Activity by Progressive/Democratic Aligned Groups in Maine in the 2020 Presidential Campaign

Maine « Activity by Progressive/Democratic-Aligned Groups

Activity by Progressive/Democratic-Aligned Groups in Maine

• Suit Up Maine: " We are an all-Maine, all-volunteer progressive constituent action group working to create an informed electorate to defeat Trump and Susan Collins in 2020."

"Suit Up Maine is an independent, all-volunteer grassroots progressive group that seeks to build a more informed and engaged electorate in Maine. Founded in 2016, Suit Up Maine (SUM) is run by and for Mainers, and is not engaged in fundraising of any kind. Representing thousands of constituents across Maine’s 16 counties, SUM raises awareness of and advocates for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians."

suitupmaine.org | fb.comsuitupmaine | @SuitUpMaine

• Maine is one of twelve states targeted by SwingLeft as part of its Super State Strategy.

https://swingleft.org/p/maine | @swingleftmaine

MAINE
SUPER STATE STRATEGY
Our primary objectives in Maine are to: to: 1) flip the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Susan Collins and 2) win the state’s four Electoral College votes.

The pathway to taking back the Senate necessarily runs through Maine. To flip this seat, Democrats need to improve on margins from Collins's last Senate election in 2014, particularly in the coastal regions of Portland, Augusta, and Bangor. Democratic presidential candidates have typically carried these regions of the state, but Senate candidates have failed to break through in the last four cycles against Collins. This year, with Collins’s flagging approval numbers after her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Maine Democrats have their best opportunity in years to win at every level of the ballot.

BY THE NUMBERS
1 United States Senate seat to flip
4 Electoral College votes

U.S. SENATE RACE
Sara Gideon
Susan Collins

WHAT'S AT STAKE
8 inches of sea-level rise in Maine since 1950: Over the last 10 years, the rate of sea level rise due to climate change has accelerated in the Pine Tree State, threatening nearly 12,000 properties in coastal communities. To protect its natural environment, Maine needs to invest in clean energy, work toward reduced carbon emissions, and update transportation and infrastructure.

84% of drug-induced deaths in Maine in 2019 were opioid-related: In her first year in office, Democratic Governor Janet Mills invested $1.6 million in opioid overdose medication and training for recovery coaches. Gov. Mills also appointed Maine’s first-ever Director of Opioid Response. Still, addressing substance abuse disorder remains critical to strengthening Maine communities.

3.3% drop in median income in Maine: Between 2017 and 2018, household incomes fell more in Maine than in any other state, and they are likely to take an even greater hit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. High costs for housing, education, and health care put a strain on families, particularly in rural areas. Raising the minimum wage, backing fair trade policies, and expanding job training and social safety net programs will help set Maine up for success.

What's at stake facts updated June 2020