Maine

Advocates warn a Trump presidency could be a threat to Maine immigrants

Published

1 year ago

November 17, 2024

Advocates warn a Trump presidency could be a threat to Maine immigrants

Faisal Khan, executive director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Advocates are warning that a second Trump presidency could pose threats to Maine’s immigrant population based on his promises of mass deportations and increased restrictions.

In Maine, which has been a destination for thousands of asylum seekers from central African countries in recent years, there are also concerns that President-elect Donald Trump could make the asylum process more difficult.

“It’s yet to be seen what will actually take place in terms of policies, but given his previous administration and how things evolved, I feel the worst is yet to come, though I hope I am wrong,” said Faisal Khan, executive director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center.

“There’s no doubt that among people I’ve spoken to here and in other parts of the country, there’s a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress,” he added.

Maine is home to about 56,419 foreign-born residents who make up just a small percentage – about 4% – of the state’s 1.3 million population, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank.

But federal immigration policy is still likely to have an impact here, and advocates are bracing for challenges and a rollback of immigrants’ rights even before Trump takes office.

The president-elect has not announced specific plans, but his early appointments signal that he’s serious about following through on at least some of his campaign rhetoric. In addition to stopping the flow of asylum seekers across the southern U.S. border, a central promise of the Trump campaign was to carry out mass deportations of millions of people per year.

His newly appointed “border czar,” Thomas Homan, played a key role in the first Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” border policy that included family separations.

Trump also said that if elected he would issue an executive order instructing federal agencies to stop recognizing birthright citizenship, referring to the long-standing policy of granting citizenship to children born in the U.S. even if their parents are not citizens.

WILL DEPORTATIONS IMPACT MAINE?

There were about 5,000 immigrants living in the U.S. illegally in Maine as of 2022, according to data from the Pew Research Center, and about 11 million nationally, with California, Florida and Texas each home to more than 1 million.

Unauthorized immigrants are noncitizens who generally have entered the United States without inspection, overstayed a period of lawful admission, or violated the terms of their admission. The term means the same thing as “undocumented” but is the preferred language for researchers and policy analysts and is also used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to Pew.

The unauthorized population appears to be the most likely target of deportation efforts, but advocates say it’s too early to know what exactly that could look like.

“How extensive it’s going to be and how they will proceed – will they use other law enforcement agencies to drive their mission? – I don’t know,” Khan said. “But I do believe deportation is going to affect everyone across the country when it comes to people who don’t have documentation or are undocumented.”

Although Maine’s unauthorized immigrant population is small, Maine residents were affected by Trump’s deportation policies under his last administration.

Otto Morales-Caballeros at home in Brunswick. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Otto Morales-Caballeros, a Guatemalan man who fled violence in his home country as a teenager, was deported in 2017 after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him on his way to work from his home in Naples. He was separated from his wife, a U.S. citizen, for four years before she was able to work with an attorney to bring him back to Maine in 2021. The Biden administration revised guidelines for ICE deportations the same year, generally prioritizing national security and violent crime concerns over petty and nonviolent offenses.

Abdigani Faisal Hussein, a Portland resident who came to the U.S. lawfully as a Somali refugee, was nearly deported in 2018 because of his conviction in 2002 for possessing khat, a leafy stimulant grown in East Africa that’s illegal in the U.S. Hussein’s lawyer was able to intervene at the last minute and defer the deportation because of the grave political situation in Somalia.

The Trump transition team did not provide specifics about deportation plans and who in Maine could be impacted in response to questions from the Press Herald on Friday.

“The American people reelected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail,” Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “He will deliver.”

Homan, Trump’s pick as border czar, told the Washington Post on Monday that he planned to focus deportation efforts on those who pose a threat to public safety and national security and people who recently crossed the border illegally. He said that anyone with an active removal order could be deported, even if they don’t have a criminal record.

“I’m not saying arrest a million people in a week, right?” Homan told the Post. “We’ve got to go for the worst first.”

