PORTLAND – Former state Sen. Chellie Pingree kicked off her campaign Friday for the congressional seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Tom Allen, who is in his sixth term in the U.S. House.

Pingree, of North Haven, stepped down as president of Common Cause, the Washington-based national citizens’ watchdog group, to return to Maine in advance of her congressional bid. On Friday, she began her kickoff tour in Rockland before meeting with reporters in Portland. Other stops were planned in Alfred and Wells.

Pingree said the time has come for change after more than six years of George W. Bush as president and, until a few months ago, Republican control of Congress.

“They deliberately squandered America’s economic, military and moral authority,” Pingree said. “Their vision for America could not be more different from mine.”

Pingree, 52, filed papers with the Federal Election Commission this spring to run for the seat.

She is one of at least five Democrats who have either announced or signaled their intentions to run for the 1st District seat. Others include Michael Brennan, Adam Cote, Mark Lawrence and Ethan Strimling.

Allen is giving up the seat to run for the U.S. Senate against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

Pingree said the issues central to her campaign include ending the war in Iraq, working for affordable health care, and investing in renewable energy to lessen America’s dependence on foreign oil.

Pingree served in the state Senate in the 1990s and lost to Collins in the 2002 U.S. Senate race, 59 percent to 41 percent.

She later served as president of Common Cause, but stepped down earlier this year to consider political opportunities in Maine.

One of Pingree’s children, Hannah Pingree, is majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives.