Nate Libby

{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Nate Libby |office = Majority Leader of the Maine Senate |term_start = December 7, 2018 |term_end = February 1, 2021 |predecessor = Garrett Mason |successor = Eloise Vitelli |state_senate1 = Maine |district1 = 21 |term_start1 = December 3, 2014 |term_end1 = December 7, 2022 |predecessor1 = Patrick Flood |successor1 = Magaret Rotundo |state_house2 = Maine |district2 = 73rd |term_start2 = December 5, 2012 |term_end2 = December 3, 2014 |predecessor2 = Richard Wagner |successor2 = Lloyd Herrick |birth_date = |birth_place = New Hampshire, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = Andrea Libby (divorced) |children = 2 (1 with Andrea) |education = Bates College (BA) University of Southern Maine (MBA) }} '''Nathan Libby''' is an American Democratic former politician from Maine. He represented Senate District 21, which serves Lewiston, Maine's second-largest city. Libby grew up in central Maine and attended Bates College where he majored in history and economics. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine and most recently worked as economic development director for the city of Lewiston before his 2026 firing. Libby served one term in the Maine House of Representatives from 2012 to 2014 and was first elected to the Maine Senate in 2014. He served as the Senate majority leader from 2018-2020.

==Early life and education== Libby grew up outside of Waterville, Maine and attended Skowhegan Area High School, graduating in 2003. He attended Bates College, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in history and economics in 2007. He was the first in his family to attend college. In 2020, Libby received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine.{{R|aboutnate}}{{R|uplift}}{{R|senatedems}}{{R|sjprofile2020}}

==Political career== Libby served on the Lewiston city council from 2011-2015 and has chaired Lewiston’s Universally Accessible Playground committee since 2016. He was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2012 and represented District 73 (now District 60) for two years.{{R|citycouncil2013}}{{R|aboutnate}}{{R|senatedems}}{{R|aboutnate}}

On Friday, February 14, 2014, Libby announced he would seek the District 21 Senate seat held by Margaret Craven, who had just announced she would not seek re-election.{{R|2014announce}} In November 2014, he beat Republican Patti Gagne by less than 100 votes.{{R|2014recount}}

Libby ran unopposed in the 2016 Democratic primary, the 2016 general election and the 2018 Democratic primary.{{R|ballotpedia}} In the 2018 general election, he beat Republican Nelson Peters Jr. 60%-40%, and his Democratic peers unanimously elected him Senate majority leader.{{R|ballotpedia}}{{R|aboutnate}}

November 2020, Libby was again selected as Senate majority leader.{{R|mainepublic}} In early 2021, citing increasing professional and family obligations, Libby resigned his leadership position but remained in the District 21 seat.{{R|resigns}}{{R|usnews}}{{R|wabistepdown}}.

Libby has served on the Government Oversight Committee, the Taxation Committee and the State and Local Government Committee.{{R|aboutnate}}

In July 2021, after Lewiston City Councilor Safiya Khalid alleged racism at a meeting of the Lewiston Democratic Party, Libby dismissed her complaints and suggested Khalid's opponents were not racist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2021/07/27/lewiston-democrats-in-turmoil-as-election-season-begins/|title = Lewiston Democrats in turmoil as election season begins|date = 27 July 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life== Libby was married to his ex-wife, Andrea, a registered nurse. He has one son with his ex-wife, and one from a prior relationship. Libby enjoys carpentry, gardening, landscaping, and outdoor excursions with his family.{{R|uplift}}{{R|aboutnate}}{{R|senatedems}} He works as an economic development consultant, and in December 2020 was named president of Community Concepts Finance Corporation.{{R|CCI}}{{R|ccfcnewpresident}}

In April 2024, Libby was hired as assistant economic development director for the city of Lewiston.<ref>https://www.sunjournal.com/2024/04/29/lewiston-hires-former-legislator-nate-libby-as-assistant-economic-development-director/</ref> Later that year, he was promoted to economic development director.<ref>https://www.sunjournal.com/2024/12/09/linc-jeffers-to-retire-after-2-decades-in-lewiston-city-hall/</ref> Less than two years later, Libby was fired from his position with the city of Lewiston.<ref>https://www.sunjournal.com/2026/02/04/nate-libby-out-as-lewistons-director-of-economic-development/</ref>

==Awards & honors== *2015 Homecare and Hospice Alliance of Maine Advocate of the Year award *2016 Young Professionals of Lewiston and Auburn Civic Leader award *2017 Uplift LA Local Hero award *2017 American Legion of Maine Legislator of the Year award *2018 Maine Academy of Nutritionists and Dietetics Public Policy Leadership award *2019 Maine Education Association “Friend of Education” award *2019 Maine Real Estate Development Association Public Policy award{{R|aboutnate}}

==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title = 2012 Maine House District 73 Democratic primary }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = | percentage = 100% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2012 Maine House Senate District 73 General Election }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 2,225 | percentage = 64.5% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Larry Poulin | votes = 1,223 | percentage = 35.5% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 3,448 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2014 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2014 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 6,646 | percentage = 50.3% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Patricia Gagne | votes = 6,563 | percentage = 49.7%% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 13,209 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2016 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2016 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = | percentage = 100% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2018 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 2,387 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 2,387 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2018 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 8,210 | percentage = 60.4% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Nelson Peters Jr. | votes = 5,378 | percentage = 39.6% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 13,588 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2020 Maine State Senate District 21 Democratic primary }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 2,758 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 2,758 | percentage = 100.0% }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title = 2020 Maine State Senate District 21 General Election }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Nathan Libby | votes = 10,171 | percentage = 59.6% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Republican Party (United States) | candidate = Timothy Gallant | votes = 6,882 | percentage = 40.4% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 17,053 | percentage = 100.0%{{R|ballotpedia}} }} {{Election box end}}