The American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration advocacy group, estimates that it would cost at least $315 billion to conduct a one-time mass deportation program, which would also require mass incarceration prior to removal. Trump told NBC News after the election that “there is no price tag” too big for his plan to deport undocumented immigrants.

“They’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” Trump said.

Joel Stetkis, chair of the Maine Republican Party, said he thinks there will be support in Maine for Trump’s immigration policies but that it’s too early to assess impacts here until concrete plans are released.

“I think most Mainers are very excited about having substantially less fentanyl killing our neighbors, family and friends,” he said, adding, “Republicans have always been in favor of legal immigration.”

Maine Republican Party Chair Joel Stetkis. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Federal data analyzed by KFF, a nonpartisan health policy organization, indicates that most fentanyl enters the U.S. through legal ports of entry and is trafficked primarily by U.S. citizens. Experts have also said that stricter immigration policies will not effectively combat the opioid epidemic.

Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, Maine House minority leader, pointed out that Maine has spent millions of dollars in general assistance costs to house asylum seekers.

“Even though in Maine we’re very far from the southern border, we still feel the effects of it here,” he said. “I’m excited we’re going to have a president who is going to tighten up the border.”

With regard to deportations, Faulkingham said he expects to see greater enforcement of existing laws.

“What good are laws if you’re not going to follow them?” he said.

IT’S STILL EARLY

Advocates in Maine’s immigrant community said that while there is generally a feeling of unease and anxiety about Trump’s election, it’s still too early to know what the impacts will be. But they are preparing to protect immigrants’ rights in the event of a crackdown or new restrictions.

“ILAP is deeply concerned about racist and anti-immigrant policies that would have a devastating impact on immigrant communities in Maine and beyond,” said Sue Roche, executive director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, which provides legal services to Maine immigrants. “But despite threats of mass deportation, we have a legal system and due process rights that must be enforced.”

Martha Stein, executive director of Hope Acts, which offers housing and assistance with basic needs to asylum seekers in Portland, said her staff is trying to be as prepared as possible but they don’t want to “fall down a rabbit hole of what about this or that.”

“There’s so much bad information and disinformation and nobody knows what the new administration is going to do until they do it,” Stein said. “It’s very unsettling.”

The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center provides support and services including professional development and English classes, assistance with financial literacy and help getting integrated into Maine and the U.S.

Khan said he believes those services will become even more important under a Trump administration that puts immigrants at risk and where they will be more likely to come to the nonprofit center for services and a sense of belonging.

So far, Khan said he hasn’t heard many immigrants expressing concerns about the new administration, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

“A lot of people are going to be very afraid to speak out or share who they are or what their status is,” he said.

Mufalo Chitam, executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Mufalo Chitam, executive director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, has been hearing from people who are worried. In the initial aftermath of the election, Chitam said, some immigrants who lived through the first Trump administration were dismissive of the results, saying things like, “He said this last time but he didn’t do it.”

But as the days have gone by and more information about Trump’s plans have been shared, panic has set in. Some parents have reported their children coming home from school saying that they heard from friends they will be deported.

Chitam said her organization is telling people that for now they need to wait and see what actual policies are handed down. But in the meantime they are preparing to hold information sessions, helping people understand the rights they have and pointing them to resources like ILAP that they can rely on if they do find themselves at risk.

“The most we can do right now is just wait,” she said. “But in the meantime, we’re telling folks, ‘Know your rights.’ ”

THREATS TO ASYLUM?

While Maine’s overall immigrant population is relatively small, the state has experienced an influx of asylum seekers from central Africa, including Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the first six months of 2023, more than 1,500 asylum seekers arrived in Portland, pushing the city of 65,000 to the brink of its ability to house people at its shelters.

Asylum seekers are immigrants who come to the United States seeking protection from violence, persecution or human rights’ violations. Applying for asylum is a lengthy legal process that can take years, but Roche said that in general someone who is filing for asylum and going through the process can’t be deported.

“They have a right to complete that process and for the government to make a decision on their asylum application,” she said, noting that it is possible for asylum seekers to be deported if they don’t win their court case.

Stein said she is hopeful that the clients she works with will continue to be protected through the asylum process, but she worries there are ways those protections could be eroded.

“There’s a lot of talk about people who fly in on a visa and ask for asylum versus people who come over the border and apply for asylum,” she said. “Could they split things that way? And we’ve seen in the past that people from certain countries were deemed more or less desirable, which is reprehensible to me.”

Trump said this fall that he plans to reinstate travel bans that were in effect under his first administration barring some people from predominantly Muslim nations from coming to the U.S., and that he would expand them to include refugees from Gaza.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine has expressed broad concerns about a Trump presidency and how it would impact a variety of issues, saying in a news release last week that “we are clear-eyed about the dangers posed by a second Trump presidency and the challenges ahead.”

A spokesperson said this week that it’s too early to discuss specifics for Maine, but since immigration policy is federal, the impacts in Maine would likely mirror what is seen at the national level.

“Trump has made the demonization of people seeking asylum at the southern border a key element of his campaign this year,” the ACLU said in a memo on Trump’s immigration policy in June. “We expect his administration to renew and expand attempts to destroy our nation’s system of protection for people seeking safety from violence and persecution.”

The memo said impacts to asylum could come through executive orders or legislation, which would likely be facilitated with Republicans now controlling both the U.S. House and Senate. Trump is reportedly planning to kick off his second term with a major bill on border security and immigration that could limit or effectively end access to asylum, according to the memo.

But attempting to shut down asylum would also pose significant legal challenges and conflict with existing policies, the ACLU said.

“The ACLU and its partners challenged numerous Trump anti-asylum policies, pressing these legal claims and more,” the memo said. “Courts held many of the policies illegal, and some were suspended or never went into effect.”

MILLS MONITORING TRUMP PLANS

Gov. Janet Mills is taking a cautious approach to Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations of immigrants – a process advisers say would require assistance from state and local law enforcement.

While some Democratic governors, such as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, have said they will not use state police to assist the Trump administration, a Mills spokesperson said the governor is monitoring Trump’s plans and will evaluate any requests for help from the incoming administration.

“At this time, the State of Maine has not received a communication from the incoming administration,” spokesman Scott Ogden said in an email. “If the Trump Administration advances a specific plan or directive involving State of Maine assets or resources, the Governor will review it, assess its impacts on Maine people, and make a decision that she believes is in the best interest of the state and our people.

As attorney general, Mills pushed back against Trump’s anti-immigration policies, including the travel ban on people entering the United States from Muslim-majority countries.

Mills was one of 20 attorneys general to sue Trump over plans to roll back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provided protections against children – known as “dreamers” – who were brought into the country illegally by their parents.

And as governor, Mills objected to Trump’s efforts to make it harder for people who are seeking asylum to obtain work permits – a move at odds with national business groups and immigration advocates who have pushed for changes to federal laws to make it easier for asylum seekers to work.

Advocates say it would help businesses address workforce shortages and reduce the burden on communities providing financial support to asylum seekers who are not allowed to support themselves.

Mills’ current approach is more cautious than that of some of her colleagues.

Healey told MSNBC recently that she would use “every tool in the toolbox” to block attempts to deport unauthorized immigrants in the commonwealth. She said she would “absolutely not” allow Massachusetts State Police to assist federal deportation efforts.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, two Democrats who are eyeing 2028 presidential runs, have signaled they are prepared to push back against a variety of Trump policies, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said “if it’s contrary to our values, we will fight to the death,” according to The Hill.

Staff Writer Randy Billings contributed to this story

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Maine

A Maine couple known for restoring cabins on TV is opening an inn of their own – The Boston Globe

Published

4 hours ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

A Maine couple known for restoring cabins on TV is opening an inn of their own – The Boston Globe

But something about it felt right. When the former bed-and-breakfast and historic estate in Monmouth lingered on the market, and its price dropped, curiosity turned into a walk-through, and the walk-through into something more.

“It was built super well, built to last,” Sarah says. “The spirit of the place is amazing. We just kind of fell in love with it.”

