Stay informed of Maine news through our FREE newsletters. This photo combination shows Republican candidate Paul LePage, left, and Democratic incumbent Janet Mills for the upcoming Maine gubernatorial election on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. But the states $800 million budget surplusis likely to be a source of political wrangling. Maine's local politics has taken a distinctly national turn by David Marino Jr. April 1, 2021 Fort Fairfield Town Councilor Bob Kilcollins talks in February about the Second Amendment sanctuary. Poliquins campaign has focused on issues straight out of the national Republican playbook, such as inflation, government spending, immigration, drugs coming across the southern border and energy prices. Federal agencies said the work will address lead and health hazards in 241 housing units, and perform home assessments in another 200 homes. 1 as of Oct. 16, according to internet searches recorded and analyzed by Google Trends. The final gubernatorial debate will be hosted by WABI-WAGM on Nov. 3.. More by Michael Shepherd, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden participate in their last presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 22, 2020. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed off on NAFTA, giving her identification with deals that Mainers have long abhorred. She has occasionally been referred to as a "liberal Republican" relative to her colleagues. Billboard protests offshore wind outside Blaine House. Local opponents worry a proposed refuge would shift the land oversight from Augusta to Washington, and possibly limit recreational activities. at the differing approaches Mills and LePage have taken to immigration. Election results in Maine comprise voting for local, gubernatorial and federal public offices, members of the state legislature, as well as ballot measures. In fact, he has repeatedly frustrated his Democratic House colleagues and many progressives in Maine with his votes against his party on gun control, COVID-19 relief packages, police reform and Bidens Build Back Better plan. It was rebuilt. The Legislature will also take. Top 3 Issues by Political Affiliation 1. If former Republican Gov. Inflation clocked in at 8.2% for the 12 months ending in September higher than expected and defying the Federal Reserves aggressive interest rate hikes. . Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions - Maine There is also a fight brewing over offshore wind. Such misinformation erodes trust in the public housing system on which so many individuals and families depend for safe, quality affordable housing, and it cannot be left uncorrected, read the statement, according to the BDN. Maine Public | Home | Maine Public MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (Jim Bourg/Pool via AP), 16-year-old Aroostook girl starts dessert business, It takes a village to save lives by breaking the cycle of addiction, Rockland hotel sold to out-of-state developer, Inside the feud that has stalled a coastal Maine park, Lobsterman finds body off Down East coast, 11 Maine trails that are great for forest bathing, Maine lobsterman lost at sea remembered for dedication to family and friends, He thinks rural commune is key to solving homelessness in Bangor, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Other spikes in interest may be due in part to the announcement of President Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness program on Aug. 24. But the president's move away from consensus 1990s-style on free trade shows that Maine's long-held views on the subject are beginning to take political precedence across the country. The storms took place . political science, University of Southern Maine. The rise in tax-related internet searches in relation to student loan forgiveness comes after some states announced that borrowers may be taxed. Andrew Catalina is manager of digital news, responsible for editing and producing news content on all of Maine Public's digital platforms, in addition to myriad other news- and content-related roles. Maine is receiving nearly $6 million to address lead paint hazards in homes. Mills widened her lead over LePage in campaign fundraising, according to, Independent campaign finance guy Darren Fishell has been tracking the data all season. Wilfredo Lee. Big donor states to Mills include California, New York, and Massachusetts. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. All rights reserved. Leaders of two groups opposed to a bill allowing abortions later in a pregnancy say they are still discussing whether to challenge the law at the ballot box. President Joe Biden brought his economic message to Maine on Friday as his administration touts federal investment in manufacturing. Box 284 This history made Trumps argument somewhat potent in Maine, especially when he ran against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who opposed the Pacific deal then but had made statements supporting it while in Obamas Cabinet. Maine Public hosted the candidates first debate of the season, which created some ripples nationally for LePages fumbled response on whether hed support additional restrictions on abortion. Maine Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps In Maines 1st Congressional District, voters will choose to either reelect Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree or replace her with Republican Ed Thelander. Governor Janet Mills Spending by all outside groups has exploded in recent weeks, reaching some $13-million, according to Maine Public. LePage has denied those accusations. Over the summer, I worked under the guidance of Professor Michael Franz to analyze Maine's Second Congressional District's political landscape through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. James Gillespie Blaine (January 31, 1830 - January 27, 1893) was an American statesman and Republican politician who represented Maine in the United States House of Representatives from 1863 to 1876, serving as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and then in the United States Senate from 1876 to 1881.. Blaine twice served as Secretary of State, first in 1881 under . Scroll down to see all available streams. (Though, depending on the audience, you might hear a different version.). If former Republican Gov. of the campaign season, Maine Publics political team notes that outside groups have spent more than $2 million on state legislative races in Maine