Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Angus King

How Angus King built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Angus Stanley King Jr. is an American lawyer and politician currently serving as the junior United States senator from Maine since 2013. He is an independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party. Prior to his Senate tenure, King served as the 72nd Governor of Maine from 1995 to 2003.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1972: Served as Chief Counsel

In 1972, Angus King served as the chief counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Narcotics.

1975: Returned to Maine to Practice Law

In 1975, Angus King returned to Maine to practice law with Smith, Loyd and King in Brunswick.

1983: Appointed Vice President of Swift River/Hafslund Company

In 1983, Angus King was appointed vice president of Swift River/Hafslund Company, which developed alternative energy projects in New England.

1989: Founded Northeast Energy Management, Inc.

In 1989, Angus King founded Northeast Energy Management, Inc., a company focused on developing and operating electrical energy conservation projects.

May 1993: Announced Candidacy for Governor of Maine

In May 1993, Angus King announced that he would run for governor of Maine as an independent in the 1994 election.

1994: Maine Gubernatorial Election

In 1994, Angus King ran for governor of Maine as an independent.

1994: Sold Northeast Energy Management, Inc.

In 1994, Angus King sold Northeast Energy Management, Inc.

1998: Won Re-election as Governor

In 1998, Angus King easily won his reelection bid for Governor, garnering 59% of the vote, which was the highest share of the vote a gubernatorial candidate had received since 1982.

September 5, 2002: Maine Learning Technology Initiative program began

On September 5, 2002, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) program began. The state signed a four-year $37.2-million contract with Apple Inc. to equip all 7th- and 8th-grade students and teachers in the state with laptops.

2003: Left Office and Returned to Business Career

After leaving office in 2003, Angus King returned to his business career.

2004: Appointed Visiting Lecturer at Bowdoin College

In 2004, during his post-gubernatorial residency in Maine, Angus King was appointed a visiting lecturer at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, teaching courses in American politics and political leadership.

2007: Formed Independence Wind

In 2007, Angus King and Rob Gardiner formed Independence Wind, a wind energy company.

August 2009: Independence Wind Project Approval

In August 2009, Independence Wind, along with joint venture partner Wagner Forest Management, won Maine DEP approval for construction of a proposed $120-million, 22-turbine, utility-scale wind power project in Roxbury, Maine.

2009: Appointed Endowed Lecturer at Bates College

In 2009, Angus King was appointed an endowed lecturer at Bates College in Lewiston, teaching courses in American politics and political leadership.

March 5, 2012: Announced candidacy for US Senate

On March 5, 2012, Angus King announced that he was running for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Olympia Snowe.

November 6, 2012: Won Senate Race

On November 6, 2012, Angus King won the Senate race with 53% of the vote.

2012: Advocated for local land control

Angus King's 2012 campaign website stated that local control is the best way to conserve land.

2012: Sold Share of Independence Wind

In 2012, Angus King sold his share of Independence Wind to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest after entering the U.S. Senate election.

2012: Won Maine Senate Election

In 2012, Angus King won Maine's Senate election to replace the retiring Republican Olympia Snowe.

2013: Voted in Favor of Nuclear Option

In 2013, Angus King voted in favor of the so-called nuclear option to eliminate the filibuster for most presidential nominees.

2013: Vote to Restore ACA Funding

In 2013, Angus King voted to restore funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as part of an amendment to legislation that funded government operations for 45 days. He expressed strong support for the ACA, also known as Obamacare.

2013: National Journal Ideology Score

In 2013, the nonpartisan National Journal gave Angus King a composite ideology score of 59% liberal and 41% conservative.

2014: Endorsed Susan Collins

In 2014, Angus King endorsed his Republican colleague from Maine, Susan Collins.

2014: Opposed ban on bear baiting and trapping

In 2014, Angus King opposed efforts in Maine to ban the baiting and trapping of bears, arguing that such practices are necessary to prevent interactions between bears and people and are based on scientific evidence.

2014: Keeping an open mind on Maine Woods National Park

In 2014, Angus King said he was keeping an open mind about the idea of a Maine Woods National Park.

2015: Introduced legislation to lift Cuba embargo

In 2015, Angus King introduced legislation to lift the U.S. embargo against Cuba, calling it an "antiquated" relic of the Cold War.

2015: Supported VA Clinic Expansion Proposal

In 2015, Angus King supported a proposal by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to authorize $6.8 million toward leasing space in Portland, Maine, to expand a clinic. This expansion would allow southern Maine veterans to receive basic medical and mental health care locally.

2015: Supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran

In 2015, Angus King supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, an international agreement with Iran, stating that the alternatives to the agreement were either unrealistic or dangerous.

2016: Participated in probe of Russian interference in U.S. elections

As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Angus King participated in its probe of Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, describing the cyberattacks as a frontal assault on our democracy.

2016: Coast Guard mission to Greenland

In 2016 Angus King joined a three-day U.S. Coast Guard fact-finding mission to Greenland, where he witnessed melting ice sheets and noted the impacts of climate change were "amazing and scary".

2016: Supported Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

In 2016, Angus King expressed support for Obama's creation of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, citing commitments from the administration that the benefits would outweigh any detriments.

