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Saturday morning update from Cumberland County Dems
Saturday morning update from Cumberland County Dems
(From Facebook -- it is long and full of information. The last paragraph is a wonderful call to action. Use sign-up link at the end of this message. Internal links only work via Facebook)
[Remarks from Mary Brennan in boldface]
We have considerably more information today than we did yesterday. I apologize in advance for the multiple of links below, but the Maine Democratic Party website now released a substantial amount of guidance, and I want to make sure everyone has access to the official information rather than relying on rumors or secondhand reports. Please circulate this if you have friend and communities who are looking for information.
The MDP central information page, including the official Call to Convention, timelines, forms, and guidance documents, is available here:
https://mainedems.org/senate-race/
1. Cumberland County Delegate Selection Meeting
Cumberland County will hold a meeting next weekend (Saturday or Sunday still undetermined - and based on venue selection) to elect delegates to the Democratic Nominating Convention. We are still finalizing the specific date, time, and location. As soon as those details are confirmed, I will share them with everyone immediately.
Cumberland County will elect 149 delegates and 30 alternates to the convention.
The Maine Democratic Party is asking Democrats who plan to attend the county meeting to pre-register online so counties can better prepare for attendance. While pre-registration is strongly encouraged, it is not required. If you do not pre-register, you may still register in person before the meeting begins. (I don't know if it will mean you wait in a longer line - it could!)
The deadline to pre-register for the county meeting is going to be Thursday, July 16, at 5:00 p.m.
You may pre-register here:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSe1hbTzCMD.../viewform [This link only works if you are in Facebook. Use the link I added at the bottom]
This is a democratic event. The primary was open to unenrolled too. But this process is going to be just democrats. I know many Mainers who are unenrolled are going to be disappointed, and even angry. Join me, please, in encouraging the unenrolled to stay involved, communicate their preferences, and trust these delegates to take into account in their decisions what the hear from friends, family, and neighbors.
2. Becoming a Delegate
If you are interested in serving as a delegate to the Democratic Nominating Convention, the most important thing to know is this:
Any registered Democrat who was enrolled in the Democratic Party as of June 9, 2026, is eligible to seek election as a delegate, provided they are registered in Cumberland County at the time of both the county meeting and the convention.
Unlike simply attending the county meeting, delegate candidates must declare their candidacy in advance. Nominations will not be accepted from the floor. (Sorry, 180 nominations yelled out to me will be unreasonable, and not a great use of time)
If you wish to run as a delegate, you must complete the online Delegate Candidate Form: (yes, fill it out again but use different options to indicate your interest in being a delegate)
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSe1hbTzCMD.../viewform [This link only works if you are in Facebook. Use the link I added at the bottom]
The deadline to submit your delegate candidacy is Wednesday, July 15, at 5:00 p.m. The Maine Democratic Party will verify eligibility and provide counties with the official list of qualified candidates before the county meetings.
The delegate selection process is being finalized so that as much as possible, it will be same in every county across Maine. Please continue to be patient as that wraps up hopefully today. Counties are not creating their own rules or procedures - but we are all different. The goal is to provide every Democrat with a fair, transparent, and legally sound opportunity to participate in selecting our nominee.
3. Voting for Delegates
One important question remains: exactly how voting for delegates will be conducted during the county meetings.
While the Party has now released the qualifications and procedures for becoming a delegate, additional guidance regarding the mechanics of voting is still being finalized. As soon as that becomes available, I'll share it with you. Again, there's nothing happening other than working out the realities of 16 different counties.
4. Democratic Nominating Convention
The Democratic Nominating Convention will be held on:
Saturday, July 25
Cross Insurance Center
Bangor, Maine
The convention will consist of 601 delegates from across the state, representing every county, along with Democratic State Committee members. Delegates will hear from the candidates before voting to select the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate. Following the vote, the Democratic State Committee will meet to certify the results. There will a zany amount of press and coverage and people are working out security (that I imagine is going to be expensive).
If you are elected as a delegate, please be aware that attendance is in person, (I'm sorry if you, like me, prefer zoom for all things) and delegates are responsible for their own travel and any associated expenses.
5. Candidates
As of this morning, I am not aware of any additional candidates beyond those who have already publicly expressed interest. Those candidates include:
Shenna Bellows, David Costello, Valli Geiger, Troy Jackson, Dan Kleban, Andrea LaFlamme, Paige Loud, Nirav Shah, and Jordan Wood
Additional candidates may still enter the race before the filing deadline; they could be adding their interest as I write this.
I know this is an unusual process, and I appreciate everyone's patience as we work through it together. I also want to thank everyone who has reached out with thoughtful questions and a genuine desire to participate. This is an unprecedented moment for our Party, but it is also an opportunity for Democrats across Maine to engage in selecting our nominee and preparing for the important work ahead.
As always, I'll continue sharing information as quickly as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience, your engagement, and your commitment to electing a Democratic United States Senator this November.
