Shenna Bellows Age, Husband, Net Worth, Family, Height, Biography & More

Shenna Bellows is not your typical politician. She is a passionate advocate for civil rights, human rights, and social justice. She is a leader who has worked across party lines to achieve positive change. She is a trailblazer who has made history as the first woman to serve as Maine’s secretary of state. And she is a humble person who grew up in a low-income family without running water or electricity until she was in the fifth grade.

Shenna Bellows Wiki

Birthday, Mom, Dad, Early Life

Shenna Lee Bellows was born on March 23, 1975 (age: 48 years, as of 2023), in Greenfield, Massachusetts. She is the eldest daughter of Dexter Bellows, a carpenter, and Janice Colson, a nurse. She has two younger sisters, Heather and Holly.

Her family moved to Hancock, Maine, when she was two years old. They lived in a small house that lacked basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and a telephone. She recalls that her family had to use an outhouse, a hand pump, and a wood stove. They also had to collect rainwater for drinking and bathing. She says that her childhood taught her the value of hard work, resilience, and gratitude.

Shenna Bellows was a bright and curious student who loved to read and learn. She attended Hancock Grammar School and Ellsworth High School, where she graduated in 1993. She was also an active participant in various extracurricular activities, such as student council, drama club, and soccer team. She was also an AFS–USA foreign exchange student in Campos, Brazil, when she was 15 years old

Shenna’s academic excellence earned her a scholarship to attend Middlebury College in Vermont, where she majored in international politics and economics. She graduated magna cum laude in 1997 with highest honors for her thesis on economic and environmental sustainability. She also spent a semester as an exchange student in San Jose, Costa Rica, during her junior year.

Profile

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Wikipedia- @Shenna_Bellows

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Early Career

After graduating from college, Shenna Bellows pursued a career in the non-profit sector. She worked as a research associate at the Center for Policy Alternatives in Washington, D.C., where she focused on state-level policy issues such as health care, education, and the environment. She also worked as a field organizer for the National Association of Social Workers in Maryland, where she advocated for social workers and their clients.

In 2003, Shenna moved back to Maine and joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maine as its executive director. She served in that role for eight years, during which she led several campaigns and initiatives to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties in the state. Some of her notable achievements include:

• Leading the Mainers United for Marriage campaign, which successfully passed same-sex marriage in Maine in 2012 after seven years of efforts.
• Co-chairing the Protect Maine Votes campaign, which restored same-day voter registration in Maine in 2011 after it was repealed by the Republican-controlled legislature.
• Organizing a privacy campaign, which required warrants for access to private cell phone communications and limited the use of drones for surveillance in Maine.
• Fighting against racial profiling, discrimination, and harassment of immigrants and refugees in Maine.

She also collaborated with both Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation on issues such as criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, free speech, and transparency. She earned respect and recognition from lawmakers, activists, and the media for her effective and principled leadership. She was also a leader in the Maine Choice Coalition and the Coalition for Maine Women, which advocated for women’s health and reproductive choice.

Shenna received several awards and honors for her work at the ACLU of Maine, such as:

• The Deborah Morton Award from the University of Maine Women’s Studies Department in 2010.
• The Ruth L. Lockhart Feminist Activist Award from the Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center in 2011.
• The Woman of Achievement Award from the American Association of University Women in 2012.
• The Frances Perkins Award from the Frances Perkins Center in 2013.
• The Rising Star Award from the Maine Democratic Party in 2014.

Political Career

In 2014, Shenna Bellows decided to run for the United States Senate in Maine as a Democrat. She challenged the incumbent Republican senator, Susan Collins, who had been in office since 1997. She was the first openly pro-choice candidate to run against Collins, who had a mixed record on abortion rights. She also campaigned on issues such as campaign finance reform, minimum wage increase, climate change, health care, and civil liberties.

She ran a grassroots campaign that relied on small donations and volunteers. She visited all 16 counties in Maine and held hundreds of events and meetings with voters. She also participated in four debates with Collins, where she highlighted their differences on various policies and values.

However, She faced several challenges and disadvantages in her bid for the Senate. She was relatively unknown and inexperienced compared to Collins, who had a high approval rating and a strong base of support. She also had to overcome the conservative leanings of Maine’s rural areas and the lack of national attention and resources for her race. She was outspent by Collins by more than 10 to 1.

On November 4, 2014, Shenna lost the election to Collins by a margin of 37.4% to 68.5%. She received 252,772 votes, while Collins received 413,505 votes. She conceded the race gracefully and thanked her supporters for their efforts. She also vowed to continue fighting for the causes she believed in.

After the election, Shenna Bellows took a break from politics and traveled around the world with her husband, Brandon Baldwin. She visited countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. She also wrote a blog about her experiences and reflections.

