Tag Archives: Justin Alfond

Will the Sanders faction gain more traction in the Maine Democratic Party?

Good morning from Augusta. We’re watching the upcoming battle this weekend over leadership of the Maine Democratic Party after the election that saw President-elect Donald Trump win the 2nd Congressional District. That historic split of Maine’s electoral votes has roiled Democrats, whose state committee will vote on Sunday on whether or not to replace party Chairman Phil Bartlett. […]

Maine Democratic Party leader will have to fight to keep job

Good morning from Augusta, where Tuesday’s election is already providing fallout for Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett. Outgoing state Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, confirmed late Wednesday that she’ll run to replace Bartlett at the state committee’s next meeting on Nov. 20, while term-limited House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan, said he’s considering a run. In a […]

Will other big-name Republicans join LePage at Trump’s Bangor rally?

Good morning from Augusta, where reporters and Gov. Paul LePage have something in common: We’re all preparing for Donald Trump’s Wednesday rally in Bangor. Maine’s Republican governor was one of the first major office-holding endorsers of the billionaire who is now the party’s presumptive nominee, so it’s only natural that LePage would be there, as […]

Maine marijuana advocates to sue state over ballot disqualification

Good morning from Augusta, where proponents of marijuana legalization will announce today that they’re suing the Maine secretary of state’s office over its decision to disqualify the issue from the 2016 ballot. The move was expected since Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap’s decision was released last week, and it could largely revolve around 17,000 signatures notarized by Stavros Mendros, the president […]

Democrats Hobbins, Chenette to wrangle over Maine Senate seat

Good morning from Augusta, from which our attention has been diverted by Maine’s brief moment in the sun of presidential politics. But after the Saturday and Sunday caucus wins from Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic underdog Bernie Sanders, our eyes are back on the Maine Legislature, where there was also weekend political wrangling. Two Saco Democrats — Rep. Barry Hobbins and Rep. […]

Democrats reveal details of LePage’s $38 million tax plan

Two Democratic representatives who say they’re tired of Gov. Paul LePage’s administration concealing from the public how he wants to pay for a $38 million tax conformity bill revealed Thursday to the Bangor Daily News what they say he has proposed. The Republican governor’s administration declined to answer questions from the BDN on Thursday about the proposal […]

Hillary Clinton to bring potential VP pick to Portland for fundraiser

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro will be in Portland on Monday for a fundraiser for Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who has stoked rumors that he could be her running mate. The private event will be on Monday morning at Preti Flaherty, the law and lobbying firm headquartered at One City Center, according to an […]

Dunlap, McCabe, Beliveau among Sanders’ 60 Maine endorsements

Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders got a lift in Maine on Tuesday with endorsements from Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, party godfather and lobbyist Severin Beliveau and a host of legislators. The progressive Vermont senator is an underdog in his race against Hillary Clinton — who received early endorsements from most of Maine’s big-name Democrats — but a Tuesday […]

How LePage could (but likely won’t) be impeached today

Good morning from Augusta, where lawmakers will likely consider impeaching a governor for the first time in Maine history. A group of liberal lawmakers has been talking about their attempt to oust Republican Gov. Paul LePage from office since last summer and all indications are that they will present their order today. The plan is for the House […]