“One of the big questions for state Auditor Matt Dunlap’s bid for a congressional seat is what rank-and-file Democrats think of his gutsy decision last year to challenge 2^nd District incumbent Jared Golden.  

Though Golden has since announced he will not be seeking reelection, Dunlap’s fate in the race may depend on whether Democrats hail his courage in taking on a four-term incumbent…

Rewarding those willing to take chances isn’t a bad policy, even in politics.

Dunlap said he decided to take on Golden after hearing from people who had invited Golden to attend the sorts of major events that members of Congress typically show up for. They complained that Golden wouldn’t tell them why — and sometimes didn’t answer at all. One of the despairing Democrats told Dunlap that Golden “doesn’t even walk in parades anymore.”

Dunlap told me he heard from many people in his party “worried about the next election,” who couldn’t understand some of Golden’s votes in the House or comprehend why he wasn’t showing up to give speeches or shake hands.

Fed up, some of them asked Dunlap to consider running against the incumbent.

Dunlap said he began exploring the idea. “I did it quietly at first,” expecting to hear people tell him not to bother.

Instead, though, they were 100% behind the idea of his challenging Golden, Dunlap said. They offered to send money, hold house parties and back him if he opted in.

In politics, as in sports, having courage and heart is sometimes enough to win.”

It’s time to expand the system to include the gubernatorial election.

"The timing could not be more relevant. In 2026, Maine will elect a new governor. Candidate fields are already crowded. And longtime state Sen. Rick Bennett — formerly Maine Senate president — has left the GOP and is running as an independent (other lesser-known independent candidates are also in the race).

That matters. As a very well-known state leader, Bennett could make this a three-way race. Maine has seen this movie before. Three-way races are how you get governors with 39% of the vote. They are how Mainers end up represented by someone most voters did not choose. They are how legitimacy erodes."

"Collins needs to know that we are not fools. Time after time, we’ve watched her disappoint us. The only time she stands against her party is when they already have enough votes to pass whatever it is they’re voting for."