Genevieve McDonald

McDonald was born in 1982 in Bar Harbor.^[1]

McDonald enrolled in the University of Maine in 2013, graduating in May 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies with a minor in Maine Studies,^[1][2] explaining that by enrolling she "wanted to be able to better facilitate communication between the commercial fishing industry and the scientific community."^[3]

In June 2014, McDonald was appointed the Down East region's representative to the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Advisory Council (LAC). She is the first woman to serve on the LAC.^[4][5]

In 2013, McDonald, frustrated with constantly having to modify ― and therefore compromise the effectiveness of ― her "unisex" fishing gear for a better fit, began a social media campaign to connect women fishermen and help them put pressure on manufacturers to produce better-fitting gear for women. When she met a representative from leading fishing gear company Grundéns USA at a trade show and inquired about production of women's gear, he abruptly dismissed the suggestion. McDonald posted a recap of the incident on social media, which went viral. Through her "Chix Who Fish" Facebook group, McDonald collected over 1,000 photos of women fisherman from around the world and sent a presentation of their photos to Grundéns.^[3] The president of Grundéns USA reached out and sent her a prototype jacket from their upcoming Sedna gear line for women.^[6][7][4][1] In 2018, Eric Tietje, Grundéns global product director, credited McDonald's campaign, including her "Chix Who Fish" Facebook group, with inspiring the company's decision to launch the Sedna line.^[8]

McDonald says she was inspired to run for the House after completing a Washington, D.C. travel course at the University of Maine.^[1], and also credits her tenure on the LAC with first introducing her to state-level advocacy.^[3] She announced her candidacy for Maine House District #134 in February 2018, filling a seat vacated by Walter Kumiega, who had termed out and approached her about running in his place.^[9][3] District #134 represents Maine's largest lobster ports and consists of waterfront towns and islands.^[10]

McDonald ran unopposed in the 2018 House District #134 Democratic primary and defeated Republican Philip Brady 67%-33% in the general election.^[2] During her first term, McDonald served on the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and the Maine Climate Council Working Group on Community Resiliency, Emergency Planning and Public Health.^[2]

In January 2020, McDonald announced a re-election bid.^[11] She defeated fellow Democrat Julie Eaton 75%-25% in the District #134 primary and ran unopposed in the general election.^[12] In her second term she continued to serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources and was assigned as the House chair of the Government Oversight Committee.^[13] In April 2021, McDonald was appointed to the Coastal and Marine Working Group of the Maine Climate Council.^[14]

McDonald announced her candidacy for Maine Senate District 7 in January 2022,^[15] but later withdrew her candidacy. She resigned her House seat on May 9, 2022.^[16]

Following McDonald's resignation from the state senate, she became a consultant with Preti Strategies.^[26] McDonald became the political director for Graham Platner's campaign for the 2026 United States Senate election in Maine following Platner's August 2025 campaign launch.^[26] McDonald resigned on 17 October 2025 after past statements made by Platner on Reddit were reported, writing in her resignation letter that Platner's statements "were not known to me when I agreed to join the campaign, and they are not words or values I can stand behind in a candidate".^[26] Some of the statements made by Platner included referring to police as "bastards", asking why Black people did not tip, and a comment that people concerned about being raped should "take some responsibility for themselves and not get so fucked up".^[26]

In May 2026, McDonald leaked texts she received from Platner's wife to The Wall Street Journal, revealing that Platner had sent sexual messages to women during their marriage. Platner's wife said she was "deeply hurt" by the leaks.^[27]

McDonald married her husband in September 2012^[17] and they live in Stonington with their two daughters.^[1][2]

In 2019, Belfast artist Susan Tobey White included McDonald with a dozen other women fishermen in a series of paintings titled "Lobstering Women of Maine."^[28]