In 2016, She returned to Maine and ran for the Maine Senate in District 14, which covers parts of Kennebec and Somerset counties. She won the Democratic primary unopposed and faced Republican Bryan Cutchen in the general election. She campaigned on issues such as economic development, education, health care, and the environment. She also emphasized her bipartisan record and her ability to work with different groups and perspectives.

On November 8, 2016, She won the election with 57.6% of the vote, defeating Cutchen by a margin of 11,006 to 8,114. She became the first Democrat to represent District 14 in the Maine Senate since 2004. She was also one of the youngest and most progressive members of the Senate.

As a state senator, She served on the Judiciary Committee and the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee. She sponsored and co-sponsored several bills on topics such as criminal justice reform, consumer protection, workers’ rights, health care, and voting rights. She also continued to work with both parties to find common ground and solutions. Some of her notable achievements include:

• Passing a bill that expanded access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses, and provided immunity for people who administer it.
• Passing a bill that banned the use of conversion therapy, a harmful practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, on minors in Maine.
• Passing a bill that required insurance companies to cover abortion services in Maine.
• Passing a bill that established a ranked-choice voting system for presidential primaries and general elections in Maine.

Shenna Bellows was re-elected to the Maine Senate in 2018 with 61.2% of the vote, defeating Republican Matt Pouliot by a margin of 12,404 to 7,869. She became the assistant majority leader of the Senate and the chair of the State and Local Government Committee. She also served on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.

In 2020, She announced her candidacy for the Maine secretary of state, a position that is elected by the Maine Legislature every two years. She was one of four candidates who sought the office, along with Democratic state senators Mark Dion and Justin Chenette, and Republican state representative Kathleen Dillingham. She ran on a platform of modernizing and securing the state’s elections, expanding access to voting, and promoting civic education and engagement. She also highlighted her experience and qualifications as a former ACLU director and a state senator.

Secretary of State

As the secretary of state of Maine, Shenna Bellows oversees four bureaus: the Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions; the Bureau of Motor Vehicles; the Bureau of Administrative and Financial Services; and the Maine State Archives. She is responsible for administering and enforcing the state’s laws and regulations on business registration, elections, motor vehicles, and public records. She also serves as the state’s chief election officer and the keeper of the state seal.

Shenna Bellows took office on January 4, 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, which was marred by false claims of fraud and violence. She faced several challenges and opportunities in her new role, such as:

• Implementing and improving the state’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and ensures that the winner has majority support.
• Expanding and protecting the state’s voting rights, such as same-day registration, absentee voting, and online voter registration.
• Modernizing and securing the state’s election infrastructure, such as updating the voting machines, enhancing cybersecurity, and conducting audits.
• Increasing the voter turnout and participation, especially among young people, minorities, and rural residents.
• Promoting civic education and engagement, such as providing resources and programs for schools, libraries, and communities.
• Supporting the state’s businesses and entrepreneurs, such as streamlining the registration process, reducing the fees, and providing online services.
• Preserving and digitizing the state’s historical records and documents, such as the Maine Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address.

She has been working hard to fulfill her duties and goals as the secretary of state. She has also been collaborating with other state officials, such as Governor Janet Mills, Attorney General Aaron Frey, and Treasurer Henry Beck, to address the state’s issues and needs. She has also been communicating with the public and the media, providing updates and information on her work and initiatives.

She has received praise and recognition for her performance and achievements as the secretary of state. She has also earned the respect and trust of the people of Maine, who appreciate her dedication, integrity, and vision. She has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for higher office, such as governor or senator, in the future.

Height, Weight

• Height: 5 ft 6 in or 168 cm 
• Weight: 58 kg or 128 lbs 
• Eye color: Blue 
• Body measurements: 34-26-35 in or 86-66-89 cm 
• Skin color: White 

Personal Life and Family

Shenna Bellows is married to Brandon Baldwin, who is a lawyer and a former teacher. They met in 2009 at a fundraiser for the ACLU of Maine and got married in 2013. They live in Manchester, Maine, with their two cats, Jack and Daisy. They enjoy traveling, hiking, gardening, and cooking together.

She is very close to her parents, Dexter and Janice, who still live in Hancock, Maine. She credits them for instilling in her the values of honesty, compassion, and service. She also has a good relationship with her sisters, Heather and Holly, who are both teachers. She often visits them and their families, and they support each other in their endeavors.

Shenna Bellows is also involved in various community and professional organizations, such as:

• The Rotary Club of Augusta, where she is a member and a past president.
• The Maine Women’s Lobby, where she is a board member and a past president.
• The Maine State Bar Association, where she is a member and a past chair of the Civil Rights Section.
• The Maine Historical Society, where she is a member and a past trustee.
• The Maine Humanities Council, where she is a member and a past board member.

Net Worth

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