Jump to content

Maine Democratic Party: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Wording
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
removed old data #article-section-source-editor
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit iOS app edit
(48 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Maine Democratic Party
| name = Maine Democratic Party
| logo = File:Maine Democratic Party logo.svg
| logo = File:Maine Democratic Party logo.svg
| logo_size =
| logo_size =
| colorcode = #00AEF3
| colorcode = #00AEF3
| headquarters = [[Augusta, Maine]]
| headquarters = [[Augusta, Maine]]
| chairperson = [[Drew Gattine]]
| chairperson = [[Drew Gattine]]
| leader1_title = [[Governor of Maine|Governor]]
| leader1_title = [[Governor of Maine|Governor]]
| leader1_name = [[Janet Mills]]
| leader1_name = [[Janet Mills]]
| leader2_title = [[President of the Maine Senate|Senate President]]
| leader2_title = [[List of presidents of the Maine Senate|Senate President]]
| leader2_name = [[Troy Jackson (politician)|Troy Jackson]]
| leader2_name = [[Troy Jackson (politician)|Troy Jackson]]
| leader3_title = [[Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives|House Speaker]]
| leader3_title = [[List of speakers of the Maine House of Representatives|House Speaker]]
| leader3_name = [[Ryan Fecteau]]
| leader3_name = [[Rachel Talbot Ross]]
| seats1_title = [[List of United States Senators from Maine|US Senate]]<br>(Maine seats)
| seats1_title = [[List of United States Senators from Maine|US Senate]]<br>(Maine seats)
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|2|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|2|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats2_title = [[United States congressional delegations from Maine|US House]]<br>(Maine seats)
| seats2_title = [[United States congressional delegations from Maine|US House]]<br>(Maine seats)
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|2|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|2|2|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats5_title = Seats in the [[Maine State Senate|Maine Senate]]
| seats5_title = Seats in the [[Maine State Senate|Maine Senate]]
| seats5 = {{Composition bar|22|35|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats5 = {{Composition bar|22|35|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats6_title = Seats in the [[Maine House of Representatives|Maine House]]
| seats6_title = Seats in the [[Maine House of Representatives|Maine House]]
| seats6 = {{Composition bar|80|151|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats6 = {{Composition bar|82|151|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats7_title = Nonvoting Seats in the [[Maine House of Representatives|Maine House]]
| seats7_title = Nonvoting Seats in the [[Maine House of Representatives|Maine House]]
| seats7 = {{Composition bar|1|3|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats7 = {{Composition bar|1|3|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats8_title = Executive Offices{{efn|[[Governor of Maine|Governor]], [[Attorney General of Maine|Attorney General]], [[Maine Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Maine State Treasurer|Treasurer]]. Only the Governor is elected by popular vote, the other three offices are filled by the [[Maine Legislature]].}}
| seats8_title = Executive Offices{{efn|[[Governor of Maine|Governor]], [[Attorney General of Maine|Attorney General]], [[Maine Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], [[Maine State Treasurer|Treasurer]]. Only the Governor is elected by popular vote, the other three offices are filled by the [[Maine Legislature]].}}
| seats8 = {{Composition bar|4|4|hex=#00AEF3}}
| seats8 = {{Composition bar|4|4|hex=#00AEF3}}
| membership_year = 2021
| membership_year = 2024
| membership = {{gain}}405,087<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |title=March 2021 Ballot Access News Print Edition |url=http://ballot-access.org/2021/03/28/march-2021-ballot-access-news-print-edition/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=Ballot Access News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voter Registration Data, Election Data and Online Forms|publisher=[[Maine Secretary of State]] |access-date=March 25, 2021 |url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/data/index.html }} </ref>
| membership = {{loss}} 341,925<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |title= June 2024 Ballot Access News Print Edition|url= https://ballot-access.org/2024/07/05/june-2024-ballot-access-news-print-edition/|access-date=July 5, 2024|website=Ballot Access News}}</ref>
| ideology = [[Centrism]]<br>[[Conservatism]]<br>[[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberalism]]<br>[[Progressivism]]
| ideology = [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberalism]]
| national = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
|position = [[Centrism|Center]] to [[Centre-left politics|center-left]]
| colors = Blue
| national = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| state = Maine
| colors = Blue
| country2 = United States
| state = Maine
| website = {{URL|www.mainedems.org}}
| country2 = United States
| country = U.S.
| website = {{url|www.mainedems.org}}
| country = U.S.
}}
}}


The '''Maine Democratic Party''' is the affiliate of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maine]].
The '''Maine Democratic Party''' is the affiliate of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maine]].