this season. Today, we continue a periodic compilation of reporting on the states politics leading up to the Nov. 8 elections. Janet Mills' abortion rights expansion bill. Electric boats starting to make waves on Maine's working waterfronts. suggesting Mills has a decent-sized lead over LePage, the incumbent appears to be running like shes ahead while also doing the usual governor stuff which in her case is almost daily announcements of millions of dollars for this or that popular initiative, the Maine Public reporters said. OXFORD, Maine (AP) Maine 's governor is calling on President Joe Biden to issue a disaster declaration to help the western part of the state recover from summer flooding. We have been living apart because I wanted to make sure that I was in Maine and people didnt say, Oh, hes a carpetbagger. In 2019, I was in Florida. Maine governor calls for disaster declaration to help recover from The not-so-glamorous Instagram life of US Sen. Angus King - CSMonitor.com Today, we continue a periodic compilation of reporting on the states politics leading up to the Nov. 8 elections. "He really loved being a symbol of optimism and progress for the city.". Janet Mills dealt with the problems brought on by the pandemic, and Paul LePage inherited issues brought on by the 2008 recession. And Ill just have to deal with it. Former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican running again in 2022 alongside three primary opponents, has looked to tie Golden to national Democrats, but the incumbents votes against his party on several high-profile bills this year may make that difficult. The forgiveness plan described parameters for who would be eligible for student loan cancellation, noting borrowers will need to earn under $125,000 individually or $250,000 as a household. May 5, 2023: How opponents are hoping to defeat Gov. | The three candidates for Maines second congressional district faced off in a debate last week, sparring over the economy, inflation, and abortion. But doing so would require defeating incumbent Democratic Gov. A livestream will be available at pressherald.com. Joshua Chamberlain - Wikipedia Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions - Maine.gov Panelists: Less than two weeks from now, Mainers will cast their votes for governor. More than 80 percent of eligible Mainers have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and while vaccinations continue to drastically reduce virus risk, an increasing number of people are seeing breakthrough cases due to the more transmissible delta variant. Following backlash from lobstermenworried about development, Mills signed a law this yearprohibiting wind projects in state waters while moving ahead with a pilot project in federal waters. Local housing officials rebuked Republican congressional candidate Bruce Poliquin for a story hes told on the campaign trail claiming that a homeless woman told him she was bumped from a housing list by undocumented immigrants. My wife came up this year. The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and operates The Maine Monitor. Jan. 10, 2023 Alan Greenblatt , Carl Smith , David Kidd , Jared Brey Regardless of any policy preferences lawmakers may have, they will face challenges in terms of achieving them in 2023 in two. P.O. Secretary Bellows announces question order for November - Maine.gov Abortion emerged as a top issue for Maine voters, spiking several times over the last month and rising in interest after a peak on Oct. 11. Here are four Maine politics storylines to watch. These are not countries that we want to be energy dependent on going into the future, so taxing imports from those countries is going to help prop up American energy production, he said. Susan Margaret Collins (born December 7, 1952) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Maine. This time, the NRA gave her a C.. Neither Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins nor independent U.S. Sen. Angus King are up for reelection. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER. Both Mills and Republicans have endorsed the concept of direct assistance amid concerns about inflation, but there have been few specifics. his wife, Ann, remained a full-time Florida resident when he moved back to Maine in 2020. The aim, he says, is to gauge how Mainers are likely to vote in this upcoming contest. But a major focus of Mills campaign and of Democrats, in general has been that Maine wont go back to the chaos and divisiveness of the LePage years. Congressional elections are held every even year (2012, 2014, 2016), and gubernatorial ones every off-presidential even year (2010, 2014, 2018). Nearly two years into the pandemic, Maine set records for COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations again and again throughout December. Charles Krupa. Mills widened her lead over LePage in campaign fundraising, according to the Bangor Daily News. Washington County communities are scrambling to fill a vacuum after a long-feared decision by the Maine State Police to end trooper patrols in the county took . Poliquin badgered Golden for supporting the the Inflation Reduction Act, claiming that it will tax oil production.. Bond is a family attorney running a low-budget campaign, encouraging supporters to donate money to charities or spend it with local businesses. Since Biden took over, he has not restarted that deal and has instead turned against sweeping trade dealsin favor of more limited agreements with other nations. [4] Some parties are recognized in multiple states. P.O. There will be a lot of talk about addressing each problem, but continued COVID-19 transmission will stymie solutions across the board. While hes run a somewhat conventional campaign against Pingree, he has also drawn criticism for his comments about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and debunked conspiracy theories. Report an election issue by calling: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Espaol) 1-888-API-VOTE (Asian multilingual assistance) Find the poll by Pan Atlantic Research here. And in another story, the Monitor found concern among housing advocates that the Supreme Judicial Court could soon make it easier for banks to go after homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage. Mills has appointed four of the justices and could end up appointing all seven justices if she is re-elected. Senators. Paul LePage reclaims the office, it would be a first in state history