Ron Russell (left) and Andrew Piantidosi (right) are running in the June 11 Republican primary, vying for the nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree in Maine’s 1st Congressional District. (campaign photos)
Two Republicans from southern Maine will face off in the upcoming June 11 primary election for the chance to unseat Democrat Chellie Pingree for Maine’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Ron Russell and Andrew Piantidosi participated in a radio debate Tuesday morning during which they spoke with Ray Richardson from WLOB 100.5 about their positions on various foreign and domestic issues.
Early voting is already underway for the June 11 primary election.
Who are the Republican candidates for CD1?
A former Green Beret, Russell said during his opening statement that he had a 30-year career in the U.S. Army before retiring in the early 2000s. Afterwards, he opened a small defense company, Far Ridgeline Engagements based in North Carolina, which contracted with the Department of Defense before it was sold in 2022.
Russell was raised in Fort Fairfield where, according to his introduction, his father was a potato farmer and his mother was a teacher. He said during the radio debate that he returned to Maine in 2021 with the intention of running for this office. In 2022, he lost in the Republican primary to run against Democratic state Rep. Traci Gere in Maine House District 134.
Piantidosi lives in Cape Elizabeth with his wife and two daughters. During the debate, he said he has worked with Fortune 500 companies, but did not specify which ones. He also said he is a substitute teacher and Little League coach.
In his opening statement, he described himself as a “traditional Republican,” and said it “should not be this difficult” to raise a family in Maine. He did not elaborate on that idea, but later said he fought for school choice and parental rights, which have been staples of conservative political agendas calling for parents to have greater input on what happens in their child’s education, especially in the years following the pandemic.
Gun control
Both men described themselves as strong supporters of the Second Amendment, saying that the right to bear arms should not be infringed upon.
They were asked specifically about the new 72-hour waiting period for certain gun purchases that became Maine law in April. Both of the candidates said they opposed the measure, with Russell calling the reform a “placebo,” arguing it wouldn’t actually deter gun violence.
They also discussed whether law enforcement should be notified about people who may be in danger of harming themself or others. Piantidosi saw this as an invasion of patient privacy and said it creates a stigma against people seeking mental health treatment out of fear that their rights will be encroached upon.
Russell said doctors should report situations where a person is in danger of harming themself or others to law enforcement. In those situations, he argued it comes down to the greater good of the population versus an individual.
Foreign affairs
Richardson asked the candidates a series of questions related to foreign affairs and wars overseas.
As for the war in Ukraine, both candidates said there needs to be better oversight and transparency about how American aid is being spent. And they also said they would support continuing aid to Israel during its ongoing attack on Gaza.
However, they weren’t aligned on other aspects of foreign policy.
Piantidosi said he would not support Ukraine joining NATO, but Russell said he would.
Russell also said he would support sending American troops to Ukraine, arguing it may be more effective to counter the Russian assault, whereas Piantidosi opposed sending American troops.
U.S. borders and immigration
Both candidates argued that the wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico should be completed, but Piantidosi said it is just one piece of a larger puzzle regarding the immigration system.
Both men also said there should be more discussion about how to secure our northern border with Canada.
A smattering of other topics also came up during the debate including marijuana, tax increases and congressional ethics.
Both candidates said they are against federally reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. They also said they support congressional term limits — though they varied on the specific amount of time.
While both men said they wouldn’t support a federal income tax increase, Russell said he would consider it if it was a matter of national security.
They also both said they would back an audit of the Federal Reserve. Republicans in Congress have pushed, so far unsuccessfully, for some version of a Federal Reserve Transparency Act multiple times since the 2008 financial crisis, arguing the bank is inserting itself in Democratic policy priorities, such as climate change.
SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
The post Republican CD1 candidates talk gun control, foreign affairs and immigration in radio debate appeared first on Maine Morning Star.