Could Dr. Nirav Shah Be Maine’s Next Governor?

Here's a candidate I never expected. Dr. Nirav Shah is looking at potentially running for Governor of Maine.

Dr. Shah and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr. Shah, Maine's former director of the CDC, was first introduced to the residents of Maine at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early spring of 2020. He became a fixture on social media platforms like YouTube and on television stations, where he would give a daily briefing to the citizens of Maine.

As the pandemic continued, he started to find ways to lighten the mood of what day after day was another report of the number of cases of COVID and how to cope with it. Like with this classic Rick Roll.

READ MORE: You Won’t Believe These Odd Laws Still Exist In Maine

Dr. Shah Considering Running For Governor of Maine

Shah has said that he is considering running for Governor of Maine as a Democrat, but has not yet gone forward with that. If he does, he's up against many others who have already declared that they are running for Governor of Maine.

Here's a list of those candidates who have declared their intentions, according to Wikipedia:

Democrats

• Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State
• Troy Jackson, former President of the Maine Senate
• Angus King III, energy executive and son of U.S. Senator and former governor Angus King
• Kenneth Pinet, retired hotel worker
• Hannah Pingree, former director of the Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, and daughter of U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree

Republicans

• Ken Capron, retired accountant
• Robert Charles, lawyer and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
• David Jones, real estate executive and candidate for governor in 2006
• James Libby, state senator and candidate for governor in 2002
• Owen McCarthy, University of Maine System trustee
• Ben Midgely, former CEO of Crunch Fitness
• Robert Wessels, former Paris selectman

With just over a year until Maine's 2026 gubernatorial election, there's still time for Shah to make his decision, but he has no timetable in place for that.