Emily Cain

Founder & Owner, Cain Insights, LLC

Former Senator, Orono, Maine

Emily Cain is an accomplished public policy maker, organizational leader, and political strategist who has been leading at the state and national level for the past twenty years. First elected at the age of 24, Emily made her mark in Maine politics serving in both the state House and Senate over five terms, leading the Appropriations Committee as Chair and serving as the youngest woman House Minority Leader in state history. In 2012, Cain led House Democrats back into the majority by raising record funds, recruiting top candidates, electing more women, and winning tough seats in Maine’s challenging rural areas. As a leader in the legislature Emily was known as a tough negotiator, deal closer, and champion for women, equality, domestic violence prevention, and economic development. In 2014 and 2016 Emily ran for U.S. Congress in two of the most competitive House races in the country.

From 2017-2023, Emily served as Executive Director of EMILYs List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, during three historic election cycles helping to elect a record number of Democratic pro-choice women from all backgrounds across the country and up and down the ballot. Prior to joining EMILYs List, Emily was the Chief Strategy Officer at HistoryIT, a technology company dedicated to making historical collections more accessible and meaningful through digitization.

Emily is the founder/owner of Cain Insights, LLC, a consulting company based in Maine working with exciting clients at the state and national level, including the NewDEAL, NewDEAL Forum, Third Way, and more. Emily lives in Maine with her husband, Danny Williams, and their mini labradoodle, Sunny. As a member of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, Emily chairs the Strategic Planning Committee of the board. Emily is a singer, cook, enthusiastic peloton rider, ardent NFL and F1 fan, and is currently earning her Ph.D. in higher education at The University of Maine.