Now, after months of renovation, the Morrills are preparing to open Waters Run Bed and Breakfast this July — a 12-room property (including newly built cabins) that blends farmhouse charm with what Sarah describes as “rustic luxury,” and a broader mission: inviting travelers to experience a different side of Maine.

Chase and Sarah Morrill, who purchased the property in 2025.HANDOUT

Hospitality wasn’t an obvious next step. But travel has always been a big part of family life for Sarah, Chase and their four kids.

“We’re inspired by travel,” Sarah says. “And having a place where we could now welcome people in their own travels felt full circle.”

Unlike their television work, which often focuses on seasonal camps and cabins, this project required a deeper, more comprehensive transformation. The existing structure was sound, but time had left its mark.

“Not a single room in the existing structure has really been totally untouched,” Sarah says.

The updates range from behind-the-scenes essentials — electrical and plumbing — to reimagined layouts that prioritize comfort, like expanding bathrooms and reworking awkward room footprints.

They also added five new guest rooms between three standalone cabins and converted a former caretaker’s apartment into a commercial kitchen, allowing for expanded dining and future events.

Even as they modernized the property, the Morrills were careful not to erase its character.

A room at Waters Run Bed & Breakfast in Monmouth, Maine.HANDOUT

“I think we tried to preserve every last thing that we could,” Sarah says.

That includes original fireplaces (now decorative), a vintage kitchen believed to have come from a Sears catalog, and even long-hidden elements of the landscape. Beneath overgrowth, they uncovered stone pathways and garden beds they plan to restore.

The philosophy aligns with the ethos fans have come to expect: save what you can, reuse what you can’t, and find new purpose for the rest.

Local sourcing plays a central role. Throughout the property, guests will find work from Maine artisans and craftspeople — a deliberate choice that reflects both aesthetics and values.

“It’s been really fun,” she says. “We’ve met a lot of people who make cool stuff that looks like it just belongs in our bed and breakfast.”

When guests arrive, the Morrills hope the guests feel an immediate connection when walking through the doors.

Outside Waters Run Bed & Breakfast in Monmouth, Maine.HANDOUT

“You finally get there, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, this is where we were supposed to go,’” she says.

Breakfast, prepared by an in-house chef, will lean heavily on local ingredients like eggs, meats, cheeses, and produce sourced from nearby farms, often within a 10-mile radius with a rotating menu that reflects the region.

On the property, guests will find gardens, fire pits, lawn games, and access to nearby water for kayaking and paddleboarding. A historic barn that was once used as a harness racing training facility is slated to become an event space by 2027.

For New England travelers accustomed to heading straight for the coast, Monmouth might not be the first place that comes to mind. That, Sarah believes, is part of the appeal.

“We’re not in a specifically touristy area,” she says. “But there’s a huge opportunity to have the space to discover what’s cool about Maine — and you’re not standing in line.”

A view from Waters Run Bed & Breakfast.HANDOUT

Within a short drive are lakes in nearly every direction, hiking trails, small restaurants, antique shops, working farms, and Kennebec Cabin Company, the gift shop known as “Home of the Maine Cabin Masters.” The coast is still within reach, but it’s not the main event.

“If you can go for a hike and then go for a swim and then get a great meal,” she says, “that’s a great day.”

It’s a vision of Maine that expands beyond the familiar imagery of lobster rolls and lighthouses.

“I think there’s another whole dimension of Maine,” Sarah says. “The lakes and mountains and being outside, but also the artisans and craftspeople who are doing really cool stuff.”

A sunset at Waters Run Bed & Breakfast in Monmouth, Maine.HANDOUT

Sarah’s hope is that travelers feel like they are seeing something they’ve never seen before, or connecting to Maine in a deeper way.

As reservations begin to fill — helped in part by a loyal fan base — the Morrills are preparing for their first full season. While the project may have started as an unexpected opportunity, its direction now feels clear.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the people who are looking for something different,” Sarah says. “Who want to start and end their day a little bit off the beaten path.”