2016: Supported VA Clinic Expansion Proposal

In 2016, as part of the Obama administration's fiscal year, Angus King supported a proposal by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to authorize $6.8 million toward leasing space in Portland, Maine, to expand a clinic. This expansion would allow southern Maine veterans to receive basic medical and mental health care locally.

January 2017: Voted Against Republican Senate Budget Plan on ACA

In January 2017, Angus King voted against the Republican Senate budget plan that aimed to accelerate the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and block repeal legislation from being filibustered. He also spoke out against the House Republican repeal legislation, citing concerns about the number of Americans who would lose health insurance.

February 2017: Signed Letter Regarding Evzio Price Increase

In February 2017, Angus King and 30 other senators signed a letter to Kaléo Pharmaceuticals regarding the price increase of the opioid-overdose-reversing device Evzio. The senators requested details about Evzio's price structure, the number of devices set aside for donation, and federal reimbursements received.

September 2017: Advocated for Lobster Emoji

In September 2017, Angus King wrote a petition to the Unicode Consortium advocating for the creation of a lobster emoji as a symbol of Maine culture, providing Google search data to support the need for the emoji.

2017: Introduced Securing Energy Infrastructure Act

In 2017, Angus King and Senator Jim Risch introduced the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, designed to create a pilot program studying analog systems for the power grid to mitigate cyberattack effects.

2017: Criticized Trump's Budget Proposal

In 2017, Angus King criticized President Trump's budget proposal for its cuts to medical research funding.

2017: Opposed Republican Tax Bill

In 2017, Angus King opposed the Republican tax bill, criticizing its passage without hearings and its impact on the U.S. budget deficit.

March 2018: Introduced Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act

In March 2018, Angus King and Susan Collins introduced the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, aimed at bolstering the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which was later included in the 2018 United States farm bill.

May 2018: Introduced the PRINT Act

In May 2018, Angus King and Susan Collins introduced the PRINT Act, aiming to halt collections of duties on Canadian newsprint and study the economic health of printing and publishing industries.

June 2018: Endorsed FCC Proposal to Boost Rural Health Care Program Funding

In June 2018, Angus King and Senator Susan Collins endorsed a proposal by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to increase funding for the Rural Health Care Program of the Universal Service Fund. They emphasized the importance of telemedicine services for rural healthcare providers and patients.

August 2018: Urged sanctions against Chinese officials for Uyghur abuses

In August 2018, Angus King and other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.

August 2018: Voted against Protect Interstate Commerce Act

In August 2018, Angus King was among 31 senators who voted against the Protect Interstate Commerce Act of 2018, an amendment to the 2018 United States farm bill.

November 6, 2018: Re-elected to Senate

On November 6, 2018, Angus King was re-elected to the Senate, defeating Republican state Senator Eric Brakey and Democrat Zak Ringelstein.

November 2018: Expressed concern about China's influence on U.S. media and academia

In November 2018, Angus King and other senators sent a letter to the Trump administration raising concerns about the People's Republic of China's influence on media outlets and academic institutions in the United States.

December 2018: Expressed concern over troop withdrawal from Syria

In December 2018, Angus King was among six senators who signed a letter expressing concern about President Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria.

2018: Cosponsor of NICS Denial Notification Act

In 2018, Angus King cosponsored the NICS Denial Notification Act, requiring federal authorities to inform states within a day after a person failing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System attempted to buy a firearm. This legislation was developed following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

2018: Introduced Legislation to Halt Separations of Immigrant Families

In 2018, Angus King introduced legislation aimed at halting the separations of immigrant families at the border.

2018: Planned to run for reelection

In 2018, Angus King planned to run for reelection following his cancer surgery

2018: Voted to Confirm Alex Azar

In 2018, Angus King voted with most Republicans and some Democrats to confirm Alex Azar, President Trump's nominee for Health Secretary.

2018: Re-elected to Senate

In 2018, Angus King was re-elected to a second term in the Senate, following the state's inaugural instant-runoff voting elections.

2018: Securing Energy Infrastructure Act approved

In 2018, The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, which was introduced by Angus King and Senator Jim Risch in 2017.

2018: Voted to withdraw U.S. military aid for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen

In late 2018, Angus King voted to withdraw U.S. military aid for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.

February 2019: Signed letter regarding Huawei inverters

In February 2019, Angus King was one of ten senators who signed a bipartisan letter to Homeland Security and Energy Secretary asserting that the American government should consider a ban on the use of Huawei inverters in the United States. The senators also urged them to work with regulators to mitigate potential threats.

March 2019: Cosponsor of Resolution Against USPS Privatization

In March 2019, Angus King cosponsored a bipartisan resolution opposing the privatization of the United States Postal Service (USPS), citing concerns about potential price increases and reduced services, especially in rural communities.

March 2019: Voted against the Green New Deal

In March 2019, Angus King joined Senate Republicans in voting against the Green New Deal.

