Snow blankets the Maine State House in Augusta. (AnnMarie Hilton/Maine Morning Star)
A national political action group is funneling donations to the Democratic candidate in a special election for the Maine Legislature.
Former Bangor mayor and legislator Sean Faircloth is running against Republican Carolyn Fish, who serves on the Bangor City Council, in the Feb. 25 election for Maine House of Representatives District 24. The seat was vacated by Joe Perry after he was elected state treasurer.
The race has attracted the attention of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national organization focused on electing Democrats to state legislatures. The group announced Thursday that Faircloth is among their “spotlight candidates,” who they support by directing fundraising through their national network. Faircloth is running as a clean elections candidate, which means he can only accept limited private contributions and then is eligible for public funds.
Democrats currently hold a slim majority in the Maine House and Senate. Of the 151 House seats, Democrats hold 75 to Republicans’ 73, with one independent and one unenrolled member.
In a statement, the DLCC said, “winning this special election would help cement Democrats’ agenda to support Maine’s communities, from making Maine more affordable for working families to ensuring access to comprehensive health care and quality public schools.”
Last election, the group featured two Maine legislative candidates — former state representatives Raegan LaRochelle and Bettyann Sheats — both of whom lost their respective races for the Maine Senate.
Across the country, there have already been five special elections this year. In Iowa last week, Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped a Senate district after winning 52% of the vote, which local Democrats took as a sign of discontent with Republican leadership.
“As the Trump administration wreaks havoc in Washington, the upcoming special election in Maine is the latest opportunity for Democrats to mobilize and win in the states,” said DLCC president Heather Williams in a statement Thursday. “State legislatures are on the frontlines in these uncertain times and Democratic leadership will continue to play a pivotal role in defending our future.”
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