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Maine

Maine Trash Kings turns clutter into cash across Searsport

Published

16 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

Maine Trash Kings turns clutter into cash across Searsport

SEARSPORT, Maine (WABI) – A new Searsport business sees other people’s trash as an opportunity.

Maine Trash Kings got its start at the beginning of April, and with spring cleaning underway, the founders say the business is booming.

“It’s been really good, we started at the beginning of this month, and we just started posting around on Facebook ads and word of mouth. It’s gone really good, just kind of blown up from there,” Alex Dakin, co-founder of Maine Trash Kings, said.

Maine Trash Kings is run by two Searsport High School students. They both say they’ve had to learn how to balance time quickly.

“When we don’t have jobs or something like that, after schools, I get an hour, two hours to myself, but then, I got to post ads. I got to, look at finances, go over that, fix the trailer, work on the trailer and stuff like that,” Isaac Traves, co-founder of Maine Trash Kings, said.

“It can be stressful at times, but you just got to look at the bigger picture and know that all the work you’re putting in now is just going to pay off in the future,” Dakin said.

Traves said he wants to go to college for business in the future. The junior in high school said the business has given him a head start on finances.

“Sometimes there are instances where we have to spend money to make money, and it is scary at first. Some people think oh, I’m going to spend money, that means that I’m going to lose all of that. I’m not going to make that money back. No, it’s not really how it works. You have to spend money to make money, to be honest,” Traves said.

Traves and Dakin’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Derek Ginn is a teacher at Searsport Middle School. Ginn said the boys came to him and asked if he could help them get the business started.

“It’s really great to see kids who, 16, 17, starting life not knowing exactly what they want to do, to see, hey, maybe I want to start a business. Let me see if I can fail. Let me see if I can succeed. Let’s see what’s out there,” Ginn said. “These guys did that all on their own. I’m not saying, you guys should go start this business. You guys should go start this business. No, they came to me and are like, hey, how do I do this? And that’s incredible to see for kids their age.”

Ginn said the boys also help him with his students. They serve as mentors to the younger students in the school. Ginn said that’s how he got to know Traves and Dakin.

The young business owners said they are giving the business everything they’ve got. So far, they say they love the work.

“I like working and I actually quit my job to do this full-time now, so I mean, just putting all my effort into this and seeing it grow is just, I love it,” Dakin said.

Maine Trash Kings serves Searsport and surrounding areas.

They give quotes via their Facebook page or by calling 207-323-6984 for junk removal.

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Maine

A top issue in Maine and Oklahoma governors’ races? Tribal sovereignty. – ICT

Published

1 day ago

May 14, 2026

Press Room

A top issue in Maine and Oklahoma governors’ races? Tribal sovereignty. – ICT

This story is part one of a two-part story on gubernatorial races to watch in the 2026 midterm elections as part of the #NativeVote26.

Pauly Denetclaw
ICT

Two of the 39 states with gubernatorial races have tribal sovereignty at the top of their policy agendas: Oklahoma and Maine. The two states where tribal nations have had friction with their state governments. Now Native voters in both states will be electing a new governor, and the results will impact the relationship between tribal governments and the state for the next four years.

Wabanaki Nations in Maine had a challenging time getting state legislation signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills, Democrat, that would strengthen tribal sovereignty. The 38 tribes in Oklahoma had a tumultuous relationship with Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Eighteen of the 39 governor races in 2026 will have incumbent candidates, according to the National Governors Association. Stitt is the 2025-2026 chair of the association.

What’s happening in Oklahoma?

Over the past seven years, tribal nations and the state of Oklahoma had a contentious relationship — especially after the McGirt decision. Current governor, Stitt, who is a Cherokee Nation citizen, has been outspoken against the McGirt decision, tribal compacts for tobacco and car tags, and tribal gaming compacts.

Tribal-state compacts are legal agreements between federally recognized tribes and state governments. It is most commonly used for class III gaming — slot machines and table games.

