Council for a Livable World is pleased to endorse Shenna Bellows, a progressive Democrat from Maine who is challenging longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Bellows brings to the race years of experience building coalitions across party lines and a strong grassroots focus.
Shenna Bellows is a longtime progressive activist who is skilled at building coalitions across party lines.
This national organization has been a major player in Maine for over five decades, most recently in the 2012 Maine Senate race where they were one of the top fundraisers for Sen Angus King (I-Me). It is particularly worthy of note that this non-partisan group could have chosen to back the incumbent Collins in an attempt to burnish their non-partisan credentials, but found in Bellows a compelling candidate.
...Bellows is both passionate and well-versed. She supports further reductions to US and Russian nuclear arsenals, a rapid end to the war in Afghanistan, and a diplomatic solution with Iran rather than the use of force. To some degree, her passion for our issues runs in the family: her father was an anti-nuclear activist, and Bellows speaks passionately about the early age at which she learned of the dangers of nuclear war. She has strong potential to be a champion on national security issues if elected to the Senate.
Bellows joins Alison Lundergan Grimes (KY), Brian Schatz (HI), Cory Booker (NJ), Jeff Merkley (OR) among other Progressives
touted by the Council.
We have a tremendous opportunity to change the direction in Washington by electing a true Progressive Democrat to replace a faux moderate, corporate Republican who voted for McConnell, Alito, and Roberts. The PCCC, Blue America, and now the Council for a Livable World see this opportunity and are jumping in with both feet.
From the Bellows campaign:
“Today’s endorsement by the Council for a Livable World is a sign of our growing momentum,” said Shenna Bellows on the endorsement. “It’s time for a different approach to our foreign policy that emphasizes strategic diplomacy and strong international relations.”
Over the last five decades, the Council has been highly involved in supporting successful candidates from Maine, including Senators Angus King, Edmund Muskie, George Mitchell and William Hathaway. Hathaway defeated Republican incumbent Margaret Chase Smith in her last race for United States Senate by running an aggressive grassroots campaign, similar to the campaign being run by Bellows against 18-year Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Additionally, the Council has endorsed five elected members of the House of Representatives, including both Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud.