With the chips stacked against him in his challenge of fourth-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, Republican Mark Holbrook is convinced there are factors lurking outside conventional wisdom that will lead to his victory.
Christopher Cousins
State House Bureau Chief
- 207.623.0024
- ccousins@bangordailynews.com
STATE & CAPITOL
As a 50-50 U.S. Senate looms, spotlight shines on King, Collins
on Sept. 22, 2016, at 9:45 a.m.
A Politico story has us contemplating Maine having the two most powerful U.S. senators in the country.
Maine Democrats’ reworked strategy focuses less on LePage
Democratic legislative leaders hopeful of securing significant House and Senate majorities in November sought to launch a new narrative about their vision for the future of Maine.
LePage joins court challenge to Obama’s new overtime rule
LePage has signed on to a legal complaint by 21 states against new overtime rules proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
STATE & CAPITOL
Angus King: Trump’s immigrant ban would come at ‘terrible cost’
on Sept. 20, 2016, at 12:27 p.m.
Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump’s argument that the United States should close its borders to immigrants. King, the former governor whom Maine voters overwhelmingly elected to the Senate in 2012, said on CNN’s “New Day” program, which was subsequently summarized by The Hill, that ending …
STATE & CAPITOL
LePage says Fairchild sale will lead to job cuts he predicted in April
on Sept. 20, 2016, at 9:57 a.m.
Good morning from Augusta, where Gov. Paul LePage is saying “told ya so” (that’s a paraphrase) regarding major manufacturing job losses in southern Maine. During his weekly radio appearance Tuesday morning on WVOM, LePage said he’s known about the sale of Fairchild Semiconductor of South Portland to an Arizona-based company …
STATE & CAPITOL
LePage rips ‘PC’ Clinton, predicts Trump will win Maine
on Sept. 16, 2016, at 9:48 a.m.
Good morning from Augusta, where Gov. Paul LePage has made a prediction about the results of the presidential race in Maine: Donald Trump will secure three of Maine’s four electoral votes. LePage, who has said recently he won’t speak to reporters anymore, told a reporter for Brietbart News, a conservative …
STATE & CAPITOL
No one shows at hearing for Maine welfare-to-work program changes
on Sept. 14, 2016, at 1:54 p.m.
No one turned out Wednesday in Augusta to discuss rule changes proposed by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services for a welfare-to-work program that the state is moving toward privatizing. DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew said the proposed rule changes have little or nothing to do with the state’s …
LePage to meet recovering mom who says it’s wrong to punish people for addiction
Gov. Paul LePage has invited a woman who is recovering from heroin addiction to Augusta to discuss how the state can address its drug addiction problem.
STATE & CAPITOL
New Maine poll offers good news for Trump, Poliquin
on Sept. 14, 2016, at 9:09 a.m.
Good morning from Augusta, where a new Colby College/Boston Globe poll has again raised the prospect of Donald Trump winning in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District and taking one of our coveted electoral votes. Maine, one of two states that splits electoral votes by congressional district — giving one each to …
LePage welfare privatization bid puts 51 state jobs on chopping block
LePage and his administration have been discussing privatizing the state’s ASPIRE program for months and are nearing approval of a $62.5 million contract.
STATE & CAPITOL
Susan Collins did not OK her appearance in Clinton’s new anti-Trump ad
on Sept. 12, 2016, at 9:46 a.m.
Good morning from Augusta, where non-endorsements can be more influential on a candidate’s campaign than an endorsement. Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has launched a new advertisement that lines up a number of Republicans who oppose Republican nominee Donald Trump. Maine Sen. Susan Collins is featured in it, delivering the “I …
LePage dominates 2016 Maine elections, even if he is not on ballot
“Paul LePage is, you might say, the magnetic north of almost all political thought in the state of Maine,” Paul Mills said. “The needles are all pointing at him, one way or the other.”
STATE & CAPITOL
Green Party presidential candidate schedules Maine campaign stops
on Sept. 08, 2016, at 2:40 p.m.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein announced Thursday that she will come to Maine next week for a tour of college campuses. Stein’s swing through Maine on Sept. 14 is part of a wider tour of New England college campuses and part of her long-shot presidential run. A number of …
Independent legislator’s effort to oust LePage collapses
In a letter Thursday morning to the Bangor Daily News, Evangelos wrote that Democratic legislative leaders in the House and Senate have “joined the cowardly Republicans to reject our appeal.”
STATE & CAPITOL
Clinton recruits another ’80s child film star to stump for her in Maine
on Sept. 08, 2016, at 9:55 a.m.
Good morning from Augusta, where sweet 16 birthday parties and how pretty my wife is when she wears pink are on my mind. I’ve been with her for going on 25 years, 14 of those years in marriage. She was 14 and I was 15 when we started dating and …
STATE & CAPITOL
Contest erupts among Democrats for House leadership post
on Sept. 07, 2016, at 1:07 p.m.
Even with the election still two months away and the results far from certain, a contest is brewing over who will become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.
As special session gambit fails, LePage foe launches new removal effort
Rep. Jeffrey Evangelos has invited members of the Legislature to sign on to his request, which questions Gov. Paul LePage’s “mental competency.”
DAILY BRIEF
LePage says he expects GOP to lose Maine Senate majority in November
Daily Brief: All eyes are on the November elections and how they’ll affect the balance of power in the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate. LePage said today he is not expecting the situation to improve, at least from Republicans’ perspective.
STATE & CAPITOL
LePage says he expects GOP to lose Maine Senate majority in November
on Sept. 06, 2016, at 9:31 a.m.
All eyes are on the November elections and how they’ll affect the balance of power in the Democrat-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate. LePage said today he is not expecting the situation to improve, at least from Republicans’ perspective.
Rock Church plans second expansion in 5 years to accommodate growth
Abandoned boat nearly hits breakwater after breaking loose in Rockland Harbor
Master of horror fiction Stephen King scared to death of Trump presidency
Underdog in Maine’s 1st District follows campaign trail blazed by LePage, Trump
Authorities capture suspect in mass shooting at Washington state mall
No one should be denied the right to be at a loved one’s side at the end of life
Debate prep 2016
What students want when it comes to fighting addiction: Someone to listen
The leaders of Egypt and Iran have qualms in common
Questions that Clinton and Trump should be asked
Marlins’ ace pitcher Jose Fernandez killed in Miami boating accident
Golf legend Arnold Palmer dies at 87
Allain powers undefeated Hermon girls past Caribou
Joy riders and just plain terrible ‘autoists’ fueled mayhem on Queen City streets
Highlights