In case you forgot, with all the attention over the past month on Graham Platner’s implosion in the US Senate race and Troy Jackson’s rise to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, there is a race for governor in Maine this year. Truthfully, the fact that this race is barely cracking the political zeitgeist is probably a…
Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary isn’t decided yet, with the race now headed to a ranked-choice tabulation after no candidate secured a majority of first-choice votes. In the closing weeks of the campaign, Bellows, Jackson and Pingree — widely seen as the more progressive candidates in the race — formed an alliance, urging voters to rank…
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and fellow gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson called out anti-union actions by the far-right, Koch-funded Freedom Foundation against Maine state workers. In a joint statement released Monday, they condemned emails the ultraconservative group sent to Maine state employees as they continue working without a contract nearly a year after negotiations stalled.…
Today on Earth Day, the Sierra Club of Maine announced its endorsement of three Democratic candidates for governor: Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Senate President Troy Jackson, and former House Speaker Hannah Pingree Sierra Club leaders said it is not typical to endorse multiple candidates, but noted that Maine’s ranked-choice voting system allows voters…
Maine Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows unveiled Monday a “New Deal for Maine,” an economic agenda aimed at lowering costs for residents by cutting utility bills, expanding housing and reshaping the state’s tax structure. Speaking in Portland, Bellows said affordability has become a crisis for many Mainers and framed her proposal as…
Dr. Nirav Shah joins our host Cate Blackford on the podcast to discuss his run for Maine governor and how his background in public health as the former director of the Maine CDC shapes his approach to leadership. He talks about the importance of competent state governance, clear communication and rebuilding public trust. Shah outlines his plans…
Let me be clear up front—this is not an official endorsement of anyone running for governor. There are lots of good people in the race, doing lots of good things (Hannah Pingree just came out for a public option and Troy Jackson is going after a racist in the GOP). When the time comes, I…
I am by nature an optimistic person about what we can accomplish through politics – and I believe that the arc of the moral universe ultimately bends toward justice. These days, maintaining that optimism has been, shall we say, difficult, as I watch Trump and his cronies bend that arc backwards with their hateful, corrupt,…
This week on the podcast, Cate and Ben break down how the federal shutdown is hitting Maine — from potential SNAP cuts to thousands of state workers facing layoffs — and how a tax conformity issue could leave a $245 million hole in the state budget. They also dig into the latest political shakeups, including…
Maine Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Shenna Bellows joins our host Esther to talk about her vision for a more transparent, community-driven government. She shares ideas for tackling Maine’s toughest challenges — from housing to healthcare — and lays out her plans for universal healthcare, fair taxation, and stronger support for tribal sovereignty. “No…