Politics

Maine Sees Partisan Split On Absentee Ballots As Many Republicans Wait To Vote In Person

By Jessica Piper - Bangor Daily News • Jul 11, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / AP Images

Democrats are dominating absentee ballot requests in Maine ahead of next week’s primary, as a new poll showed a significant majority of Republicans intend to vote on Election Day in the 2nd District, signaling a stark partisan divide on one major coronavirus precaution.

July 10, 2020: Pandemic-Delayed Primaries Are Finally Upon Us

By • Jul 10, 2020
Rebecca Conley / Maine Public

Morning Edition's Irwin Gratz spoke with Maine Public's Chief Political Correspondent Steve Mistler and Senior Political Reporter Mal Leary ahead of Maine's state primary Tuesday.

Report Finds That Gender Equality Is Still An Issue In Maine

By • Jul 10, 2020

A century after winning the right to vote, Maine women are still contending with lower wages, sexual harassment in the workplace and unacceptable amounts of gender-based violence. Those are some of the findings of the 2020 Report on the Status of Women and Girls in Maine, released Thursday.

'This Is A Dream Unfulfilled' - USM Officials Meet With Faculty Group Pressing For Racial Equity

By • Jul 10, 2020
Corey Templeton / Flickr Creative Commons

Faculty and staff at the University of Southern Maine are calling on school administrators to take action to improve racial equity, and recruit and retain a more diverse community of students, teachers and staff. 

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage Declares Residency In Maine

By • Jul 10, 2020

EDGECOMB, Maine - Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who moved to Florida to enjoy warm weather and lower taxes after leaving office, has reestablished residency in Maine.

WATCH: Gloves Come Off In 2nd District Republican Primary Debate

By • Jul 9, 2020
Campaign website photos

In a candidate forum hosted by Maine Public on Thursday, the three Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in the 2nd Congressional District challeged each other’s business resumes, conservatism and campaign styles.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden Wants To Shed Some Light On Dark Election Money

By • Jul 9, 2020
J. Scott Applewhite / AP File

Two years ago, the race for Maine's 2nd Congressional District seat generated millions of dollars in spending to influence voters. The source of a good chunk of that money was secret, thanks in part to loopholes in federal election law that are routinely exploited by both conservative and liberal groups. Now, the winner of that election, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, wants to close those loopholes.

Portland Area Municipal Leaders Kick Off Series Of Seminars On Racial Equity

By • Jul 8, 2020
Maine Public File

While Maine lawmakers set the agenda for a state commission on race Wednesday, nearly 150 Portland area municipal leaders joined the first in a series of seminars on how local government can take action on racial equity as well.

The seminars are sponsored by the Greater Portland Council of Governments and led by Tori Pelletier, a Black woman who grew up in Maine. She bore witness to the daily challenges — and all-too-frequent racist abuse — she faces in this state.

Maine Commission Focused On Racism Sets Ambitious Agenda

By • Jul 8, 2020

The members of the Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations is poised to decide on legislation that will advance efforts to end racism in Maine.

Maine Lawmakers Clash Over Scope Of Special Session

By • Jul 7, 2020

In anticipation of a special session later this summer, Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon and Senate President Troy Jackson have directed legislative committees to act on the 240 bills that were carried over when the Legislature adjourned in March at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Republican leaders say they want to focus on a limited number of issues.

Some Legislative Leaders Benefited From Pandemic Loans

By • Jul 7, 2020

PORTLAND, Maine - A federal program criticized by Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon for helping special interests and large corporations provided a forgivable loan of between $1 million and $2 million to her husband's law firm.

WATCH: Democrats Vying For U.S. Senate Nomination Face Off In Maine Public Debate

By • Jul 6, 2020
Campaign website photos

Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, the presumed frontrunner in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, used Monday’s Maine Public debate to tout her policy goals if she’s able to knock off incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November.

With Turnout Uncertain, Will Maine Voters Pass $120 Million In Bond Questions?

By • Jul 6, 2020
Pat Wellenbach / Associated Press

Next week, Maine voters will decide whether to borrow $120 million between two infrastructure bond questions. But with the pandemic underway, and its resulting economic recession, it’s not yet clear how many of them will cast a ballot.

Golden Says Trump Veto Of NDAA Would Be Overridden

By • Jul 5, 2020
Chris Seward / AP File

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees have completed work on the annual National Defense Authorization Act that sets defense policy.

Democratic Senate Challenger Gideon Outraises Collins Again

By • Jul 4, 2020

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon raised more money between April and June 24 than the incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins for the second quarter in a row.

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