King, Angus (1944-…), became a United States senator in 2013. King, who was elected as an independent, represents Maine. King had earlier served as a two-term governor of his state. He also worked as a lawyer and as a business leader with energy conservation and wind energy firms.
Angus Stanley King, Jr., was born on March 31, 1944, in Alexandria, Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1966. He received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1969. King then moved to Maine, where he worked for a legal assistance organization in the town of Skowhegan. In 1972, he went to work in Washington, D.C., as an aide to Senator William Hathaway of Maine. King returned to Maine in 1975 to practice law. That year, he began hosting the public television show “Maine Watch.” He served as the show’s host and coproducer through 1993.
In 1983, King became the vice president and general counsel (chief lawyer) for an alternative energy development company. In 1989, he founded a company specializing in energy conservation projects. He sold the company in 1994.
In 1994, King ran as an independent for governor of Maine. He won the election and took office in 1995. He was reelected in 1998. As governor, King focused on economic development and education. He also worked to find compromises between businesses and environmental groups. After leaving the governorship in 2003, King again worked as a lawyer in private practice. In 2007, he founded a company specializing in wind energy projects. He sold his share of the business in 2012.
In early 2012, King entered Maine’s U.S. Senate race after long-time Senator Olympia Snowe announced her retirement. He won the general election in November, defeating Republican Charles Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill. Shortly after the election, King announced that he would join the Democratic Caucus in the Senate. King was reelected in 2018.