“There was a time and a day when we used to compact with the tribes. That is not a unique thing across the nation. It wasn’t a unique thing in Oklahoma,” Chip Keating said during an April 6 candidates forum. “We absolutely have to hit the full reset button with the tribes — work together, treat them with the respect that they should have been treated with, and we’ve got to get back to compacting.”

Tribal leaders are looking forward to new state leadership, said Michael Stopp, president and chief executive officer of SevenStar Holdings.

“It’s good for the tribes and the tribal leaders are happy about it,” said Stopp, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “It has very much been a sticking point with tribal leaders that Governor Stitt has a very different perspective on sovereignty and what role the tribes play in this state. Obviously, we’ve had some big changes with the reservation status here because of the McGirt decision in 2020, but Governor Stitt, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation, has been more of an antagonist when it comes to that, than trying to help with the transition. I can definitely say the tribal leaders are looking for leadership change.”

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin called Stitt the most anti-Indian governor in the state’s history. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond described Stitt as having a “penchant of racism against tribes,” during an April candidates forum. He added that it was unacceptable.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is pictured during an interview in his office Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Board of Pardon and Parole has recommended clemency for death row inmate James Coddington. Stitt said that he hasn’t been formally briefed on Coddington’s case, but that with any clemency recommendation, he meets with prosecutors, defense attorneys and the victim’s family before making a decision. (AP Photo, Sue Ogrocki) Credit: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is pictured during an interview in his office Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Board of Pardon and Parole has recommended clemency for death row inmate James Coddington. Stitt said that he hasn’t been formally briefed on Coddington’s case, but that with any clemency recommendation, he meets with prosecutors, defense attorneys and the victim’s family before making a decision. (AP Photo, Sue Ogrocki)

Tribal nations and state governments have to work together often. As seen in Oklahoma, Stitt vetoed several tribal compacts, despite overwhelming support by the state’s legislature, and this slowed the process for establishing the tobacco, car tag and gaming compacts between Oklahoma and tribal nations.

“Governor Stitt came in thinking that he could renegotiate this contract, and quite frankly, it just doesn’t work that way. Instead of listening and coming to the negotiating table, (Stitt) tried to come in with a really strong stance and ended up losing, honestly,” Stopp said. “I think that was unfortunate for him and for the tribes. Again, missing out on the chance of negotiating and I think the tribal leaders are definitely looking forward to having someone on the other side of the table to negotiate with.”

Oklahoma governor candidates

There are nine Republican candidates on the ballot for Oklahoma’s primary election set for June 16:

Gentner Drummond: 20th Attorney General for Oklahoma
Chip Keating: Former highway trooper and former Oklahoma Secretary of Public Safety
Mike Mazzei: Former Oklahoma state Senator and former Secretary of Budget
Charles McCall: Longest-serving Speaker of the House in Oklahoma history
Jake Merrick: Local radio host and former Oklahoma state Senator
Kenneth Sturgell: Local, small business owner
Leisa Mitchell Haynes: Former marketing director and former city manager
Calup Anthony Taylor
Jennifer Domenico-Tillett

Three Democratic gubernatorial candidates are also running for the primary election:

Cyndi Munson: Oklahoma House Minority leader
Connie Johnson: Former Oklahoma state Senator
Arya

Candidates will have to get more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a runoff. If there is no outright winner, the top two candidates for each political party will head to a primary runoff election on August 25.

An additional three Independent candidates will automatically head to the general election this November.

Two important issues this election in Oklahoma are tribal sovereignty and a commitment to working with tribes.

During an April 6 Republican candidates forum, Gentner Drummond, Charles McCall, Chip Keating and Mike Mazzei, were asked to raise their hand if they shared Stitt’s perspective on the McGirt decision. Stitt was quoted as saying that the McGirt decision has torn Oklahoma apart and has created two justice systems based on race. None of the four candidates raised their hand.

“For three and a half years I’ve been working with every tribal leader in the state of Oklahoma, and I recognize them as unique among themselves, just like France is different from Germany,” Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said during a candidates forum. “We have to honor and respect the culture of diversity that they bring to the table and the needs that they have. We have been working with tribal law enforcement each of the last three years to take the fight to organize crime in our rural communities. They are a great partner.”