After the Civil War, Democrats were a minor player in a political scene dominated by the [[Maine Republican Party|Republican Party]]. However, during the 1950s, [[Edmund Muskie]] led an expansive political insurgency culminating in his election as [[Governor of Maine]] and successive Democratic elections to both state and national offices.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/909/page/1320/print|title=1946-1970 A Different Place|work=Maine History Online|access-date=2018-02-20|language=en}}</ref>
After the Civil War, Democrats were a minor player in a political scene dominated by the [[Maine Republican Party|Republican Party]]. However, during the 1950s, [[Edmund Muskie]] led an expansive political insurgency culminating in his election as [[Governor of Maine]] and successive Democratic elections to both state and national offices.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/909/page/1320/print|title=1946-1970 A Different Place|work=Maine History Online|access-date=2018-02-20|language=en}}</ref>


It is currently the state's favored party, controlling both houses of the [[Maine Legislature|state legislature]], [[Governor of Maine|governorship]], and both of Maine's [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] seats. One of Maine's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] seats is currently held by [[Angus King]], an [[Independent politician|Independent]] who caucuses with the Democrats.
From 2012 to 2019, despite having a Republican governor in [[Paul LePage]], the [[Political party strength in Maine|party remained strong]], holding key offices in the state government and the U.S. Congress and maintaining a majority in the [[Maine House of Representatives]] for six of LePage's eight years in office. In 2018, Democrat [[Janet Mills]] was elected to the governorship.


==Current Democratic officeholders==
==Current Democratic officeholders==
Line 47: Line 46:
*None
*None


Maine's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] Class I seat has been held by [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Angus King]] since [[2012 United States Senate elections|2012]] (though King does caucus with the Senate Democrats) while the Class II seat has been held by [[Maine Republican Party|Republican]] [[Susan Collins]] since [[1996 United States Senate elections|1996]]. Senate Majority Leader [[George J. Mitchell]] was the last Democrat to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. Appointed in May 1980 to fill the vacancy left by [[Edmund Muskie]] after Muskie's appointment as the [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]], Mitchell was subsequently elected to a full term in [[1982 United States Senate elections#Maine|1982]]. After winning a second term in [[1988 United States Senate election in Maine|1988]], Mitchell opted to retire instead of seeking a third term. Congressman [[Thomas Andrews (politician)|Thomas Andrews]] ran as the Democratic nominee in the [[1994 United States Senate election in Maine|1994 election]] and was subsequently defeated by Republican challenger [[Olympia Snowe]].
Maine's [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] Class I seat has been held by [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Angus King]] since [[2012 United States Senate elections|2012]] (though King does caucus with the Senate Democrats) while the Class II seat has been held by [[Maine Republican Party|Republican]] [[Susan Collins]] since [[1996 United States Senate elections|1996]]. Senate Majority Leader [[George J. Mitchell]] was the last Democrat to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. Appointed in May 1980 to fill the vacancy left by [[Edmund Muskie]] after Muskie's appointment as the [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]], Mitchell was subsequently elected to a full term in [[1982 United States Senate elections#Maine|1982]]. After winning a second term in [[1988 United States Senate election in Maine|1988]], Mitchell opted to retire instead of seeking a third term. Congressman [[Thomas Andrews (American politician)|Thomas Andrews]] ran as the Democratic nominee in the [[1994 United States Senate election in Maine|1994 election]] and was subsequently defeated by Republican challenger [[Olympia Snowe]].


