Randy Billings

Portland Press Herald

Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been covering Portland City Hall for the Press Herald since 2012. His beat touches on a wide range of topics, including immigration, homelessness, education, tourism, real estate development and the economy in Maine’s largest city. He has been a Portland-based journalist since 2005. A life-long Mainer who loves the outdoors, Randy is also a bassist who brews his own beer at his North Yarmouth home, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Latest

Published
September 15, 2022

Thelander blames uptick in violent crime on Pingree, progressives in D.C.

Following a string of shootings in Portland, Republican congressional candidate Ed Thelander holds a news conference to express his support for law enforcement and accuse U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of being anti-police.
Published
September 15, 2022

Outside money pouring into Maine’s race for governor

Spending by outside groups trying to influence Maine’s gubernatorial election has begun in earnest, with $1.4 million spent in the first two weeks of September and much more on the way.
Published
September 13, 2022

Candidates for governor set to meet on debate stage

Gov. Janet Mills, former Gov. Paul LePage and independent Sam Hunkler have committed to at least one joint debate, and there could be more.
Published
September 11, 2022

The race for governor: This one is personal

While this is the first time their names have been on the same ballot, the enmity between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage goes back more than a decade.
Published
September 5, 2022

Maine campaigns set to heat up after Labor Day, led by governors race

Incumbent Janet Mills faces a familiar opponent in Paul LePage, who served two terms from 2011-2019. Also at stake is control of the Legislature, where Democrats have advantages in the House and Senate.
Published
August 29, 2022

Maine parties counting on national issues to mobilize their voters

The economy and an unpopular president are seen as advantages for Republicans, while Democrats focus on abortion, falling gas prices and student debt relief.
Published
August 16, 2022

Maine’s U.S. senators differ on key questions about search of Trump estate

Sen. Angus King calls on Republicans to defend the FBI and questions why Trump kept top secret documents; Sen. Susan Collins says there are legitimate questions about the search itself, and the timing of it.
Published
July 29, 2022

Gov. Mills seeks more federal aid for heating assistance

With 60 percent of homes relying on oil heat, Gov. Janet Mills said residents are ‘distinctly vulnerable’ to high oil prices this winter and more funding is needed for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Published
July 28, 2022

DEP says Maine is ahead of schedule to meet climate change goal

A Department of Environmental Protection report says Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 were 25% lower than levels measured in 1990, surpassing the medium-term goal of a 10% reduction by 2020.
Published
July 27, 2022

Gov. Mills says Maine Constitution may already protect abortion access

The governor says her administration is debating whether an amendment is needed to protect abortion access in Maine, or whether that right is already enshrined.