Kenneth M. Curtis (1931-), a Democrat, was elected governor in 1966, defeating incumbent Governor John H. Reed. Curtis first served as Maine's Secretary of State and after the gubernatorial election, took office in 1967 as the nation's youngest governor at the age of 35. He served two four-year terms and later became U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

He was one of a few sitting governors to climb Mt. Katahdin and canoe the Allagash River. During his years as governor, he earned a reputation for modernizing Maine state government.