SANFORD, Maine — Eric Small has ended his campaign for Maine’s 1st Congressional District, he announced Monday.

Small, who serves as Sanford’s police chief, had launched a Republican bid to challenge longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree in the 2026 election. Pingree has represented the 1st District since 2009 and has routinely won reelection by comfortable margins.

Small, who was running as a Republican, said in a statement that after several months of campaigning across the district, he decided he could be most effective continuing his work in Sanford. The district covers southern and coastal counties, including York, Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Kennebec.

"This decision is not about stepping away — it’s about stepping where I can be most effective," Small said.

See Full Page