Jill Duson holds a B.A. from Antioch College and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, complemented by a certificate in Senior Executive in State & Local Government from Harvard University. Duson's career spans various sectors, including law, state employment, lobbying, and retail. She has served in significant roles such as Director of Compliance for the Maine Human Rights Commission and Director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Duson's leadership experience includes nearly two decades as an At-Large City Councilor in Portland, where she also served two terms as appointed Mayor.

Jill Duson's political identity is marked by a unique blend of progressive advocacy and strategic pragmatism, particularly in economic policies. Her proposal to lower the minimum wage in Portland, despite her advocacy for affordable housing and education resources, reveals a complex approach to economic issues. Duson's environmental policies, emphasizing the Blue Economy and sustainability, show a calculated effort to balance ecological concerns with regional economic realities. This juxtaposition of seemingly opposing stances invites deeper inquiry into her ideological underpinnings and policy rationale.