And finally, before I go, I'd like to ask one small favor of everyone. There has been an incredible amount of frustration, anxiety, and negativity circulating over the past week, and while many of those emotions are completely understandable, they can also make it harder for us to listen to one another and move forward together. I especially want to thank those who have taken the time to share messages of hope, encouragement, thoughtful leadership, and a spirit of consensus. Those voices matter. They remind us that even during difficult moments, we can choose grace over anger, understanding over assumption, and unity over division. Today, I hope each of us will make a conscious effort to inject a little more positivity into the world—whether that's offering someone encouragement, giving one another the benefit of the doubt, or simply remembering that we're all working toward the same goal. A little kindness goes a long way, and our Party is strongest when we lead with both conviction and compassion. Join me in changing frustration and anger into hope. See less
Pre-registration and sign-up link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe1hbTzCMD_U4fBKc7UCKPIhVRP5jm99nRd86d9ESTX2fjM3g/viewform
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Next Steps.
Next Steps.
Harpswell Dems, if you want to follow how the Maine Dems are moving forward, please follow the Cumberland County Democratic Committee of Maine. They are posting updates on Facebook. I am including today's post here for those of you who are not on Facebook (as of today their website and Instagram page are not updated. I guess they have their hands full)!
Harpswell Dems, if you want to follow how the Maine Dems are moving forward, please follow the Cumberland County Democratic Committee of Maine. They are posting updates on Facebook. I am including today's post here for those of you who are not on Facebook (as of today their website and Instagram page are not updated. I guess they have their hands full)!
From Facebook:
From Facebook:
I wanted to provide a brief update, though I should note that many of the details are still being finalized. Please don't consider this the final word. And PLEASE know that we are trying our best!
Last night, the 16 county chairs met for nearly three hours to discuss the path forward. While the specifics are still being worked out and put into writing for our Maine Democrat friends and neighbors to finally see, it appears that we are moving towards the concept of opening the opportunity next week for our passionate Democrats to become delegates. Cumberland County, (unsettled still) could have something like 150 delegates in this process. Those delegates would then participate in a mini-conventiony-style thing the following week to select our new Senate nominee (and of course, have the opportunity to hear from the candidates themselves). Exactly how the delegate selection process will work is still being finalized, with much thought about ensuring the process is consistent, and democratic, across all counties.
Overall, it was a thoughtful and productive conversation. Our Chairs are volunteers from around our state, with different experiences, opinions, and views. THATS GOOD, FRIENDS. They are answering many emails, texts, and phone calls this week. (For example, we had hundreds of people reach out to just Cumberland yesterday). Between the Chairs, we had respectful disagreement, meaningful discussion, and a genuine commitment to getting this right. We spent considerable time talking about how to ensure broad participation, meaningful representation, and diversity included and throughout the process. Like any democratic process, we did not agree on every point, but we worked toward consensus and continued moving forward together. When we disagreed, we moved on, together.
I know, and you know, Cumberland County is quite different from Piscataquis County, but both are made up of the same people - people who actually do care for their neighbors. Remember that we don't need to dislike one another just because we disagree. So, for now, have some coffee, breathe, and scream at the sky that I don't have more. I would simply ask everyone to remain patient. More information should be available soon, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to participate in the process when the details are announced. It appeared to me that everyone agreed across the state that it is very important that we advertise widely about the process, how to be a delegate, and what the timeline will look like. (When it's ready).
As with every Democratic primary, I also hope that, once this process concludes, we can unite behind our nominee. We have a strong field of candidates, much like we did in the recent gubernatorial race, and I have every confidence that delegate Democrats will nominate someone who is prepared to take on Susan Collins this November.
If your preferred candidate is not ultimately selected, or you don't get to be a delegate, I hope you will not lose faith in our democratic process, in the Democratic Party, or in the value of consensus. Democracy is rarely perfect, and it is not easy, but it works because people engage, participate, and continue moving forward together. This process is an opportunity not only to choose a nominee, but also to demonstrate the strength of our shared commitment to democracy, even under stress. We hit a bump this week. We had a hard, emotional couple of days. We will move forward together, and we will have a nominee ready to compete this fall.
In fact, instead of scrolling for the next political update all day, go to the Senate candidates webpages; see their platforms; think about who might most align with you, who you might also like, and who surprised you. Democratic candidates are just people, ya know, trying to make the world a little bit better.
And here's a Maine Dems web page that should become more detailed as the days (hours!) go by: https://mainedems.org/senate-race/
And here's a Maine Dems web page that should become more detailed as the days (hours!) go by: https://mainedems.org/senate-race/
Dem caucus poster other towns.pdfIt's time to caucus, Harpswell Dems!
It's time to caucus, Harpswell Dems!
The month of March is almost upon us, and it is filled with opportunities to take action.
