex-wife, Andrea, a registered nurse. He has one son with his ex-wife, and one from a prior relationship. Libby enjoys carpentry, gardening, landscaping, and outdoor excursions with his family.^[2][1][3] He works as an economic development consultant, and in December 2020 was named president of Community Concepts Finance Corporation.^[14][15]

Awards & honors

• 2015 Homecare and Hospice Alliance of Maine Advocate of the Year award
• 2016 Young Professionals of Lewiston and Auburn Civic Leader award
• 2017 Uplift LA Local Hero award
• 2017 American Legion of Maine Legislator of the Year award
• 2018 Maine Academy of Nutritionists and Dietetics Public Policy Leadership award
• 2019 Maine Education Association “Friend of Education” award
• 2019 Maine Real Estate Development Association Public Policy award^[1]

Electoral history

2012 Maine House District 73 Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby		100%
Total votes				100.0%

2012 Maine House Senate District 73 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	2,225	64.5%
	Republican	Larry Poulin	1,223	35.5%
Total votes			3,448	100.0%

2014 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby		100.0%
Total votes				100.0%

2014 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	6,646	50.3%
	Republican	Patricia Gagne	6,563	49.7%%
Total votes			13,209	100.0%

2016 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby		100.0%
Total votes				100.0%

2016 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby		100%
Total votes				100.0%

2018 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	2,387	100.0%
Total votes			2,387	100.0%

2018 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	8,210	60.4%
	Republican	Nelson Peters Jr.	5,378	39.6%
Total votes			13,588	100.0%

2020 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	2,758	100.0%
Total votes			2,758	100.0%

2020 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Nathan Libby	10,171	59.6%
	Republican	Timothy Gallant	6,882	40.4%
Total votes			17,053	100.0%[8]

References

1. "About Nate". Nate Libby, Maine Senate. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
2. "Nate Libby, 2016 40 Under 40 Honoree". Uplift. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
3. "Senate District 21: Nate Libby". Maine Senate Democrats. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
4. "Maine Senate 21: Nathan Libby". Sun Journal. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
5. "Ballot 2013: Nate Libby, Lewiston City Council Ward 3". Sun Journal. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
6. LaFlamme, Mark (15 February 2014). "Lewiston Democrat seeks Senate seat". Sun Journal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
7. Thistle, Scott (17 November 2014). "Libby prevails in recount of Lewiston state Senate race". Sun Journal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
8. "Nathan Libby". Ballotpedia. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
9. Leary, Mal (9 November 2018). "Maine Senate Democrats Choose New Leaders, Vow Quick Action On Medicaid". Maine Public. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
10. Collins, Steve (25 January 2021). "Lewiston's Nate Libby stepping down as Senate majority leader". Sun Journal. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
11. Associated Press (26 January 2021). "Senate Majority Leader Gives up Post After Taking New Job". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
12. "Maine Senate Majority Leader to step down from Senate Leadership position". WABI. 25 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
13. "Lewiston Democrats in turmoil as election season begins". 27 July 2021.
14. "State senator named president of Community Concepts in Lewiston". Mainebiz. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
15. "CCFC Welcomes New President". Community Concepts. 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.

External links

• Senator Nate Libby on Facebook
• Maine State Legislature: Sen. Nathan Libby (D - Androscoggin)
• Nate Libby on Twitter
• Nate Libby on Instagram
• "Lies and intolerance the root of D.C. attack" Twin City Times guest column, 16 January 2021

Maine Senate
Preceded by Garrett Mason	Majority Leader of the Maine Senate 2018–2021	Succeeded by Eloise Vitelli