Maine's Political Pulse

“Somehow we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished.”
— Amanda Gorman, 22, inaugural poet.

There’s no cheering in the press box, but an exception can be made when contemplating Gorman’s optimistic view of the republic.

This week’s historic second impeachment of President Donald Trump by the U.S. House of Representatives is supported by three of Maine’s four members of Congress — and possibly the fourth.

The turn of the calendar year comes with an instinct to reset.

A lot happened in politics in 2020. Too much.

But despite the news’ fast pace, the year often felt like a long, terrible car ride to a destination unknown. Ignoring our pleas to hurry up, the driver slowly tugged us through a kaleidoscope of stupefying, horrible and extraordinary events.

Are we there yet? No.

To understand where we might be going, we need to remember where we’ve been.

January

The new year begins the way the old one ended.

On Nov. 3, the final day of voting, the campaign for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon sent an email to donors containing all the hallmarks of modern donation solicitations.

Electors representing Maine’s four electoral votes will cast their ballots Monday for president and vice president, an event that will further cement president-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

In the summer of 2019, a nonprofit group headed by a Democratic political operative began its sustained campaign to help Democrats unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.

Maine Momentum was part of an elaborate effort to take down Collins, who was already considered vulnerable because of controversial votes she took during the Trump presidency. It was well staffed and clearly well funded, but the source of its funding was a mystery because it was legally allowed to shield its donors.