About Nicole

I grew up in Ellsworth and came back home at 30, drawn by our vibrant community and the beautiful waters, mountains, coast, and woods that make Maine special. I work as a cartographer for a Maine-based mapping company and I volunteer with the Ellsworth Green Plan, Heart of Ellsworth, and Meals on Wheels.

In my first term serving as your State Representative, I have been a fierce advocate for Maine people and our shared environment. I worked hard to improve life here at home, including voting to:

• guarantee healthcare access for people with preexisting conditions and end surprise medical bills,

• lower your cost of living by increasing the homestead exemption and property tax fairness credit,

• better fund our schools and increase teacher pay,

• expand broadband and protect internet privacy,

• support volunteer firefighters and EMS, and

• increase local clean energy jobs.

There is more work to be done. I am honored by the opportunity to continue to represent you at the Maine State House. Mainers need creative, hard-working leaders to tackle the economic and social concerns of this uncertain time. I have been and will continue to be a voice for our community in Augusta, listening to your concerns and advocating for positive change that will affect us here at home.

I hope you'll give me the opportunity to build on what I've accomplished so far to improve life for people here at home and across our great state. Let’s make Maine a prosperous and healthy place for people of all ages and backgrounds – We’re all in this together.

Biographical Highlights

• Daughter of Jackie Grohoski, school nurse, and Ed Grohoski, electrician and Vietnam Veteran

• Wilderness First Responder and former volunteer firefighter

• Meals on Wheels driver

• Aided in disaster response mapping in Haiti

• Ran cross-country at EHS with (and far behind) Sen. Louie Luchini

• First woman to paddle the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail and current NFCT Board Member

• Maine Master Naturalist

• Co-author of two books

• Volunteer trail maintainer

• Whitewater Nationals Canoe Champion

• Middlebury College Graduate (Chemistry, Environmental Studies)

• Can dance, draw, and play the violin (not at the same time!)

• Ate 16 cake donuts to win college record

Affordable Healthcare

Affordable and accessible healthcare for all Mainers will not only help us live longer and happier lives and tackle the opioid crisis, it will improve our economy by adding good-paying jobs, protecting our rural hospitals, and supporting our small business entrepreneurs. The COVID-19 public health crisis has further highlighted this need.

Jobs

We must support economic recovery and our small businesses by investing in transportation and high-speed internet infrastructure. Workforce training and affordable higher education are necessary to help Mainers adjust to the changing job market, as we build a more resilient and robust economy.

Education

We must invest in education for students of all ages. We can start by: supporting early childhood development by funding Pre-K programs, increasing state aid for K-12 education, improving career and technical education programs for high schoolers, and bolstering adult education and workforce training programs.

Environment

A healthy environment sustains its people – physically, emotionally, and economically. We can save money while protecting our natural resources, through waste reduction and local renewable energy generation. Protecting our environment is especially important in Downeast Maine, where we rely heavily on tourism and marine resources for our livelihoods.

Property Taxes

Whether your own or rent, your housing costs are a significant expense. We can continue to lower property tax and rental cost burdens by increasing municipal revenue sharing for fire, police, and roads; better funding our schools; and further improving the homestead exemption and property tax fairness credit.

Energy Independence

We can generate clean, renewable energy here in Maine, providing good jobs and attracting young workers. Independence from the foreign corporations that control our electrical grid would save us billions of dollars, improve reliability and customer service, create jobs, and help us make the necessary clean energy transition.

Endorsements

Louie Luchini, State Senator and Ellsworth Resident

I’ve been impressed with Nicole’s work ethic and dedication to serving her community. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with her on issues of importance to the people of Ellsworth and Trenton.

Dennis Damon, Former State Senator and Trenton Resident

Nicole has shown in her first term that she has energy, commitment, intellect and a positive "can do" attitude. There is no challenge too great for her to tackle. And there is no problem too small for her to ignore. "Can't" is not part of Nicole's vocabulary.

Gary Fortier, Former Ellsworth City Councilor and Ellsworth Resident

When Nicole first announced her candidacy for the House in 2018, I said: "It doesn’t matter to me whether Nicole is an R or a D or an I... She is passionate about our community and our environment and I support her as a candidate." She proved me right. Re-elect Grohoski 2020.