April 2019: Sponsored the Digital Equity Act of 2019

In April 2019, Angus King co-sponsored the Digital Equity Act of 2019, legislation establishing a $120 million grant program to fund the creation and implementation of "comprehensive digital equity plans" in each U.S. state to support projects developed by individuals and groups. It also gave the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) the role of evaluating and providing guidance for digital equity projects.

April 2019: Advocated for Energy Department funding for carbon capture

In April 2019, Angus King was among 12 senators who signed a letter advocating for maximum Energy Department funding for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

April 2019: Confirmed David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior

In April 2019, Angus King was one of four senators caucusing with the Democrats who voted with Republicans to confirm David Bernhardt, an oil executive, as Secretary of the Interior Department.

May 2019: Expressed concern over potential miscalculation with Iran

In May 2019, Angus King expressed concern about the possibility of miscalculation, misunderstanding, or misreading of events leading to escalation with Iran.

June 2019: Questioned U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Asylum Seeker Transportation

In June 2019, Angus King and Senator Susan Collins questioned U.S. Customs and Border Protection regarding the process used to clear asylum seekers for transportation to Portland, Maine, expressing concerns about the sustainability of the approach. They also expressed interest in providing additional resources to federal agencies processing asylum claims.

June 2019: Announced NBRC grant funding to University of Maine

In June 2019, Angus King and Susan Collins announced that the NBRC would award grant funding to the University of Maine. They emphasized this funding as an investment in Maine's forest economy.

June 2019: Cosponsored the Safe Freight Act

In June 2019, Angus King cosponsored the Safe Freight Act, a bill requiring freight trains to have at least one certified conductor and a certified engineer aboard to collaborate on safety measures. The legislation aimed to correct a Federal Railroad Administration rollback of a proposed safety rule.

June 2019: Agreed with halting strikes against Iran after drone downing

In June 2019, after President Trump halted retaliatory air strikes against Iran, Angus King agreed with the decision but expressed concern about Trump's potentially limited options.

July 2019: Called for return to Paris Climate Accord aspirations

In July 2019, Angus King called climate change a serious threat and said the U.S. needed to return to the aspirations of the Paris Climate Accord.

July 2019: Cosponsored the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act

In July 2019, Angus King cosponsored the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA), a bill aimed at strengthening training for physicians and other providers in palliative care teams, ensuring that patients and their families have a voice in their care and treatment goals.

August 2019: Cosponsored the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act

In August 2019, after two mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Angus King cosponsored the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, a bill authorizing states to use grants to develop red flag laws allowing family members to petition courts for orders to temporarily prevent someone from purchasing a gun and to have law enforcement take a firearm away.

October 2019: Called on Trump to urge Turkey to end offensive in Syria

In October 2019, Angus King and other senators called on President Trump to urge Turkey to end their offensive in Syria and find a peaceful resolution.

October 2019: Signed Letter Advocating for Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence Act

In October 2019, Angus King signed a letter to Senate leaders advocating for the passage of the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act, which was set to expire the following month. The senators warned about the potential negative impact on community health centers if funding was not renewed.

April 15, 2020: Invited to join bipartisan task force on reopening the economy

On April 15, 2020, the Trump administration invited Angus King to join a bipartisan task force focused on reopening the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Disagreed with Trump's budget request for carbon capture research

In April 2019, Angus King expressed disagreement with President Trump's 2020 budget request to combine the two federal programs that do carbon capture research.

January 2021: Voting record aligned with President Trump

As of January 2021, Angus King had voted in line with President Trump's position on legislation approximately 38% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight's tracking of Congressional votes.

March 5, 2021: Voted against minimum wage amendment

On March 5, 2021, Angus King voted against Bernie Sanders's amendment to include a $15/hour minimum wage in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

2022: Promoted domestic manufacturing

In 2022, Angus King visited Auburn Manufacturing, a Maine company, to promote domestic manufacturing and to speak out against Chinese unfair trade practices.

2022: Voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

In 2022, Angus King voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun reform bill introduced after the deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The bill enhanced background checks for firearm purchasers under the age of 21, provided funding for school-based mental health services, and partially closed the gun show loophole and boyfriend loophole.

2022: Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act

In 2022, Angus King voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies the right to same-sex marriage into federal law.

March 2023: Voted to repeal Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq

In March 2023, Angus King voted with a bipartisan majority to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.

2023: Response to Lewiston Shootings

Following the 2023 Lewiston shootings, Angus King joined Senator Susan Collins in opposing a national assault weapons ban but supported bans on functionalities such as high-capacity magazines.

2023: Bipartisanship Ranking

In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Angus King in the top fifth of senators for bipartisanship.

November 5, 2024: Re-elected to Third Term

On November 5, 2024, Angus King was re-elected to a third term, defeating Republican Demi Kouzounas, Democrat David Costello, and independent Jason Cherry.

December 2024: Voted to block arms sales to Israel

In December 2024, Angus King joined other senators in voting to block arms sales to Israel due to the number of Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict.

2024: Won Third Senate Term

In 2024, Angus King won a third term in the U.S. Senate.

January 2025: Co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)

In January 2025, Angus King co-sponsored the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA). This act would set a minimum age of 13 to use social media platforms and prevent social media companies from feeding "algorithmically targeted" content to users under 17.