Splintered governors field makes unity and winning a challenge for Maine Democrats

LEWISTON, Maine — The mostly polite rift in today’s Democratic Party may best be embodied by a quiet couple from Auburn who went out on Wednesday evening in search of their next standard-bearer in Maine, yet walked away with no clear leader.

Term-limited Gov. Paul LePage will be replaced in the wide-open 2018 gubernatorial election. Democrats hope it will end a poor eight-year run for their party, which largely dominated Maine politics for 40 years before the Republican governor’s victory in 2010.

Already, nine Democrats are running for the Blaine House. Six of them — all of the well-known hopefuls except Attorney General Janet Mills — and a prospective candidate were at an event run by the progressive Maine People’s Alliance in Lewiston’s Bates Mill on Wednesday.

That’s where Ben and Anna Low, both 44 and of Auburn, came to find their candidates. Both were open-minded about the field and represent different wings of their party at a time when it’s uncertain what the base wants and whether who they want can win.

Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/08/31/the-point/splintered-governors-field-makes-unity-and-winning-a-challenge-for-maine-democrats/