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Ross Kesler
United States Senator from New England
In Office: 2015 - Present Serving with Jennifer Dixon
Preceded by	Brea O'Connor
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st district
In Office: 2011 - 2015
Preceded by	Chellie Pingree
Succeeded by	Priya Almsley
Member of the Maine State House from the 120th district
In Office: 2007 - 2011
Preceded by	Benjamin Dudley
Succeeded by	Regionalization
Born	November 4, 1980 Brunswick, Maine
Political Party	Democratic
Spouse	Single
Profession	{{{Profession}}}
Children	{{{Children}}}
Religion	Unknown

Ross Pierre Kesler (born November 4, 1980) is the junior United States Senator from New England. He is a Democrat and vocal liberal within the party.

Early life

Kesler was born in Brunswick, Maine, to David Kesler and Amanda Craig. Kesler's father worked as a lawyer at his own firm in Brunswick while Kesler's mother was a liberal political activist. She later became a leading figure in the Maine Green Independent Party after its formation in 1984. As a result of his mother's political activism, Kesler became very involved with liberal causes during his youth. He also interned with his father's law firm during his younger years, but decided practicing law was not what he wished to do with his life.

Education

Kesler attended Bowdoin College for his undergraduate studies, earning a Bachelor's degree in Government and Legal Studies. It was at Bowdoin that Kesler became actively involved with the Maine Democratic Party. He also continued to volunteer and work with liberal causes such as Amnesty International.

After Bowdoin, Kesler attended Northeastern University for graduate school where he acquired a Ph.D in Law Policy and Society.

Political career

Kesler returned to Maine after acquiring his Ph.D. at Northeastern. Instead of returning to his native Brunswick, Kesler moved to Portland where he began working for the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine branch of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Shortly after starting with the council, Kesler's local Maine State House seat, District 120, became an open race, which prompted Kesler to launch his first political campaign. In the heavily Democratic district, Kesler easily won in 2006. He was subsequently re-elected to his seat in 2008. Kesler continued to work with the Maine Humanities Council while serving in the State House.

In 2010, after Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced she would not seek re-election to the United State House of Representatives, Kesler decided to take a chance and entered the crowded Democratic primary. Kesler claimed victory by a thin margin and then went on to defeat three-time Republican candidate Charlie Summers in 2010. He was re-elected in 2012.

After a tumultuous series of failed New England senate appointments, in 2014, Kesler entered the race and promised to end the rotating door of New England senators by serving his full term if elected. He won the election in November, defeating Republican nominee and Northeast Legislature Minority Leader Rio Payne.