Navigating Maine’s 2024 Congressional Elections: A Non-Citizen’s Perspective

Written By dKay in Maine

In the first segment around the topic of the November 5 election, we looked at the Maine Referendum Election. Now, let’s look at the Election for Other Offices in Maine.
Again, as a non-citizen, I am not allowed to vote, but I want to get accustomed to the process and, especially, the candidates who are up for election. No matter what, I’m a resident of the state, and I want to be informed about the respective representatives on all levels.

I must confess, when I opened the file with Maine's 2024 General Candidate list as of September 4, I was pretty overwhelmed. The file consists of 37 pages and 451 names, but of course, not all names relate to the same government role, and some aren't even relevant to the district I reside in. As I plan on writing a separate post concerning the presidential candidates, this blog will focus on the candidates who are up for election for a role in Congress, either for the Senate or the House of Representatives. 

U.S. Senate Election

In the general election on November 5, voters in Maine will elect one member to the U.S. Senate. The election will fill the Class I Senate seat held by Angus King (Independent), who first took office in 2013. With the upcoming election, 34 of 100 seats across the US are up for election. Of those, Democrats currently hold 19, Republicans hold 11, and Independents hold four (4). As of September 2024, eight (8) members of the U.S. Senate announced they were not running for re-election, more than in any year since 2012.

In Maine, the incumbent senator, Angus King, is up for re-election. The other candidates running in the general election for U.S. Senate Maine are David Costello (Democrat), Demi Kouzounas (Republican), and Jason Cherry (Independent).

While I encourage every voter to do their own research on the candidates, here are some statements the candidates made and some summaries of topics they discuss on their websites. For further details, please visit each candidate’s official campaign website, which I linked in the resources section at the bottom of this page.

(Incumbent) Angus King (I)

In his campaign announcement, King emphasized two main reasons for running: his desire to complete ongoing legislative work and his concern over the growing partisan divide in the Senate. He expressed pride in helping pass significant bipartisan legislation, such as infrastructure funding and bills supporting veterans. Looking ahead, King wants to continue his role as a bridge-builder, focusing on compromise and collaboration on issues like inflation, housing, and national security. He acknowledged that many key bipartisan lawmakers are leaving or have left, underscoring his commitment to keeping the Senate's "middle" intact and fostering unity.

On his campaign website, his priorities center on supporting Maine’s economy, particularly its lobster, dairy, and timber businesses, while promoting broadband expansion across the state. He advocates for veterans' healthcare and job opportunities and works to control the cost of living by addressing workforce shortages and inflation. King is committed to environmental conservation, clean energy, and protecting women’s healthcare rights. His defense efforts focus on deterrence, cybersecurity, and addressing the opioid crisis while also promoting affordable housing and sensible gun control.

David Costello (D)

In his feedback on Ballotpedia, Costello provided the following information: “As Senator, I will back efforts to: enact pro-democracy campaign finance reforms; impose term limits and retirement age requirements on federal judges, including Supreme Court justices; create an independent Government Accountability and Performance Commission; abolish the Electoral College; end gerrymandering and the Senate filibuster; overhaul of the U.S. House and Senate to ensure greater accountability and more equal representation; impose 24-year term limits on members of the U.S. House and Senate; and streamline our Constitution’s amendment process so that it is no longer virtually impossible to update our national charter.”

Demi Kouzounas (R)

On her campaign website, Kouzounas outlines that she focuses on strengthening the economy, reducing inflation, and curbing government overspending. She emphasizes the need for bipartisan, practical solutions to break the gridlock in Washington and improve the lives of everyday Mainers. She also highlights the importance of securing the U.S. borders to protect national and local security, while ensuring that the voices of seniors, veterans, families, and small business owners are heard in Washington.

Jason Cherry (I)

As per his campaign website, Cherry opposes raising the Social Security eligibility age to 70 and supports discussions on adjusting taxable income to maintain the trust fund. He advocates for regulated immigration that supports the economy while opposing unregulated immigration that burdens taxpayers. Cherry is open to discussing a moratorium on some professional visas to promote domestic workforce development. In healthcare, he favors stronger fraud prosecution and increased competition. He also emphasizes the urgency of sustainable energy practices and supports reasonable gun control measures, like private firearm sale registration and "red flag" laws.

U.S. House of Representatives

In addition to voting for a Senator, Maine's two congressional districts will elect two representatives for the House of Representatives, one for each district. Currently, the House representation is Democratic.

District 1

In District 1, the incumbent representative, Chellie Pingree (D), is up for re-election. Ronald C. Russel (R) and Ethan Alcorn (I) are the other candidates running in the general election for the U.S. House of Representatives.