First up is the Democratic Party Caucus. This year, we will gather as a larger, regional community (Brunswick, Cumberland, Harpswell, North Yarmouth, and Yarmouth) to build the energy we need to get our country back on the right track. We will meet on Sunday, March 1, at the Brunswick Junior High School. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. for signing in, and the caucus itself will run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Along with the traditional inspiring speeches, there will be folks campaigning for the many candidates vying for your vote, and our Harpswell Dem Committee Treasurer, Nancy Egan, will gather Harpswell Dems for a brief meeting toward the end of the afternoon. Most important, the meeting will give you the opportunity to sign up to be a delegate to the state convention.
It is so important to remember that we are many and have the power in numbers. It’s time to stand up and be counted. You can register for the caucus here.
This regional caucus will be a new experience for all of us. It’ll be a much bigger event than in years past, so we need some volunteers, please, to help manage the sign-in, volunteers with laptops to add info to the Maine Democratic Party database, and some folks who are just ready to lend a hand where it’s needed. Please email me to let me know if you are volunteering.
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic.... Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." John Lewis
July 3, 2025
Although I feel overwhelmed by the awfulness of the bill the Republicans just pushed through, I am resolved to not be crushed.
My first action is to encourage people to speak to each other. I have read that speaking up, whether at a rally or at your dinner table, is the first act of being a leader.
We all need to lead, however we can.
Please feel free to share any ideas of what we can do in Harpswell. It's difficult to figure out what we can do right now, but we can at least feel that we are not alone.
This feeling of community will be reinforced on July 17 at a big rally, Good Trouble Lives On, on the Brunswick Mall. It is sponsored by Harpswell Indivisible, Brunswick Indivisible, and other nearby Indivisible groups. They seek to inspire us with a famous quote from John Lewis: "Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic.... Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."
Let's think about how we can build on this effort.
Mary Brennan
Chair, Harpswell Dems
2025: Where to start?
2025: Where to start?
Let's start with a message (via Facebook) from Representative Chellie Pingree (February 3, 2025):
Let's start with a message (via Facebook) from Representative Chellie Pingree (February 3, 2025):
Amid the flurry of extreme actions taken by the Administration, there’s one question I’ve been asked more than any other:
“What are you going to *do* about it?”
It’s a fair question—especially when the President has thus far avoided any real accountability.
I’ll do my best to address it.
(Bear with me, long post ahead!)
Without getting too deep in the Constitutional weeds, Congress has several powers at its disposal, including:
• The power to spend
• The power to investigate
• The power to impeach
• The power to challenge presidential actions in court
Let’s take them one at a time.
The Constitution is clear on Congress’s power of the purse.
The Administration’s directive to “impound” funds from Congress is unconstitutional, and thus illegal. While they rescinded a memo calling for a cross-the-board freeze, they’re still stealing these funds.
We *will* fight them in the courts.
On investigations:
The minority in Congress can’t control hearings or issue subpoenas. But we can call and question important witnesses; work with whistleblowers and others to uncover vital information; and make the public aware of our findings.
All these tools are on the table. And we’ll use them.
The courts will play a critical role, too. The President is pushing the boundaries of the separation of powers. The only remedy is to challenge his power grab by getting to the courts to rule that he has gone too far.
We’ve already seen the courts block some of the Administration’s actions.
As for future court challenges: There are several ways this can be done, like working with state Attorneys General to challenge specific actions.
Last week, Maine’s AG joined colleagues in other states to sue the Administration, resulting in a temporary restraining order on the funding freeze.
None of this is easy. We are in uncharted waters. But my Democratic colleagues and I *will* keep fighting the President’s actions as best we can—and we will use every tool at our disposal to keep this Administration in check.
We understand the stakes. And we’re not going to back down.
But there are things we *can’t* do on our own:
• Confirm or deny nominees (that’s the Senate)
• Stop POTUS from issuing crazy Executive Orders
• Control which bills get voted on in the House
• Impeach (more on that below)
Until we’re back in the majority, there’s only so much we can control.
On impeachment:
Articles can be introduced by either party, but the majority decides whether they move forward.
While this is an appealing option (we’ve done it before—when we controlled the House), with Republicans in control, the chances of making it stick are nil.
But perhaps our most powerful tool is the ability to communicate with you—our constituents. To spell out, in plain terms, what’s really going on, and why it matters.
I take that responsibility seriously. And I know my colleagues do, too.
I will always explain what I vote on and why. It’s an important part of my job.
Legislation in the Trump era is going to be different. There are a lot of “gotcha” bills—ones that have a sensible-sounding title, but absolutely awful text (the Laken Riley Act is a great example of this).
Still, even a social post or thread can help you better understand the details—and stakes—of bills I vote on (or the President’s actions).
But social media can’t be our *only* platform. Videos. Virtual town halls. Media appearances. All are important.
Simply put: We need to be everywhere.
Because the more informed people are about this Administration’s unhinged actions, the more engaged—and enraged—they become. And it’s that engagement and outrage that makes *our* words and actions so much more powerful.
Your voices really do matter. Keep using them.
I know the past few weeks have been exhausting, and there is a long road ahead.
We’ll use the tools we have in Congress. We’ll stand up and push back. We’ll use our voices.
And if the American people use theirs, too, we *will* be able to hold this Administration accountable.
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