====U.S. House of Representatives====
====U.S. House of Representatives====
Out of the 2 seats Maine is apportioned in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], both are held by Democrats:
Out of the 2 seats Maine is apportioned in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], both are held by Democrats:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*[[Maine's 1st congressional district|ME-01]]: '''[[Chellie Pingree]]'''
|+
*[[Maine's 2nd congressional district|ME-02]]: '''[[Jared Golden]]'''
!District
!Member
!Photo
|-
|[[Maine's 1st congressional district|1st]]
|{{Sortname|first=Chellie|last=Pingree}}
|[[File:Chellie Pingree official photo (cropped).jpg|center|frameless|130px]]
|-
|[[Maine's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
|{{Sortname|first=Jared|last=Golden}}
|[[File:Jared Golden 117th Congress portrait (cropped).jpeg|center|frameless|130px]]
|}


===Statewide officials===
===Statewide officials===
Democrats control the Governor's office, as well as the three statewide offices filled by the [[Maine Legislature]]:
Democrats control the Governor's office, as well as the three statewide offices filled by the [[Maine Legislature]]:

*[[Governor of Maine|Governor]]: '''[[Janet Mills]]'''
<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
*[[Maine Secretary of State|Secretary of State]]: '''[[Shenna Bellows]]'''
File:Janet Mills in 2019.jpg|[[Governor of Maine|Governor]] {{Sortname|last=Mills|first=Janet}}
File:Shenna Bellows.jpg|[[Maine Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] {{Sortname|last=Bellows|first=Shenna}}
</gallery>

*[[Maine Attorney General|Attorney General]]: '''[[Aaron Frey]]'''
*[[Maine Attorney General|Attorney General]]: '''[[Aaron Frey]]'''
*[[Maine State Treasurer|State Treasurer]]: '''[[Henry Beck]]'''
*[[Maine State Treasurer|State Treasurer]]: '''[[Henry Beck]]'''


===State legislative leaders===
===State legislative leaders===
Democrats have controlled the Maine House of Representatives since 2012, and the Maine Senate since 2018. As Maine has no office of lieutenant governor, the Senate President is first in line to become governor in the event of a vacancy.

<gallery widths="180" heights="180">
L-21-10-05-C-022 (51559078584) (3x4).jpg|Senate President {{Sortname|last=Jackson|first=Troy|dab=politician}}
File:TalbotRossheadshot.jpg|Speaker of the House {{Sortname|last=Ross|first=Rachel Talbot}}
</gallery>
*[[Maine Senate|Senate President]]: '''[[Troy Jackson (politician)|Troy Jackson]]'''
*[[Maine Senate|Senate President]]: '''[[Troy Jackson (politician)|Troy Jackson]]'''
**Senate Majority Leader: '''[[Nate Libby]]'''
**Senate Majority Leader: '''[[Eloise Vitelli]]'''
**Assistant Senate Majority Leader: '''[[Eloise Vitelli]]'''
**Assistant Senate Majority Leader: '''[[Mattie Daughtry]]'''
*[[Maine House of Representatives|House Speaker]]: '''[[Ryan Fecteau]]'''
*[[Maine House of Representatives|House Speaker]]: '''[[Rachel Talbot Ross]]'''
**House Majority Leader: '''[[Michelle Dunphy]]'''
**House Majority Leader: '''[[Maureen Terry]]'''
**House Majority Whip: '''[[Rachel Talbot Ross]]'''
**House Majority Whip: '''[[Kristen Cloutier]]'''


==History==
==History==
Line 75: Line 96:
The Democrats had limited success for nearly a hundred years, in part due to slavery. The Northeast was predominantly anti-slavery whereas the South was pro-slavery. When the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig party]] split in 1856, most of its northern wing formed the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], which dominated Maine due to its anti-slavery stance. Maine was predominantly Republican until 1954.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
The Democrats had limited success for nearly a hundred years, in part due to slavery. The Northeast was predominantly anti-slavery whereas the South was pro-slavery. When the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig party]] split in 1856, most of its northern wing formed the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], which dominated Maine due to its anti-slavery stance. Maine was predominantly Republican until 1954.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />


In 1954, in a [[Governor|gubernatorial]] election, Democratic state representative [[Edmund Muskie]] became only the fourth Democrat to win the governorship in the 20th century. He won the state over in part due to his stance on economic growth through industrial development, accessible politics on television and being acceptable to diverse population growth. Between 1954 and 1974, the number of registered Democrats more than doubled from 99,000 to 212,000.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/mainepoliticsgov00palm_0|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/mainepoliticsgov00palm_0/page/30 30]|quote=governorship of edmund muskie.|title=Maine Politics & Government|last=Palmer|first=Kenneth T.|last2=Taylor|first2=G. Thomas|date=1992|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=0803287186|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":433">{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=law_fac_pubs|title=What is Past is Prologue: Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Environmental Policymaking Roots as Governor of Maine, 1955-58|last=Blomquist|first=Robert|date=1999|website=Valparaiso University}}</ref><ref name=":043">{{Cite book|title=Muskie of Maine|last=Nevin|first=David|publisher=Random House, New York|year=1970|location=Ladd Library, Bates College|pages=99|quote="... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine"}}</ref>
In 1954, in a [[Governor|gubernatorial]] election, Democratic state representative [[Edmund Muskie]] became only the fourth Democrat to win the governorship in the 20th century. He won the state over in part due to his stance on economic growth through industrial development, accessible politics on television and being acceptable to diverse population growth. Between 1954 and 1974, the number of registered Democrats more than doubled from 99,000 to 212,000.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/mainepoliticsgov00palm_0|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/mainepoliticsgov00palm_0/page/30 30]|quote=governorship of edmund muskie.|title=Maine Politics & Government|last1=Palmer|first1=Kenneth T.|last2=Taylor|first2=G. Thomas|date=1992|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=0803287186|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":433">{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=law_fac_pubs|title=What is Past is Prologue: Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Environmental Policymaking Roots as Governor of Maine, 1955-58|last=Blomquist|first=Robert|date=1999|website=Valparaiso University}}</ref><ref name=":043">{{Cite book|title=Muskie of Maine|last=Nevin|first=David|publisher=Random House, New York|year=1970|location=Ladd Library, Bates College|pages=99|quote="... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine"}}</ref>


In more recent years, Maine has been roughly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. For instance in 1990, independent registered voters constituted 37% of the electorate, Democrats 33%, and Republicans 30%. This is a great contrast to the first hundred years of Maine politics.<ref name="Palmer, Kenneth T 1992">Palmer, Kenneth T.Taylor, Thomas G. LiBrizzi, Marcus A (1992). Maine Politics and Government. University of Nebraska Press</ref><ref>Stevens,John. Abbott, Cabot. Elwell,Edward Henry (1892). ''The history of Maine''. Portland:Brown Thurston Co.</ref>
In more recent years, Maine has been roughly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. For instance in 1990, independent registered voters constituted 37% of the electorate, Democrats 33%, and Republicans 30%. This is a great contrast to the first hundred years of Maine politics.<ref name="Palmer, Kenneth T 1992">Palmer, Kenneth T.Taylor, Thomas G. LiBrizzi, Marcus A (1992). Maine Politics and Government. University of Nebraska Press</ref><ref>Stevens,John. Abbott, Cabot. Elwell,Edward Henry (1892). ''The history of Maine''. Portland:Brown Thurston Co.</ref>

From 2012 to 2019, despite having a Republican governor in [[Paul LePage]], the [[Political party strength in Maine|party remained strong]], holding key offices in the state government and the U.S. Congress and maintaining a majority in the [[Maine House of Representatives]] for six of LePage's eight years in office.


