Former Cumberland County district attorney outraises incumbent in campaign contributions

Cumberland County District Attorney Race Heats Up as Anderson Out‑raises Incumbent Sartoris

In the lead‑up to the November 2026 election, former prosecutor Stephanie Anderson has raised more money than incumbent Democrat Jacqueline Sartoris, setting the stage for a contested race that has already drawn praise and criticism from attorneys, lawmakers and the public.

The race began when Anderson, who served as the county’s district attorney for 28 years before retiring in 2018, announced her intention to run as an unenrolled candidate. She was approached by prosecutors and defense attorneys across the political spectrum in April, according to Anderson, who said they “asked her to run.”

Sartoris, a Democrat from Brunswick, was first elected in 2022 and has defended her office against criticism in the months since. She recently won her party’s primary against a former prosecutor who challenged her leadership.

Campaign Finance

As of September 14, Anderson has raised $69,000. Forty of those contributions came from practicing or retired Maine attorneys, a figure highlighted by former Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Ackerman: “I think that really tells you a lot.”
A quarter of Anderson’s donors are attorneys, and the bulk of her fundraising has come from private individuals. Anderson has also received $14,000 in individual contributions since mid‑September.

Sartoris, by contrast, had raised $35,000 as of September 1, most of it before June 9, including a $15,000 loan. Of the money raised, roughly $4,500 came from eight contributors after the primary election. Sartoris’s campaign has drawn more small‑donation support; she noted that “I have more regular people on my side, with more donors and more small‑dollar donations than Anderson.” She also pointed out that “Soliciting money from defense attorneys seems like a conflict of interest.”

The Democratic primary in June, which Sartoris won, had already raised an unprecedented $300,000 from a George Soros‑funded PAC.

Endorsements

Anderson’s support base includes a mix of attorneys and law‑enforcement officials. Eight attorneys have contributed to her campaign; among them is former Portland police officer‑turned‑lawyer Scot Mattox, who said, “Stephanie recognized that a district attorney’s duty is not merely to secure convictions, but to administer justice fairly.”

Police unions have also backed Anderson. She has highlighted endorsements from three unions as evidence of her ability to work with law enforcement on prosecuting cases.

Sartoris has drawn backing from local Democrats. Rep. Grayson Lookner said Sartoris has supported his legislative proposals to divert at‑risk youth from the criminal‑justice system. House Speaker Ryan Fecteau praised her for being a “very strong Democratic district attorney” and urged voters to consider her experience over party affiliation.

Controversy

Both candidates have been at the center of disputes over the direction of the office. Several former prosecutors, including Jennifer Ackerman and Valerie Adams, have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Sartoris’s leadership. Ackerman, who resigned less than a year after Sartoris took the office, described the office as a “ship without a captain.” Adams, who was fired after suggesting Sartoris not seek reelection, has been critical of the DA’s handling of mental‑health cases, arguing that “a criminal defendant doesn’t lose their right to privacy around their medical care.”

Sartoris has defended her record by pointing to a federal grant that helped inventory untested rape kits and a revamp of restorative‑justice options. She has also highlighted her willingness to prosecute federal immigration‑agency officers who commit violent offenses, although no such charges have been filed to date.

Anderson has accused Sartoris of leveraging the Democratic nomination to her advantage and of making statements she says were misrepresented. She clarified, “I never said that local law enforcement should cooperate with ICE. I think I said there’s been a lot of injustices with ICE and it’s been pretty horrific.”

Looking Ahead

The candidates will face each other on the November ballot, after both must file final campaign finance reports next week. Anderson is also seeking a term on the Cape Elizabeth Town Council but has said she has not raised money for that race.

As the campaign heats up, voters in Cumberland County will weigh the experience of a long‑serving former DA against the fresh perspective of an incumbent who has sought to bring change. With fundraising on the front line and a flurry of endorsements and criticisms, the race is set to be a focal point of the county’s political calendar.