Maine Education Association

Rep. Grohoski's voting record shows she consistently votes to support students and educators, and we thank her for her efforts. Our schools, our students and our professionals face many challenges in the coming years. We hope to work with Rep. Grohoski to help make sure all Maine students have access to a top-notch education regardless of their zip code.

Maine Conservation Voters

Maine's extraordinary environment is the foundation of our good health, good jobs, and quality of life. We appreciate Nicole's steadfast vision to conserve our natural legacy for future generations.

Professional Firefighters of Maine

EqualityMaine

EqualityMaine is proud to endorse Rep. Nicole Grohoski's re-election to the Maine State House. EqualityMaine, a statewide advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, works closely with elected officials to ensure that all Mainers, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, have equal protections and opportunities.

MSEA SEIU Local 1989

Based on her votes on four key issues in the 129th Legislature, the Maine Service Employees Association endorses Rep. Nicole Grohoski in her bid for re-election. The 13,000 public sector and publicly-funded workers who are members of MSEA provide Maine people with valuable public services that they depend on as they go about their daily lives.

314 Action Fund

We are delighted by the opportunity to endorse Rep. Grohoski as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) candidate for re-election to the Maine House. As trained problem-solvers, STEM professionals are ready, willing, and able to find solutions for the significant challenges facing America in the 21st century.

Looking for something?

This year, I've focused on helping my constituents in Ellsworth and Trenton navigate these trying times, rather than filling out endorsement questionnaires from interest groups. I've only accepted endorsements based on my voting record and credentials. If you don't see an endorsement that is important to you, please reach out – I'm happy to talk with you about what matters to you!

What Your Neighbors are Saying about Nicole

"Grohoski knows what's needed." Pilar Burmeister. Ellsworth American, 10/22/20.

"Grohoski for State House." Gary Friedmann. MDIslander, 10/20/20.

"Grohoski capable and caring." Steve Eddy. Ellsworth American, 10/15/20.

"Throwing a lifeline." Capt. Winston Shaw. Ellsworth American and MDIslander, 10/8/20.

"Grohoski is the real deal." Steve Weems. Ellsworth American, 10/8/20.

"A leader to be proud of." Mary Blackstone. Ellsworth American, 10/1/20.

"A winning team." Chris H. Keefe. Ellsworth American, 10/1/20.

"Legislators stepped up." Anne Damm. Ellsworth American, 9/25/20.

"Grohoski has the right stuff." Starr Gilmartin. Ellsworth American and MDIslander, 9/17/20.

"Grohoski gets the job done." Rene Augustus La Casse. Ellsworth American, 9/10/20.

"Leadership, intelligence and compassion." Peter Lione. Ellsworth American and MDIslander, 7/30/20.

"We’re Maine!" Irene Schmidt. Ellsworth American, 2/13/20.

"Grohoski’s approach a breath of fresh air." Robin Snyder-Drummond. Ellsworth American, 2/6/20.

"Nicole Grohoski’s environmental leadership." Robin Snyder-Drummond. Bangor Daily News, 2/12/20.

Nicole, in her own words

"Everything Mainers need to know to vote in the 2020 election." Bangor Daily News. [Legislative candidates were asked six short essay questions and one yes/no question.]

"Mainers should determine our energy future." Ellsworth American, 8/21/20.

"Vote yes on bond questions to strengthen Maine’s economy." Ellsworth American, 7/2/20.

"Come join the Census party." Ellsworth American, 5/7/20.

"Local legislators issue a call to action." With Sen. Louie Luchini and Reps. Genevieve McDonald, Richard Campbell, Billy Bob Faulkingham, Brian Hubbell, Sherm Hutchins and Sarah Pebworth. Ellsworth American, 4/30/20.

"Apart yet together." With Rep. Sarah Pebworth. Ellsworth American, 4/2/20.

"Maine privacy laws don’t need a fix. We need federal action." Bangor Daily News, 12/23/19.

"Electricity stored locally." Ellsworth American, 11/28/19.

"State authority to protect the internet." Bangor Daily News, 10/17/19.

"Climate change is a fact; the question is what can we do?" Ellsworth American, 9/27/19.

"Session summary." MDIslander, 7/26/19.

"Mainers want to be heard on CMP corridor project." Ellsworth American, 6/14/19.

"Explaining my ethanol veto override vote." Ellsworth American, 5/24/19.

"Another option for electricity." Ellsworth American and MDIslander, 3/8/19.