Who’s jockeying for a head start in the race to become Maine’s next governor?

The behind-the-scenes campaign for the Blaine House in 2018 has begun, with Republicans waiting to see if federal officeholders jump in, Democrats looking early at a potential insider-outsider race and independents mulling bids. It's a race that could reshape Maine, with the term-limited Paul LePage leaving the governorship in 2019, eight years after taking office in a historic year for Republicans that set Democrats back after 40 years in which they largely controlled state government.

Eric Brakey says he may seek U.S. Senate seat

After winning re-election last month by a wide margin, 28-year-old state Sen. Eric Brakey is eyeing what might come next. He has ruled out a possible gubernatorial bid in 2018 but hedged on whether he might take aim at U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who plans to seek a second term as Maine's junior senator.

Maine congressional delegation visits New Balance factory

The director of manufacturing at New Balance says a "Made-in-USA" provision for athletic footwear for military recruits could mean an additional 250,000 sneakers a year. Brendan Melley touted the figure Wednesday as three members of Maine's congressional delegation visited a New Balance factory in Skowhegan, the Morning Sentinel reported.

Portland would likely cooperate with Trump’s mass deportation plan

If President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his plan to deport the millions of undocumented immigrants he claims have criminal records, Portland's policy is to cooperate. Although Maine's largest city historically has been welcoming to immigrants and has taken steps to protect them , it lacks the policies of so-called sanctuary cities.

Small Businesses Eye Ballot Measures On Election Day

While all eyes are on the Election Day matchup between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, small business owners across the country look on at various Election Day ballot initiatives that threaten their companies, employees, and communities. In four states - Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and Washington - voters face ballot initiatives asking whether they want to dramatically raise their states' minimum wage to $12 in the former three and $13.50 in the latter.

“Vote Protectors, an anti-voter-fraud group loyal to Republican…

The office of the United States Attorney for Maine, in cooperation with Maine State officials, will participate in the U.S. Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8 general elections. The program is designed to handle complaints in the District of Maine of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington and the state of Maine Attorney General's Office.

Tim Kaine to campaign in Maine for Hillary Clinton

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine of Virginia will be in Maine for a private fundraiser on Thursday, according to Hillary Clinton's campaign. A campaign spokeswoman confirmed the event on Wednesday, but she didn't have a location or other details, saying they were forthcoming.

Gary Johnson’s Supporters Aren’t Worried About His Aleppo Gaffe

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's quirky nominee for president, opened his speech at a New York City rally Saturday with an unusual statement for a politician: an apology. During a disastrous appearance two days earlier on MSNBC , the former New Mexico governor had replied to a question about Aleppo, Syria - a besieged city that has been devastated by the country's five-year civil war - by asking, "What is Aleppo?" Johnson later claimed that he had simply " blanked ," but the comment went viral, making the candidate appear uninformed.

Political Happy Hour: Friday, August 26, 2016

Here's your vintage yabba-dabba-doo! mug of politics, from Joshua Miller of the Boston Globe at the Massachusetts State House. PAUL LePAGE OF MAINE, THE NATION'S MOST MEASURED, CALM GOVERNOR, via Eric Russell and Scott Thistle of the Portland Press Herald: "A top Democrat has called on Gov. Paul LePage to resign over a profanity-laced and threatening voicemail he left a day earlier for a state representative from Westbrook.

Maine land from Burt’s Bees founder is new national monument

President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared a new national monument in Maine on 87,000 acres donated by the founder of Burt's Bees, fulfilling conservationist Roxanne Quimby's goal of gifting the land during the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. The announcement of the Katahdin Woods and Waters monument came a day after media reports that the foundation created by Quimby had transferred the land to federal ownership.

Housing the homeless, employing the unemployed shouldn’t require a Republican

That statement is a core Republican tenet - you would even get Susan Collins and Donald Trump to agree on it. And when Democrats want to be uncharitable, they claim that catchy line is a mere smokescreen for the GOP's opposition towell, whatever group they want to accuse Republicans of standing against.