(Incumbent) Chellie Pingree (D)

Chellie Pingree advocates for Medicare for All, affordable healthcare, and lower prescription drug costs. She strongly supports women’s reproductive rights and aims to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Pingree focuses on improving public education, making higher education more affordable, and addressing the opioid crisis.

She promotes economic fairness through livable wages, tax reform, and workers' rights. An environmental advocate, Pingree fights climate change, supports renewable energy, and opposes offshore drilling. She also champions gun safety reforms and veterans' rights, while promoting local agriculture and reducing food waste.

Ronald C. Russel (R)

On his campaign website, Russel emphasizes the need to end divisive political discourse, urging politicians to focus on real solutions for American families rather than political point-scoring. On immigration, he strongly opposes the current administration’s border policies, advocating for stricter border control and reforms to the amnesty system. He also supports lowering taxes to stimulate economic growth, particularly for Maine’s working families, while prioritizing energy independence to lower costs and reduce reliance on foreign powers. Russel also stresses the importance of election integrity, education reform, and bolstering support for law enforcement to reduce crime and ensure community safety.

Ethan Alcorn (I)

Unfortunately, Alcorn hid his stance on issues in a carousel of blog posts at the bottom of his website. If I wasn’t really interested in learning about his stance on the issues, I would have missed them. However, I found them and linked the page in the resource section below for easy access in case you missed it. In summary, Alcorn advocates for adhering to the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence, expressing concerns over efforts to undermine them. On specific issues, he supports reproductive freedom but opposes Maine’s new late-term abortion law. He strongly defends the Second Amendment, arguing that an armed populace is essential for checking government power. Other key positions include lowering taxes, reducing federal debt, establishing term limits, auditing federal agencies, and nationalizing certain energy operations to reduce costs. Additionally, he calls for a new "digital Bill of Rights" to protect personal privacy in the digital age and advocates for reinstating laws against government propaganda. Lastly, he supports decriminalizing marijuana and some natural hallucinogens nationally and reforming federal institutions like the Department of Homeland Security. Lastly, he’s for closing down the border but only returning criminals to their homeland – he didn’t specify if “criminals” includes those entering the country illegally.

 

District 2

In District 2, the incumbent representative, Jared Golden (D), is up for re-election. The other candidates running are Austin Theriault (R) and Diana Merenda (I). However, Merenda is a write-in candidate in the November 5, 2024, general election and does not appear on the 2024 General Candidate list.

(Incumbent) Jared Golden (D)

Jared Golden has prioritized campaign finance reform, healthcare access, and support for Maine’s working class, seniors, and veterans. He advocates for limiting the influence of money in politics, expanding Medicare, and lowering prescription drug costs. Golden is a pro-labor Democrat who has championed Maine’s key industries, infrastructure investment, and veterans' services. He also focuses on environmental protection, border security, and place-based politics, working across party lines to secure resources for Maine’s unique needs.

Austin Theriault (R)

Unfortunately, Theriault’s campaign website does not contain an overview page through which he communicates the issues he wants to fight for if elected to Congress. However, I found that he is focusing his congressional campaign on reducing partisanship and promoting practical solutions to benefit Mainers. His priorities include strengthening rural communities, advocating for economic development, and addressing infrastructure needs like broadband access. He also emphasizes protecting Maine’s natural resources and reducing federal government overreach. Theriault stresses the need for balance and less extremism in Washington, aiming to represent the needs of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District over partisan agendas.

Diana Merenda (I)

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an official campaign website for Merenda, which made it more challenging to find the issues she wants to fight for if elected to Congress. However, I could find an article, which I linked in the sources section below, that provides some insights. She is running on an antiwar platform, criticizing U.S. military aid to Israel and calling for reductions in military spending. She advocates for reallocating these "peace dividends" to education, healthcare, climate solutions, and affordable housing. Merenda emphasizes organic, non-lobbyist campaign funding and urges voters to step outside the traditional two-party system. Her candidacy serves as a call for more diverse voices and opposition to what she sees as the misuse of taxpayer dollars in international conflicts.

As election season approaches, it's more important than ever to take the time to research the candidates running for office. Each of us has unique priorities related to the economy, healthcare, education, or the environment. By learning where each candidate stands on the issues that matter to you, you can make an informed decision reflecting your values. Don't rely on headlines or ads—dive deeper, consider the facts, and ensure your vote supports your vision for the future. While the resource collection at the bottom of this page can get you started, you might still want to dive deeper and review additional sources such as newspapers or social media postings. Don't forget: Your voice matters!

In a future post, I will dive deeper into the Maine State Senate and State House general election.

Sources (links open in new tab)

dKay in Maine
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