All four candidates promised their administration would work with tribal nations and negotiate tribal compacts.

Mazzei said at two different candidate forums that he would be a strong negotiator with tribal nations.

In a recent interview with KOCO 5 News, local small business owner Kenneth Sturgell said tribal nations are their neighbors and should be treated as such. He also said that the state and tribal nations have to work together.

Jake Merrick, local radio host and former Oklahoma state Senator, was pleased that the state Supreme Court affirmed tribal nations’ right to hunt on their own lands, during a March 30 candidates forum.

Democratic candidate Cyndi Munson, Oklahoma House Minority leader, said in a recent press release that her caucus supports tribes.

“The Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus supports tribal sovereignty and acknowledges that our tribes fill important gaps in our education and healthcare systems, as well as other areas throughout our state,” Munson said. “I am extremely grateful for the work our tribes have done and continue to do despite vicious attacks on them by the Governor.”

A respectful working relationship between tribal nations and the state has shifted significantly since the last gubernatorial race in 2022.

“I think every one of them [Oklahoma governor candidates] has said something about it,” Stopp said. “[It’s] different than four years ago. It was an issue in the governor’s race, but it wasn’t a good issue. Here everyone’s saying yes, we want to change the tone and start the conversation differently. So I think as far as Indian voters go, that conversation is going to change regardless of who wins.”

Dawnland

In Maine, Gov. Mills repeatedly refused to sign a law that would strengthen tribal jurisdiction and recognize Wabanaki Nations right to access federal Indian laws. She vetoed the bill twice despite overwhelming support from state legislators.

“We’ve had multiple opportunities to send [legislation] to the governor’s desk and not just party line votes,” said Maulian Bryant, executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance and former Penobscot ambassador. “We generally have Democratic support, but we have gotten Republicans voting on these issues too. So, the governor has seen some great bipartisan work reach her desk and has still decided to veto some of these efforts.”

In order for tribes to access federal Indian laws, the state has to approve it. The Wabanaki Alliance, created to educate the people of Maine about tribal sovereignty, has been working diligently to amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980.

Through the settlement, tribal nations ceded land in exchange for $81.5 million. However, it also drastically limited tribal sovereignty, and brought tribes under the jurisdiction of the state. Tribal nations that predate the state, are subjected to state jurisdiction and treated more like municipalities. The act was meant to be a living document but the state resisted changes for decades.

The Wabanaki Alliance has been able to increase tribal sovereignty and self-governance one legislation or amendment at a time. Throughout her two-terms, Mills has resisted a complete overhaul of the 1980 act and this created tension between the governor and tribal nations.

“If we had a governor that came in and fully embraced the inherent rights and inherent sovereignty of our people, and fully recognized that, it would strengthen our communities and it would also uplift the entire state of Maine,” said Bryant, who is Penobscot. “Our tribal communities are near rural places that could really use economic opportunities and could really use tribal businesses that are able to grow without all of these bureaucratic restrictions. We really are coming from a place of friendliness and we want to be good neighbors and we want to uplift the communities around us.”

The Wabanaki Alliance held a gubernatorial candidates forum in March where nine governor candidates participated:

Shenna Bellows, Democrat
Rick Bennett, Independent
John Glowa, Independent
Troy Jackson, Democrat
Derek Levasseur, Independent
Hannah Pingree, Democrat
Nirav Shah, Democrat
Angus King III, Democrat

None of the eight Republican candidates participated.

Most of the gubernatorial candidates generally supported increasing tribal sovereignty, recognizing inherent rights and working with tribal nations. Angus King III said he wasn’t educated on the topic enough to make any commitments and would have to look into it. This sentiment was shared by John Glowa and Derek Levasseur.

Hannah Pingree, Rick Bennett, Shenna Bellows and Troy Jackson firmly supported tribal sovereignty for Wabanaki Nations.

“If a governor comes in, and isn’t afraid of recognizing tribal sovereignty and sees it as an opportunity, I think we could see some real progress for everyone,” Bryant said.

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