Senate District 27
Jill Duson
Senate District 27
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Sen. Duson presents Legislative Sentiment to Portland Girl Scout Gold Award recipient
On May 13, 2025, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson, D-Portland, welcomed Nora Hanscom of Portland and her family to the Maine Senate to present Nora with a legislative sentiment. Nora recently earned her Gold Award, the highest, most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, for her project...
Sen. Duson celebrates Community Action Grants awarded to Portland area
Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson, D-Portland, today announced that communities in Senate District 27 have received a Community Action Grant from the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to help Portland and Westbrook prepare for future natural disasters by...
A steadfast leader in the City of Portland and throughout the state of Maine, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson served as a member and Chair of the School Committee prior to serving over 19 years as an At-Large City Councilor, including two terms as appointed Mayor.
As an elected municipal official, Sen. Duson fought for resources to support schools, while at the same time holding school leaders accountable to create a quality system where all students can learn and thrive. Sen. Duson focused on ensuring safe, affordable and accessible housing options in Portland that match the diverse needs of those who live and work in the city.
Additionally, the Senator has been a strong advocate on environmental policy. She has a substantial record of active leadership regarding Blue Economy sustainability, sea level rise mitigation, advocacy for public trails and open space conservation and working waterfront preservation in Greater Portland and across the state.
The Senator is a retired attorney and a Maine state employee. Her most recent state service included Director of Compliance for the Maine Human Rights Commission and Director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Standing up for accountability, reform and transparency on behalf of Mainers has been a constant throughout her professional career.
A child of the Civil Rights movement, Sen. Duson was inspired by the activism of her mother, who empowered local parents to protest and demonstrate for over two years to achieve court-ordered desegregation of schools in her hometown. Recognizing that those who came before her fought to open doors, Sen. Duson has dedicated a lifetime to serving our community and holding doors open for today’s students, families, emerging activists and leaders. She is committed to paying the fight forward.
Sen. Duson holds a Bachelor of Arts from Antioch University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. She is serving her second term in the Maine Senate, where she serves on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Government Oversight Committee.
Sen. Duson is first Black woman to serve in the Maine Senate. She represents Senate District 27, which includes part of Portland and part of Westbrook.