Rep. Chellie Pingree (D)
The state Senate President of Maine, Republican Kevin Raye, is declining to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring GOP "moderate" Olympia Snowe. (She's actually a normal conservative, its just that the GOP is now a right wing fascist movement.) Raye, you might recall, is currently the chief Republican challenger to Democratic Congressman Rep. Mike Michaud currently of the second district. It is said that he may be
facing a stiff challenge from Raye in this heavily rural district.
Raye:
“Many of them have urged me to run for the United States Senate, and others have asked me to continue my candidacy for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat,” he said. “After careful consideration, I have decided to remain a candidate for the 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Actually its a pretty clear decision that didn't take long at all. Raye faces going up against a Democratic presidential climate in Maine this November. He'd have to run statewide on the record of the unpopular Republican majority. He'd get creamed in November.
Since Michaud has also declined to run for the Democratic Senate nomination, 1st District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's prospects and paths for the Senate are getting clearer and easier. Now, make no mistake: Lets not forget the overwhelming majorities the two Republican women have won in this state with ease. Had Snowe stayed in, she would have won a comfortable victory even in Obama's year. Chellie might have to move somewhat to the center on a few things to make a viable statewide ballot and that's fine. She's a good congresswoman and a pickup opportunity. And she's a real champ on Net Neutrality.
Hannah Pingree
Even better with the Pingree deal is that her seat is easily the more defensible for progressives and Democrats generally. In fact, it may be possible to get a two-fer in this year of the woman if her daughter
Hannah Pingree would run for her old seat. She's the former Speaker of the Maine House.
In Maine, you can't run for a Congressial seat and a Senate seat at the same time, so she's leaving the race. Portland Press Herald reports Hannah is considering a run. (Eric Russel at Bangor Daily News is a good read.)
(
Now you Maine politics lovers may be able to shed more light on some questions I have:
Will Angus King run as an independent?
How far to the right will Pingree have to move to win enough of a vote in the 2nd District to put together a strong majority?
Who is the strongest GOP nominee with Raye out of the way? How strong is that person compared to Pingree?
I'm pretty excited about the idea of sending these two lovely Democrats to Washington. We need more women there. Plus, this might be just the seat that ends up destroying Republican hopes of gaining back the Senate this year.