Maine
How Maine’s new top lawmakers stand out from the rest
A model of this text was initially printed in The Each day Transient, our Maine politics e-newsletter. Enroll right here for day by day information and perception from politics editor Michael Shepherd.
Between time period limits and two Republicans stepping down from their management posts, the Maine Legislature will enter the brand new yr with a very new crop of prime lawmakers aside from Senate Democrats, who return Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and his staff.
There are a couple of methods to develop into a legislative chief. Prime posts normally go to people who find themselves dependable votes for the celebration’s agenda, who elevate some huge cash for his or her campaigns or who spend a number of time helping frontline candidates on the marketing campaign path. It normally helps to be a member in a protected district, so you’ve got time to assist others and construct your individual statewide profile.
After Democrats held the Legislature, Assistant Home Majority Chief Rachel Talbot Ross of Portland will develop into the Home speaker, whereas Reps. Maureen Terry of Gorham and Kristen Cloutier of Lewiston took the No. 2 and three positions. For Republicans, Sens. Trey Stewart of Presque Isle and Lisa Keim of Dixfield will lead alongside Reps. Billy Bob Faulkingham of Winter Harbor and Amy Arata of New Gloucester within the Home.
On the Democratic facet, Talbot Ross is a progressive alternative for speaker, having opposed Gov. Janet Mills on key points together with policing overhauls and tribal rights. She additionally voted in opposition to her celebration just one.5 p.c of the time up to now Legislature, about half as a lot because the median member. Cloutier attended a protest in Gardiner in opposition to gun violence after a spate of hoax threats in opposition to Maine colleges this month, in keeping with the Kennebec Journal. Mills has resisted Democratic gun management pushes up to now.
Republicans have picked several types of lawmakers. Within the Senate, Stewart was the second-most dependable vote for his celebration over the previous two years, trailing solely outgoing Minority Chief Jeff Timberlake. The 28-year-old ran for Congress briefly final yr. Seen as a rising star on his facet, he might use the place to map out a run for increased workplace down the highway.
Faulkingham comes from the libertarian wing of his celebration, first getting wider discover in 2012 for supporting rebel presidential candidate Ron Paul. The lobsterman performed an outsized function in greater campaigns this yr, serving as a surrogate on fishing points for former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in his failed marketing campaign in opposition to U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of the 2nd District.
He’s an outspoken member, linking federal lobster laws to a imprecise “globalist agenda” in a September tweet. On speak radio final week, he complained that “the lady within the Blaine Home” took credit score for the $850 aid checks that had been initially a Republican concept. ( She credited them when she unveiled the proposal, however it was criticized by former Gov. Paul LePage, one thing that had the impact of diluting Republican credit score.)
However he has been extra assorted within the Legislature than his campaigning could recommend. Faulkingham sponsored a first-in-the-nation constitutional “proper to meals” that superior behind a coalition of Democrats and Republicans and was accredited by voters final yr. He additionally led a invoice final yr that made Maine the fourth state to finish civil asset forfeiture. He voted in opposition to his celebration 10 p.c of the time, which was fourth-most amongst Home Republicans.
Rank-and-file lawmakers usually change once they assume management roles by which they need to maintain their caucuses united. However Faulkingham is clearly the largest wild card to make it into one of many prime positions this time round, though Talbot Ross and her management staff shall be price watching as properly to see the place they select to see the place they push Mills.