==References== <references>

<ref name=mainepublic>{{cite web |last1=Leary |first1=Mal |title=Maine Senate Democrats Choose New Leaders, Vow Quick Action On Medicaid |url=https://www.mainepublic.org/post/maine-senate-democrats-choose-new-leaders-vow-quick-action-medicaid |website=Maine Public |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317025858/https://www.mainepublic.org/post/maine-senate-democrats-choose-new-leaders-vow-quick-action-medicaid |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=9 November 2018}}</ref>

<ref name=senatedems>{{cite web |title=Senate District 21: Nate Libby |url=http://www.mainesenate.org/senator/senator/nate-libby/ |website=Maine Senate Democrats |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317024526/http://www.mainesenate.org/senator/senator/nate-libby/ |archive-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=resigns>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Steve |title=Lewiston's Nate Libby stepping down as Senate majority leader |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2021/01/25/lewistons-nate-libby-stepping-down-as-senate-majority-leader/ |website=Sun Journal |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317024918/https://www.sunjournal.com/2021/01/25/lewistons-nate-libby-stepping-down-as-senate-majority-leader/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=25 January 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=CCI>{{cite web |title=State senator named president of Community Concepts in Lewiston |url=https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/state-senator-named-president-of-community-concepts-in-lewiston |website=Mainebiz |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317025256/https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/state-senator-named-president-of-community-concepts-in-lewiston |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=21 December 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=ballotpedia>{{cite web |title=Nathan Libby |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Nathan_Libby |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317115013/https://ballotpedia.org/Nathan_Libby |archive-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=aboutnate>{{cite web |title=About Nate |url=http://www.natelibby.org/about.html |website=Nate Libby, Maine Senate |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317115721/http://www.natelibby.org/about.html |archive-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=usnews>{{cite web |author1=Associated Press |title=Senate Majority Leader Gives up Post After Taking New Job |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2021-01-26/senate-majority-leader-gives-up-post-after-taking-new-job |website=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317121822/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2021-01-26/senate-majority-leader-gives-up-post-after-taking-new-job |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=26 January 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=uplift>{{cite web |title=Nate Libby, 2016 40 Under 40 Honoree |url=https://upliftlamaine.com/honoree/nate-libby/ |website=Uplift |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317122709/https://upliftlamaine.com/honoree/nate-libby/ |archive-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=wabistepdown>{{cite web |title=Maine Senate Majority Leader to step down from Senate Leadership position |url=https://www.wabi.tv/2021/01/26/maine-senate-majority-leader-to-step-down-from-senate-leadership-position/ |website=WABI |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317130256/https://www.wabi.tv/2021/01/26/maine-senate-majority-leader-to-step-down-from-senate-leadership-position/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=25 January 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=ccfcnewpresident>{{cite web |title=CCFC Welcomes New President |url=https://www.ccimaine.org/ccfc-welcomes-new-president |website=Community Concepts |date=23 December 2020 |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317141753/https://www.ccimaine.org/ccfc-welcomes-new-president |archive-date=17 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name=sjprofile2020>{{cite web |title=Maine Senate 21: Nathan Libby |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/09/28/nathan-libby-maine-senate-21/ |website=Sun Journal |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317180237/https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/09/28/nathan-libby-maine-senate-21/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=28 September 2020}}</ref>

<ref name=2014announce>{{cite web |last1=LaFlamme |first1=Mark |title=Lewiston Democrat seeks Senate seat |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/02/15/lewiston-democrat-seeks-senate-seat/ |website=Sun Journal |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317182355/https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/02/15/lewiston-democrat-seeks-senate-seat/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=15 February 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=2014recount>{{cite web |last1=Thistle |first1=Scott |title=Libby prevails in recount of Lewiston state Senate race |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/11/17/libby-prevails-recount-lewiston-state-senate-race/ |website=Sun Journal |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317183014/https://www.sunjournal.com/2014/11/17/libby-prevails-recount-lewiston-state-senate-race/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=17 November 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=citycouncil2013>{{cite web |title=Ballot 2013: Nate Libby, Lewiston City Council Ward 3 |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2013/10/09/ballot-2013-nate-libby-lewiston-city-council-ward-3/ |website=Sun Journal |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210317183437/https://www.sunjournal.com/2013/10/09/ballot-2013-nate-libby-lewiston-city-council-ward-3/ |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=9 October 2013}}</ref>

</references>

==External links== *[https://www.facebook.com/SenNateLibby/ Senator Nate Libby on Facebook] *[https://legislature.maine.gov/District-21 Maine State Legislature: Sen. Nathan Libby (D - Androscoggin)] *[https://twitter.com/nate_libby Nate Libby on Twitter] *[https://www.instagram.com/nate.libby/ Nate Libby on Instagram] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210204231448/https://twincitytimes.com/news/standing-firm-after-an-attack-on-our-democratic-process "Lies and intolerance the root of D.C. attack"] Twin City Times guest column, 16 January 2021

{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-me-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Garrett Mason}} {{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Maine Senate|years=2018–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Eloise Vitelli}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Libby, Nate}} Category:Living people Category:Bates College alumni Category:Lewiston, Maine City Council members Category:Majority leaders of the Maine Senate Category:Democratic Party members of the Maine House of Representatives Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century members of the Maine Legislature