ME-SEN: Maine Speaker Sara Gideon To Run Against Senator Susan Collins

[RandySF]

Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon, a Democrat, is expected to formally announce in the coming weeks that she’s running for Republican Sen. Susan Collins’ seat in 2020, five Democratic sources confirmed to HuffPost.

She will likely launch her campaign shortly after the close of the state’s legislative session on June 19, the three Democratic sources in Maine and two national Democratic strategists said.

Defeating Collins, the Maine moderate who infuriated liberals with her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, is key to Democratic hopes of winning back control of the Senate in 2020. Gideon is a top-tier recruit for the race and is expected to have at least the tacit backing of establishment groups like the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and EMILY’s List.

At the same time, the Senate GOP is marshaling its resources to defend Collins, who has long outperformed other Republicans on the ballot in Maine.

Gideon hinted last October that she would toss her hat in the ring following Collins’ controversial vote for Kavanaugh.

“Maine deserves a champion in the US Senate,” Gideon wrote in a Facebook post at the time. “After November I will be seriously considering how I can elevate the voices of people who deserve and demand to be heard and represented in Washington, DC.”



https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-democratic-challenger-sara-gideon_n_5d029422e4b0304a120bf5de

[maxsolomon]

1. "Maine Moderate", Huffpost?

What evidence of that can you offer besides words?

Go Gideon!

[MineralMan]

2. Now, there's a candidate I'll support.

Now, can we find a Democrat who can beat Mitch McConnell?

[Bayard]

3. Amy McGrath

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_McGrath

Chuck Schumer has been talking to her about it.

[NewJeffCT]

5. It will be an upset if McGrath wins

but, she has a chance, I think.

[Bhkylib]

12. McGrath would need to dispose of that 'no-negative' campaigning

She refused to run negative ads against Andy Barr, though he had a ton of negative material that could be used. I think the Dems need someone with money to run against Mitch and probably someone outside of the box, like a Howard Schultz type of candidate.

[NewJeffCT]

13. Outside groups can run ads against McConnell

I would think?

[Bayard]

14. I don't think Amy would have any problem getting donations

To defeat McConnell.

His polling numbers here are down in the 30's, when you add that to the gathering scandal with his wife, this is the time to take him out.

[Lonestarblue]

7. It may be a stretch, but I would donate to her.

She ran for the House in 2018, and has never held political office. That might not be a drawback in Ky. Rand Paul had never held an elective office prior to his election, though he could trade on his father’s name. Oddly enough, Elizabeth Warren is another senator who had never held elective office.

Upsetting Mitch would be wonderful. She would need a really savvy campaign team that could hang most of the dysfunction in Washington around Mitch’s neck. The pain point could come with Roe v. Wade. Ky is conservative, and they may vote that issue alone.

[ananda]

9. Please god!!! McConnell has got to go!

nt

[HAB911]

4. I pledge $100

as soon as she is up and running!

[Politicub]

6. Sara, take my money

[tymorial]

8. May she

Kick
Her
Ass

[BadgerMom]

10. Will contribute!

[jpak]

11. I'm from Maine - and she is the Real Deal to unseat "Concerned Susan"