Aaron Frey

Aaron Frey
Born	Aaron M. Frey Template:Circa
Birthplace	Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	Serving as Attorney General of Maine; multi-state litigation
Education	Saint Anselm College (BA) Roger Williams University School of Law (JD)
Website	[Official website Official site]

Aaron M. Frey (born Template:Circa) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 58th Attorney General of Maine since January 2, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Frey previously represented districts in the Maine House of Representatives from 2012 to 2018. Born and raised in Bangor, Maine, Frey built a career in criminal defense law before entering public service, and he was selected by the Maine Legislature to succeed Janet Mills as Attorney General after Mills was elected Governor of Maine. During his tenure as the state's chief legal officer, Frey has led Maine's participation in numerous multi-state lawsuits, including challenges to federal executive actions, litigation against pharmaceutical companies over drug pricing, and lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. He was reelected to the position by Maine lawmakers in December 2024. His office has been active in areas of consumer protection, public health, and civil rights enforcement, making him a prominent figure in Maine's legal and political landscape.

Early Life

Aaron M. Frey was born circa 1978 in Bangor, Maine. He grew up in the Bangor area, which would later become the community he represented in the Maine Legislature. Details about his family background and childhood are not extensively documented in public sources, though his deep roots in the Bangor community informed his later career in both law and politics.

Education

Frey attended Saint Anselm College, a Catholic liberal arts institution in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently pursued a legal education at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. After completing law school, Frey returned to Maine to practice law, establishing himself as a criminal defense attorney in the Bangor area before entering the political arena.

Career

Legal Career

Prior to entering politics, Aaron Frey worked as a criminal defense attorney in the Bangor area. His experience in criminal law provided him with a foundation in the Maine court system and an understanding of the state's legal framework that would later inform his work as both a legislator and as Attorney General. His legal background, particularly in defense work, was noted as a distinguishing characteristic when he was later selected for the state's top law enforcement position.

Maine House of Representatives

Frey began his political career when he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives. He first served from December 5, 2012, to December 3, 2014, representing the 18th district, succeeding James W. Parker. He was succeeded in that seat by Anne-Marie Mastraccio. Frey then served a second stint in the Maine House from December 3, 2014, to December 5, 2018, representing the 124th district, which encompassed part of the Bangor area. In this seat, he succeeded Bryan Kaenrath and was later succeeded by Joe Perry.

During his time in the Legislature, Frey served on various committees and established himself within the Democratic caucus. His legislative profile highlighted his work on behalf of his Bangor-area constituents. His tenure in the Maine House provided him with legislative experience and connections within the Democratic Party that would prove instrumental in his subsequent selection as Attorney General.

Attorney General of Maine

Selection and Appointment

In Maine, the Attorney General is not elected by the general public but is instead chosen by a joint ballot of the state legislature. Following the November 2018 elections, in which incumbent Attorney General Janet Mills won the gubernatorial race, the position became open. On December 4, 2018, Maine Democrats in the Legislature selected Frey to succeed Mills as the 58th Attorney General of Maine. The selection was notable in part because Frey's background was primarily in criminal defense rather than in prosecution, which set him apart from many of his predecessors in the role.

Frey assumed office on January 2, 2019, under Governor Janet Mills. Upon taking office, he indicated an interest in pursuing more joint actions with other state attorneys general on issues of national importance.

In December 2024, Frey was reelected to the position by Maine lawmakers, securing another term alongside Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was also reelected.

Multi-State Litigation and Federal Challenges

One of the defining features of Frey's tenure as Attorney General has been his office's active participation in multi-state litigation. Shortly after taking office in February 2019, Frey joined a coalition of 16 states in filing a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.–Mexico border, which Trump had invoked to redirect federal funds toward construction of a border wall. The coalition argued that the emergency declaration was unconstitutional.

Frey also led Maine's involvement in multi-state litigation against pharmaceutical companies. His office joined a lawsuit accusing drug makers of price rigging, part of a broader effort by state attorneys general to address the rising costs of prescription medications.

During Donald Trump's second presidential term beginning in 2025, Frey's office became engaged in a new wave of legal challenges against federal policies. In October 2025, Frey joined a multi-state lawsuit seeking to compel the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding. Governor Mills publicly applauded Frey's decision to participate in the litigation.

In April 2025, Frey responded to a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against Maine over the state's policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in school sports. Frey characterized the federal lawsuit as "unsurprising," signaling that his office intended to defend Maine's existing policies.

In a May 2025 podcast interview, Frey discussed his office's broader approach to resisting Trump administration executive orders, as well as efforts to hold large technology and oil companies accountable.

Immigration Enforcement

In early 2026, Frey and Governor Mills jointly demanded that the Trump administration provide full details regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Maine. The demand followed reports that 206 individuals had been arrested by ICE in the state during an enhanced enforcement operation. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Lyons, Frey and Mills sought specific information about the identities and circumstances of those arrested.

Fossil Fuel Litigation

Frey's office pursued legal action against major fossil fuel companies, filing a lawsuit in state court alleging that the companies contributed to climate change and misled the public about the environmental impact of their products. In September 2025, a federal judge ruled that the case could proceed in state court rather than being moved to federal court, a decision that Frey praised as a favorable outcome for the state's case.

Law Enforcement and Civil Litigation

As Attorney General, Frey also oversees the state's legal defense in civil matters. In early 2026, his office argued in a police brutality case that the Maine State Police as an entity could not be sued because it "is not a person" under the law. The case arose after a state trooper allegedly repeatedly punched a handcuffed individual. The legal argument attracted public attention and media coverage.

Personal Life

Aaron Frey resides in the Bangor, Maine, area, the community he represented during his time in the Maine House of Representatives.

In April 2023, Frey publicly acknowledged that he had been in a romantic relationship with a subordinate employee in the Attorney General's office. The disclosure prompted scrutiny and an independent review of the situation. An independent report released in June 2023 found that the relationship did not significantly impact the work of the office. Despite the controversy, Frey continued in his role and was subsequently reelected as Attorney General by the Legislature in December 2024.

Recognition

Frey's profile has been maintained by the National Association of Attorneys General as part of its directory of state attorneys general. He has also been listed by the Democratic Attorneys General Association as a member of their organization.

His involvement in prominent multi-state legal actions—including challenges to federal emergency declarations, pharmaceutical price-rigging lawsuits, fossil fuel litigation, and disputes over immigration enforcement and transgender athlete policies—has raised his profile both within Maine and nationally among state attorneys general.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Frey remains in office as Maine's Attorney General, making a definitive assessment of his legacy premature. However, his tenure has been characterized by an active approach to multi-state litigation, positioning Maine alongside other states in legal challenges on issues ranging from consumer protection and drug pricing to federal executive authority and civil rights. His willingness to join coalitions of attorneys general in suing the federal government during both the first and second Trump administrations has been a notable aspect of his time in office.

Frey's selection in 2018 marked a transition from Janet Mills, who had served as Attorney General before being elected governor. His background in criminal defense, rather than prosecution, represented a departure from the profile of many prior occupants of the office. His reelection by the Legislature in 2024 indicated continued support for his approach among Maine's lawmakers.

His office's pursuit of litigation against fossil fuel companies and participation in efforts to protect federal nutrition assistance programs have reflected broader trends among Democratic state attorneys general who have used their offices to challenge federal policies and corporate practices on behalf of their states' residents.