Your Vote 2020

As part of Maine Public's coverage of election issues throughout the year, we feature this Your Vote 2020 interview with candidates who will be on the ballot during the primary election on July 14.

We speak with two primary candidates to learn about their views on current events, the issues they are prioritizing, and what they feel voters need to know about them.

As part of Maine Public's coverage of election issues throughout the year, we feature this Your Vote 2020 interview with candidates who will be on the ballot during the primary election on July 14.

We speak with two Republican primary candidates for election to the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd Congressional District. They'll discuss their views on current events, the issues they are prioritizing, and what they feel voters need to know about them.

As part of Maine Public's coverage of election issues throughout the year, we feature this Your Vote 2020 interview with candidates who will be on the ballot during the primary election on July 14.

Two Democratic primary candidates for U.S. Senate will be interviewed to learn about their views on current events, the issues they are prioritizing, and what they feel voters need to know about them.

Maine's Political Pulse, with Maine Public’s Irwin Gratz and political correspondents Steve Mistler and Mal Leary, is back from hiatus.

Politics have been overshadowed since the coronavirus pandemic reached Maine. The legislature folded up shop early and Gov. Janet Mills exercised her powers to shut down much economic activity, forcing Mainers to stay separated. That appears to have had the desired effect, easing the increased pressure hospitals here were under.

But as the crisis atmosphere has waned, state politics is starting to sink its claws into the situation. Steve Mistler says that’s caused in part by the Federal approach to the pandemic.

The Maine Republican Party on Monday submitted more than 68,000 petition signatures to overturn a new law that expands ranked-choice voting to presidential elections.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Sara Gideon skipped a televised primary debate Monday night, and Republican U.S. House candidate Eric Brakey says he will also pass on a broadcast debate Wednesday. Some political science scholars say that’s a risk for campaigns, as voters want to see candidates debate the issues.

More than one-third of all eligible voters are under the age of 39, but historically, far fewer of them actually vote. In 2018, only about 36 percent voted. This year, political parties and advocacy groups are trying to get younger voters engaged through registration drives, but the restrictions of the pandemic have limited the ways in which they can operate.