Democrat [[Janet Mills]] was elected [[Governor of Maine]] in the [[2018 Maine gubernatorial election|2018 gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2018-11-10|title=Gov.-elect Janet Mills announces transition team|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/10/gov-elect-janet-mills-announces-transition-team/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Press Herald}}</ref>
Democrat [[Janet Mills]] was elected [[Governor of Maine]] in the [[2018 Maine gubernatorial election|2018 gubernatorial election]].<ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2018-11-10|title=Gov.-elect Janet Mills announces transition team|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/11/10/gov-elect-janet-mills-announces-transition-team/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Press Herald}}</ref>


==Party platform==
==Party platform==
[[File:George John Mitchell.jpg|thumb|[[George J. Mitchell]], Senate Majority leader (1989-1995)]]
[[File:George John Mitchell.jpg|thumb|[[George J. Mitchell]], Senate Majority leader (1989–1995)]]
Maine Democrats promote economic opportunity, ethical government, freedom, safety, and national security. They also promote voting rights, environmental protection, strong public education, access to health care, civil rights, transportation infrastructure, and help for those in serious poverty.<ref name="Palmer, Kenneth T 1992"/>
Maine Democrats promote economic opportunity, ethical government, freedom, safety, and national security. They also promote voting rights, environmental protection, strong public education, access to health care, civil rights, transportation infrastructure, and help for those in serious poverty.<ref name="Palmer, Kenneth T 1992"/>


Line 90: Line 113:


The platform also supports environmental protection through an energy plan to curb pollution and increase productivity.<ref>[http://www.mainedems.org/ "Maine Democratic Headquarters"], October 30, 2011.</ref>
The platform also supports environmental protection through an energy plan to curb pollution and increase productivity.<ref>[http://www.mainedems.org/ "Maine Democratic Headquarters"], October 30, 2011.</ref>

==Organizational structure==
The Maine Democratic Party is governed by the Democratic State Committee.

Maine Democratic Party staff and operations:
*Lisa Roberts: Executive Director
*Katie Mae Simpson: Senior Advisor
*Cooper Reed: Political and Organizing Director
*Dash Marley: Finance Director
*Michael Rogers: Data Director
*Jeff Candura: Development Director
*Sean Smith: House Caucus Director
*Julia Brown: Senate Caucus Director

Maine Democratic Party Officers:
*Chair: Kathleen Marra
*Vice-Chair: Erik Gundersen
*Secretary: Vicky Cohen
*Treasurer: Betty Johnson
*Assistant Treasurer: Jonathan Goble
*DNC Member: [[Troy Jackson (politician)|Troy Jackson]]<ref>https://www.mainedems.org/people/leadership</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 02:04, 6 July 2024

Maine Democratic Party
ChairpersonDrew Gattine
GovernorJanet Mills
Senate PresidentTroy Jackson
House SpeakerRachel Talbot Ross
HauptsitzAugusta, Maine
Membership (2024)Decrease 341,925[1]
IdeologyModern liberalism
National affiliationDemocratic Party
ColorsBlue
US Senate
(Maine seats)
0 / 2
US House
(Maine seats)
2 / 2
Seats in the Maine Senate
22 / 35
Seats in the Maine House
82 / 151
Nonvoting Seats in the Maine House
1 / 3
Executive Offices[a]
4 / 4
Website
www.mainedems.org

The Maine Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Maine.

After the Civil War, Democrats were a minor player in a political scene dominated by the Republican Party. However, during the 1950s, Edmund Muskie led an expansive political insurgency culminating in his election as Governor of Maine and successive Democratic elections to both state and national offices.[2]

It is currently the state's favored party, controlling both houses of the state legislature, governorship, and both of Maine's U.S. House seats. One of Maine's U.S. Senate seats is currently held by Angus King, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

Current Democratic officeholders

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

  • None

Maine's U.S. Senate Class I seat has been held by Independent Angus King since 2012 (though King does caucus with the Senate Democrats) while the Class II seat has been held by Republican Susan Collins since 1996. Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell was the last Democrat to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. Appointed in May 1980 to fill the vacancy left by Edmund Muskie after Muskie's appointment as the U.S. Secretary of State, Mitchell was subsequently elected to a full term in 1982. After winning a second term in 1988, Mitchell opted to retire instead of seeking a third term. Congressman Thomas Andrews ran as the Democratic nominee in the 1994 election and was subsequently defeated by Republican challenger Olympia Snowe.

