LEWISTON — Just a day following Sen. Peggy Rotundo’s retirement announcement, two Democrats declared their candidacy Wednesday for the Senate District 21 race in November.

Lewiston Rep. Mana Abdi, who represents House District 95, and Shanna Cox, a business owner and chief executive officer at the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, each announced their intent to run for the Senate seat early Wednesday morning.

Senate District 21 encompasses all of Lewiston.

Abdi was first elected to office in 2022 as Maine’s first Somali-American lawmaker. Born in Kenya and arriving in Maine via Kansas when she was 13, Abdi graduated from Lewiston High School in 2014 and University of Maine at Farmington in 2018. 

“Friends, after careful consideration and conversations with my family and community, I have decided to run for the Maine State Senate in District 21,” Abdi said in a Facebook post. “Serving Lewiston in the House of Representatives … has been the greatest honor of my life. My commitment to the people of Lewiston remains as strong as ever. This decision is about continuing that work in the Senate and ensuring Lewiston continues to have experienced, steady leadership in Augusta.”

Cox came to the area in 2005 and started a consulting firm, Project Tipping Point, while she worked with several nonprofit boards. She also serves on the Lewiston Planning Board.

Cox also served on the Community Board for the Maine Trust for Local News, which owns the Sun Journal. She stepped down effective last Friday.

In July, Cox said it was her intention to leave her Chamber post in June to run for public office.

“I know what it means to work hard and still struggle to make ends meet,” Cox said in a news release. “Lewiston’s families, workers, and seniors deserve a strong voice in Augusta, someone who, like Senator Rotundo, stays focused on real solutions instead of partisan games. As a State Senator, I will fight to lower costs, expand access to quality health care and build a community where every person has stability, dignity and the opportunity to thrive.”

Abdi and Cox shared their thanks for Rotundo’s time representing Lewiston. Abdi said Lewiston is stronger because of Rotundo’s leadership and enjoyed working alongside her in the Legislature. Cox called Rotundo a “tireless advocate” for Lewiston and echoed Abdi’s remarks that her “leadership has strengthened our community.”

“I am proud to call her both a role model and a friend,” Cox said.

“Her legacy of service will be remembered and respected for years to come,” Abdi said.

For state Senate races, party candidates must gather a minimum of 100 signatures and maximum of 150 starting Jan. 1. Primary nomination petitions must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State’s Division of Elections by 5 p.m. March 16.

Nonparty candidates accessing the general election ballot can begin collecting signatures beginning Jan. 1. They must submit their petitions by 5 p.m. June 1.