The Ballot Brief
Hancock County, Maine

Hancock County Judge of Probate

2 candidates are tracked for Hancock County Judge of Probate on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Matthew J. Foster and Brian Thomas. Candidate information follows official Hancock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

2 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Hancock County Judge of Probate, per the Maine Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Candidate List - FINAL (posted July 27, 2026).

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Every voter in Hancock County votes on this seat.

Maine › Hancock County › Hancock County Judge of Probate

Matthew J. Foster

R

Biography

Matthew J. Foster is an attorney and former Hancock County district attorney, per Bangor Daily News. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Brian Thomas

D

Biography

Brian Thomas is a Lamoine, Maine attorney who has practiced law since 2016, following an earlier career as an archeologist, per Bangor Daily News. He served as an elected state representative in the Georgia General Assembly from 2005 to 2013 before moving to Maine in 2013 and joining a trusts and estates law practice in Lamoine, per the same source. He is running as a Democratic write-in candidate for Hancock County probate judge, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Next on your ballotHancock County Register of Deeds

See your full ballot

Your address is only used to match your districts.

Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Hancock County Judge of Probate in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Hancock County Judge of Probate on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Matthew J. Foster and Brian Thomas. Candidate information follows official Hancock County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Hancock County Judge of Probate election in Maine?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Maine are on the Maine election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Hancock County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Hancock County and state election office filings, last verified September 25, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Maine election office, or see the full Hancock County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Hancock County ballot

16 tracked races in Hancock County, Maine. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Hancock County SheriffDistrict Attorney, Prosecutorial District 7Maine Senate District 6See all 16 Hancock County races
Candidate profiles
Matthew J. Foster, full profileBrian Thomas, full profileOfficial Maine election office