McLean, a Democrat, was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2012 and served four terms.
Shortly before becoming term-limited in 2020, McLean resigned his seat in August 2020 after completing his Juris Doctor degree at University of Maine School of Law to take a position as a law clerk for the York County Superior Court in Maine.
[3] He was one of six openly gay members of the Maine Legislature, alongside Sen. Justin Chenette (D–Saco) and Reps. Matt Moonen (D–Portland), Ryan Fecteau (D–Biddeford), Lois Galgay Reckitt (D–South Portland) and Craig Hickman (D–Winthrop).
While in the Maine Legislature, McLean chaired the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation for six years.
In August 2021, McLean began work as a transportation policy specialist with CDM Smith.