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| 📷 Newly elected Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake speaks at a real estate event in Bangor on Jan. 20, 2019. (BDN photo by Lori Valigra) |
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🪂 The Maine Democratic Party picked a leader. Its counterpart has a fight.
◉ Vice Chair Bev Uhlenhake, a real estate broker and former Brewer mayor, was unopposed in her Sunday election as chair, replacing the outgoing Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook. The party requires gender balance between the chair and vice chair, so Julian Rogers of Oqunquit is the new No. 2.
◉ Republicans have a fight on their hands after a disappointing 2022 election. Chair Demi Kouzounas faces main threats from former Assistant House Minority Leader Joel Stetkis of Canaan and Rep. Heidi Sampson of Alfred. Two-time legislative hopeful Guy Lebida of Bowdoin also declared a run.
◉ The wrangling over delegates is still going on. Stetkis is rolling out a steady stream of endorsements while Sampson has done interviews with conservative outlets and was endorsed by the Bangor Republican Committee.
◉ The Maine Republican Party will hold its leadership election on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Le Club Calumet in Augusta.
🥊 Maine's congressman is part of an internal fight over a centrist caucus.
◉ Politico has the inside story on how the Blue Dog Coalition is eroding over a rebranding fight that led half the members of the centrist Democratic caucus to leave. It is now down to just seven all-male members, including Rep. Jared Golden of Maine's 2nd District.
◉ The high-profile members who left include Reps. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, who wanted the group to change its name to the Common Sense Coalition in an attempt to shake the male and predominantly southern history of the caucus.
◉ Golden was among the members who resisted that change, along with members that joined the group in the 1990s, according to Politico. |
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What we're reading
☝️ Mills says she wants a bipartisan budget, but she isn't promising one.
🚚 After promising 1,000 jobs when it entered Maine seven years ago, Wayfair is giving up its last building here.
🚪This Maine professor left his job to represent low-income clients in court.
🧀 A Bangor company attached to a philanthropic enterprise is now Maine's largest cheesemaker.
🥚 The egg shortage is hitting ... a Maine snowmobiling event.
🦭 A seal roamed into Cape Elizabeth and our hearts. Here's your soundtrack. |
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