U.S. House of Representatives

Out of the 2 seats Maine is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives, both are held by Democrats:

District Member Photo
1st Chellie Pingree
2nd Jared Golden

Statewide officials

Democrats control the Governor's office, as well as the three statewide offices filled by the Maine Legislature:

State legislative leaders

Democrats have controlled the Maine House of Representatives since 2012, and the Maine Senate since 2018. As Maine has no office of lieutenant governor, the Senate President is first in line to become governor in the event of a vacancy.

History

The Maine Democratic Party was revitalized by Edmund Muskie during the 1950s and 1960s. Muskie served as Governor, Senator and finally Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter.

The Democratic Party has history dating back to the 1800s. Maine entered the Union in 1820 as an Anti-Federalist state. Soon after, in 1834, the Anti-Federalists adopted the Democratic Party name.[2]

The Democrats had limited success for nearly a hundred years, in part due to slavery. The Northeast was predominantly anti-slavery whereas the South was pro-slavery. When the Whig party split in 1856, most of its northern wing formed the Republican Party, which dominated Maine due to its anti-slavery stance. Maine was predominantly Republican until 1954.[2][3]

In 1954, in a gubernatorial election, Democratic state representative Edmund Muskie became only the fourth Democrat to win the governorship in the 20th century. He won the state over in part due to his stance on economic growth through industrial development, accessible politics on television and being acceptable to diverse population growth. Between 1954 and 1974, the number of registered Democrats more than doubled from 99,000 to 212,000.[3][4][5]

In more recent years, Maine has been roughly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. For instance in 1990, independent registered voters constituted 37% of the electorate, Democrats 33%, and Republicans 30%. This is a great contrast to the first hundred years of Maine politics.[6][7]

From 2012 to 2019, despite having a Republican governor in Paul LePage, the party remained strong, holding key offices in the state government and the U.S. Congress and maintaining a majority in the Maine House of Representatives for six of LePage's eight years in office.

Democrat Janet Mills was elected Governor of Maine in the 2018 gubernatorial election.[8]

Party platform

George J. Mitchell, Senate Majority leader (1989–1995)

Maine Democrats promote economic opportunity, ethical government, freedom, safety, and national security. They also promote voting rights, environmental protection, strong public education, access to health care, civil rights, transportation infrastructure, and help for those in serious poverty.[6]

The party advocates economic security through strong support of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Maine Democrats believe in fair workplace opportunities and support Maine workers' right to form unions through the Employee Free Choice Act, which gives employees the chance to strike without being punished by employers and also keeps the workplace free of hazards, harassment, and discrimination.

The platform also supports environmental protection through an energy plan to curb pollution and increase productivity.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer. Only the Governor is elected by popular vote, the other three offices are filled by the Maine Legislature.

References

  1. ^ Winger, Richard. "June 2024 Ballot Access News Print Edition". Ballot Access News. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "1946-1970 A Different Place". Maine History Online. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  3. ^ a b Palmer, Kenneth T.; Taylor, G. Thomas (1992). Maine Politics & Government. U of Nebraska Press. p. 30. ISBN 0803287186. governorship of edmund muskie.
  4. ^ Blomquist, Robert (1999). "What is Past is Prologue: Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Environmental Policymaking Roots as Governor of Maine, 1955-58". Valparaiso University.
  5. ^ Nevin, David (1970). Muskie of Maine. Ladd Library, Bates College: Random House, New York. p. 99. ... a man many deemed to be the single-most influential figure in Maine
  6. ^ a b Palmer, Kenneth T.Taylor, Thomas G. LiBrizzi, Marcus A (1992). Maine Politics and Government. University of Nebraska Press
  7. ^ Stevens,John. Abbott, Cabot. Elwell,Edward Henry (1892). The history of Maine. Portland:Brown Thurston Co.
  8. ^ "Gov.-elect Janet Mills announces transition team". Press Herald. Associated Press. 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
  9. ^ "Maine Democratic Headquarters", October 30, 2011.