UNION, Maine — The issues on the minds of the Knox County Republicans were on display Friday at the Union Fairgrounds almost like the categories on TV’s “Jeopardy!”
Each issue or problem was contained in a short phrase in its own square: “Boys in Girl’s Sports,” “Pronoun Policy in Schools,” “Ban on Gas Appliances,” “School Vaccine Mandates,” “Medicaid Expansion for Immigrants,” and the list went on. One item said simply, “Governor Mills.”
Aimed at this category board was a plastic gun that looks a bit like a minigun from the original “Predator” movie or perhaps a Gatling gun, though in colorful plastic rather than a more alarming shade like gun metal gray or black.
Those interested were welcomed to step right up and take aim at their concern. The gun would rapid fire darts anywhere on the board.
Running the booth were Ray Thombs and Cory Raymond of the Knox County Republicans. Raymond is vice chair of the Knox County Republican Committee.
Raymond said those who get a dart through a hole in the board have a chance to enter a raffle to win prizes including a red hat (but not a MAGA hat) and they can win the gun itself.
Asked about the imagery of a gun in a time of political violence, Knox County Republican Chair Heather Sprague said, “It’s a Nerf gun. It’s a conversation piece.”
She said raising that concern is making an issue out of something that is not an issue.
Raymond agreed. “I don’t think that using a Nerf gun to shoot at political issues is a big deal.”
Sprague said she was the one who added “Governor Mills” to the list of “issues,” and she did so at the request of a fairgoer.
Democratic state Rep. Valli Geiger of Rockland said, “It’s despicable! It is a slow move toward dehumanizing Democrats enough to justify violence.”
She notes the fear lawmakers felt when in June when a state representative in Minnesota was assassinated along with her husband and a state senator in that state and his wife were shot, but survived, in politically motivated attacks. She said the addresses of Maine lawmakers were taken off state websites after that happened for fear of similar attacks and a friend even urged her to buy a gun, which she said she did not want to do.
“We can disagree,” Geiger said. “We can disagree vehemently.” But she said that should never turn to violence, and this activity of the Republicans at the Union Fair, she described as a “nod and a wink to violence.”
Raymond said part of the conversation the Republicans are trying to start is centered on the Second Amendment right to bear arms. At the booth the conservatives were handing out information opposing proposed red flag gun laws.
Sprague put some of the focus on the issues of the working class, which she feels are hurt by policies including those of Gov. Janet Mills. She said the working class has no representation with Democrats in power in Maine, adding that they support high taxes. She also criticized the media for having a liberal bias.
Geiger said local Democrats want to talk about the important issues including their support for healthcare for all, living wages, women owning their own bodies, and the rule of law. She notes that she grew up with health benefits and help with college because her father was in the U.S. Air Force and that her political views are shaped by wanting those kinds of benefits for all Americans.
Raymond said the idea for the booth came from the volunteer coordinator for the Republicans, Paula Sutton.
It is not the first time one of the Republican activities sparked controversy in the community.
The Knox County Republicans auctioned off a Colt .45 handgun to raise money for Abden Simmons’ campaign for the House District 45 in 2023.
Raymond said the goal is to have a little fun while getting out there and having voices heard.
Raymond said that in Knox County, many of the adult residents are strong Democrats who will always vote with their party, but he feels that he is seeing younger people, those getting out of high school, being more open to conservative viewpoints. He said the issues on the board dealing with identity politics and the culture wars have been the very issues driving more young people to vote Republican.
Sprague noted that the Democrats did not have a booth at the Union Fair, so they did not have representation. She acknowledged that the Republicans had not marched in the July 4 parade in Thomaston as the Democrats had, saying she was working as a volunteer with the July 4 parade and did not have the “manpower” to have Republicans represented there.
Raymond said the Republicans have had a strong presence at the Union Fair in part due to its hard-working, agricultural culture.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.