The Maine Republican Party took a drubbing in the midterm elections of 2018, but it’s still unclear whether its leaders will remain in place or a significant shake-up is in the works. The party’s candidates for governor, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate were all defeated – some by wide margins — while Democrats also recaptured […]
politics
Posted inNation / World
Chief Justice Roberts defends judiciary as ‘independent’ after Trump slams ‘Obama judge’
WASHINGTON — U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts on Wednesday issued an extraordinary statement in response to President Donald Trump’s criticism of federal judges, one day after the president blamed an “Obama judge” for ruling against his administration’s ban on asylum for those who cross the border illegally. “We do not have Obama judges or Trump […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Judge orders LePage administration to expand MaineCare
Gov. Paul LePage plans to appeal a judge’s order that his administration move forward with a voter-approved expansion of MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid system. In an order issued Wednesday, Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy detailed seven steps the Maine Department of Health and Human Services must take to comply with the expansion law, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Ackley confirmed winner in House District 82 race over Greenwood
AUGUSTA — Incumbent independent state Rep. Kent Ackley was confirmed Tuesday the winner of the House District 82 race following a recount by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, defeating Republican Randy Greenwood by 16 votes. District 82 includes Litchfield, Wales and part of Monmouth. Ackley received 2,155 votes to Greenwood’s 2,139. Green requested the […]
Posted inNation / World, Uncategorized
House Democrats plan to investigate Ivanka Trump’s use of personal email for government business
WASHINGTON – The House Oversight Committee plans to investigate whether Ivanka Trump violated federal law by using a personal email account for government business, a Democratic staffer on the committee said Tuesday. “We plan to continue our investigation of the Presidential Records Act and Federal Records Act, and we want to know if Ivanka complied […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Recount confirms Handy winner in Lewiston House race
AUGUSTA — Lewiston Democrat James Handy was confirmed the winner of the House District 58 race by the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, following a recount of ballots. Handy and Republican Denise Hurilla were separated by 43 votes before the recount. After the recount, Handy lost four votes while Hurilla gained 1, confirming Handy’s victory. […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Democratic chair, vice chair won't see new terms
AUGUSTA — Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett and Vice Chairwoman Peggy Schaffer won’t be seeking re-election to their posts. Bartlett and Schaffer, who announced their decisions Sunday, are going out on a high note. Democrat Janet Mills won the gubernatorial race, Democrat Jared Golden flipped a Republican congressional seat thanks to ranked-choice voting, and […]
Posted inNation / World
Why a liberal blogger in Maine is popular with conservative readers
NORTH WATERBORO — The only light in the house came from the glow of three computer monitors, and Christopher Blair, 46, sat down at a keyboard and started to type. His wife had left for work and his children were on their way to school, but waiting online was his other community, an unreality where […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Poliquin’s campaign mum on whether he’ll request a recount
The ranked-choice ballots have been counted, but the fighting in the unprecedented race to represent Maine’s 2nd Congressional District may not be over. On Friday, one day after Democrat Jared Golden surged from behind to win the ranked-choice vote in the district, Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin and his advisers weren’t saying whether they would request […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Campaign to become Maine's attorney general is almost invisible
AUGUSTA — Voters across the country typically choose an attorney general in a statewide election that’s sometimes bitterly contested because the post is often a stepping stone to higher office. In Maine, though, the electorate is a lot smaller: the 186 members of the state Legislature. So there aren’t any annoying television commercials, mean-spirited mailers […]