although other governors have served nonconsecutive terms, none have held the position for longer than eight years. Bangor residents vote at the Cross Insurance Center in Nov. 2, 2021. Hallowell, ME 04347 The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2023 - Governing Liberty Tool Company a magnet for lovers of old tools. PublishedOctober 27, 2022 at 11:49 AM EDT. During King William's War, a raiding party of French and their native allies attacked and largely destroyed it again in the Battle of Fort Loyal (1690). High energy prices this winter driven bythe increased cost of natural gas only amplify questions about Maines energy sources for the future. And her support has only grown, winning by 13 or more points in every general election since. The Portland Press Herald is asking readers to submit a question, The debate is sponsored by the Press Herald, Lewiston Sun Journal and Maine Public. Midterm elections 2022: Here are the issues Maine voters care about the The attorney general acts as the states legal counsel, and as such, makes decisions about lawsuits to engage in. The balance between the national environment and local issues will be a significant factor in Maine races next year. These 4 themes will define Maine politics in 2022 Home Issues Issues Improving Health Care for Maine People and Small Businesses: Governor Mills understands that having access to high-quality affordable health care can not only keep people healthy, but it can save lives. In the race for governor, the poll put Mills ahead of LePage. A day after a federal grand jury indicted the former president on four charges that hold him criminally responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection, only one member of Maine's delegation openly praised it. The third candidate on the ballot is independent Sam Hunkler, a semi-retired physician from Washington County who is offering himself up as the collaborative consensus-builder not beholden to the major parties. Fish and Wildlife Service to end its evaluation of 200,000 acres in western Maine for the possible creation of a National Wildlife Refuge. We rely on our community of supporters to fund our nonprofit newsroom and make our reporting happen. Gov. A statewide sampling of Maine voters shows they favor Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney 49 percent to 35 percent with four months left in the intensifying presidential campaign.. Opposition to free-trade deals has been bipartisan from the congressional delegation all the way down to local politics. 4 as of Oct. 16. NEWS CENTER Maine wants to know which political issues are the most and least important to our audience ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election. Maine Dem bashes student debt relief for 'Twitterati', Maine Republicans wrestle with supporting Donald Trump, Maine health care workers take vax mandate to US Supreme Court, Joe Bidens shift shows how Maines free-trade skepticism is spreading, Maine Recovery Council has yet to spend any of its opioid settlement money, Ami CEO talks President Bidens visit, china trade dispute and domestic manufacturing, With Susan Collins' seniority in Appropriations Committee, Maine leads nation in Senate earmarks, Bangor state senator calls for prosecution of neo-Nazi group, Dem state Rep accused Republican colleague of crying Fake tears during abortion bill debate, texts show, Why a donation by a deep-pocketed conservative group could intensify dark money battle in Maine, 2 men jump overboard when yacht goes up in flames off Maine coast, Attorney General Aaron M. Frey Announces Permanent Injunction for Civil Rights Violations, Office of the Maine Attorney General (Press Release), Bradford homeless commune / Maine Trump support / Quebec nuclear power, Maine residents blast proposal incentivizing electric vehicles, Erik Visits an American Grave, Part 1,420, Environmentalists are choking environmental growth in rural America, Maine Dem Bashes Student Debt Relief for 'Twitterati', Centrist Democrat bashes student debt relief as 'handouts' for 'the Twitterati', House Dem shreds 'radical leftist elites,' defends voting down Biden student loan handout. Maine Governor Calls for Disaster Declaration to Help Recover From , the Maine Association of Public Housing Authority Directors issued a statement that did not name Poliquin but clearly was aimed at his campaign trail tale. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain, September 8, 1828 - February 24, 1914) was an American college professor from Maine who volunteered during the American Civil War to join the Union Army.He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general).He is best known for his gallantry at the Battle of . overdose reversal medications and needle exchange programs. Box 284 Hallowell, ME 04347 Send us an email. But he is also a staunch supporter of abortion rights and a voted to impeach former President Trump. Paul LePage, is trying to make as much news as he can. Differences over issues grow more stark, amid evidence that incumbent Gov. Maine Polls | FiveThirtyEight Collins is a self-described "moderate Republican". Maine Politicians on the Issues - OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the The swing through Maine Bidens first since becoming president 2 years ago is part of a national tour to change voters minds about the state of the American economy. MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. After graduating from Grinnell College, he worked on a couple of campaigns in Iowa (presidential and congressional) and moved to Washington, DC. His site is here. He can be reached by email:david@themainemonitor.org. The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement may have cost the state hundreds of manufacturing jobs, according to a study for the Legislature. Janet Mills' bill expanding abortion access beyond the state's current fetal . This week in Maine politics: Oct. 2, 2022, Maine Publics Steve Mistler and Kevin Miller, in. by David Dahl, The Maine Monitor October 2, 2022. Bernie Kerik, who advised Giuliani after Trump's 2020 election loss A range of national issues could also have an impact in Maine. And in the Boothbay area, voters will consider whether to remove fluoride from the public water supply. On the ground: Mainers have had a front-row view to this kind of trade politics for decades. Americans in the United States's six territories do not have senators. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.