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Maine GOP Chair says Activists Urging Him Not to Cast Electoral Vote for Trump

A.J. Higgins
/
Maine Public/file
Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett speaks to reporters at a news event in 2014.

AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett says he's received a steady stream of emails, phone calls and letters urging him not to vote for President-Elect Donald Trump.

Bennett is one of Maine's four electors in the Electoral College and he's supposed to cast his ballot for Trump on Dec. 19 at the State House. Bennett's ballot represents Trump's historic victory in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

"I think in yesterday's mail I received six or seven letters," Bennett says. "I've received a regular stream of emails and occasional phone calls."

Similar correspondence has been reported all over the country as activists attempt to convince electors to vote for someone other than Trump. Bennett says he is legally and ethically bound to represent the voters of the 2nd District.

Bennett says the messages appeared to be coordinated but he's not sure by whom. Much of the mail is from out of state. He says the messages express concern over Trump's temperament and ability to lead the country.

The nationwide effort is considered a long shot because it would require a coordinated effort between Democrats and Republicans to convince dozens of Trump electors to become what's called "faithless electors" and chose another candidate. Twenty-nine states have laws against faithless electors.

Earlier this week a Republican elector from Texas said he could not vote for Trump. It's unclear if others have made similar declarations, but electors across the country have reported receiving correspondence similar to what Bennett described. He said most of it is respectful and "some of it isn't."

The 538 electors are required to cast their votes on Dec. 19. In Maine, the state's four electors will cast their ballots in Maine House of Representatives chamber.

Late last month the Maine Republican Party sent an email hoping to celebrate and fundraise off the occasion. On Friday it sent another email warning that anti-Trump activists were "harassing" Bennett and they planned to "storm the State House."

A spokeswoman for the GOP declined to provide a link to the website organizing the protest, but instead provided a screen shot of what appears to be a website or email telling activists to contact Bennett and urge him to vote against "Donald and white supremacy." It also urges people to come to the State House Dec. 19.

As of mid-afternoon on Friday, 19 people reported that they would attend to support Trump, according to the GOP Facebook page inviting people to come to the election.

Trump convincingly defeated Hillary Clinton 51 percent to 41 percent in the 2nd District, marking the first time in modern history that Maine has split its four electoral votes. It was also the first time since 1988 that Mainers in either district voted for a Republican presidential candidate. President George H.W. Bush was the last Republican to carry the state.

Clinton carried the entire state 48 percent to 45 percent. Nationwide, she has bested Trump in the popular vote by more than 2.6 million votes, according to the most recent tally.

Journalist Steve Mistler is Maine Public’s chief politics and government correspondent. He is based at the State House.