More candidates vie for congressional seat
Maine's political landscape continues to change, as more people take out petitions to run for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe's seat, and others seek to fill other congressional spots that could open up.
Five Republicans have taken out petitions to run for Senate, including Secretary of State Charlie Summers, Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and Attorney General William Schneider, according to the Bangor Daily News. Former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett and state Sen. Debra Plowman also took out petitions. They all join current Republican candidate Scott D'Amboise.
On the Democrat side, former Gov. John Baldacci has also taken out a petition to run for Senate, joining three other declared Democrat candidates: state Sen. Cynthia Dill of Cape Elizabeth; former Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap of Old Town; and home builder Benjamin Pollard of Portland. Andrew Ian Dodge earlier this month unenrolled from the Maine Republican Party to challenge Snowe as an Independent. State Rep. John Hinck of Portland was seeking the Senate seat but now will run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Former Gov. Angus King is expected to announce today whether he'll run for Senate. U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and his Republican challenger, Maine Senate President Kevin Raye, both said they will not seek Snowe's Senate seat, instead battling to represent Maine's 2nd District.
Former Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree has begun collecting signatures to run for Maine's 1st District seat, which is currently held by her mother, Chellie Pingree. She told the paper she decided to collect signatures in case her mother decides to run for Snowe's seat. The elder Pingree is reportedly considering running for the U.S. Senate but hasn't made a final decision. Shenna Bellows is also collecting signatures for a 1st District run as a Democrat, taking a leave of absence from her job as head of the ACLU of Maine. State Rep. Diane Russell, D-Portland, is also in the running. Six other Democratic candidates have taken out papers, as well as four Republicans, according to the paper.
A candidate needs 2,000 certified signatures by March 15 to qualify for the primary ballot.
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