Gerry Runte is a Democratic member of the Maine House of Representatives for District 146 and is a candidate for re-election in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] Runte, listed by Ballotpedia as Walter Runte Jr., has represented the district since 2022 and sits on the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.[2]
Gerry Runte was born in Ft. Benning, Georgia, served in the U.S. Army, and earned a master's degree in nuclear engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1976, according to Ballotpedia, which lists him as Walter Runte Jr.[2] His career experience includes work as managing director of Worthington Sawtelle, general manager of clean energy at ARES Corporation, and executive director of hydrogen energy and alternative fuels at Gas Technology Institute.[2]
Runte succeeded Dustin White in District 146 in 2022.[2] Ballotpedia lists his 2025-2026 committee assignments as the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee and the Leaves of Absence Committee.[2] In his 2026 general election race he faces Republican Bradley Moulton.[1][2]
In a Ballotpedia survey, Runte's campaign described him as having spent five decades in fields affecting housing, energy and infrastructure costs, including utility regulation, clean energy development and infrastructure planning and finance, and said he served on a local Planning Board and chaired York's Climate Action Plan.[3] He listed energy and climate policy, housing affordability, defense of democracy and reproductive rights as policy areas he is passionate about.[3]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
