AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Democrat Party's biggest fundraiser is now named in honor of former Maine Sen. George Mitchell and longtime Labor Secretary Frances Perkins.
The Perkins-Mitchell Dinner is a rebranding of the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Maine's Democrats and other state parties around the country are choosing to end their associations with Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson because of the former presidents' ties to slavery.
The event will take place on Dec. 4 at the Landing at Pine Point in Scarborough. Mitchell will attend and so will Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall, the grandson of Frances Perkins.
The party chose the new name after more than 500 people submitted votes. A spokesman says the new name better reflects the "modern day values" of the party and its members.