Maine’s Unique Blend of Politics and Culture

This month in Maine, I can’t help but notice that it’s similar to other states in some ways. There’s a flag, a population, and, yes, a fair amount of political division.

I’ve taken in the state’s political approach: it often feels like forming a committee just to investigate the formation of another committee, then delaying decisions until the mud season passes, and starting the cycle all over again.

It’s a place where young adults, often the children of parents who attended schools like Skidmore, Oberlin, or Vassar, might find themselves without jobs and receive little judgment from locals. The state boasts liberal institutions that create majors meant to argue that all of life’s woes can be traced back to Republicans. Interestingly, one of its notable trends seems to be the rise of self-identified “Champaign Socialists.”

In a state that’s predominantly white—99 percent, to be precise—there’s a curious acceptance of white guilt. The community seems supportive of movements like Black Lives Matter, particularly when it comes to local figures like Thomas and Angela.

I tried to blend in as a local, but when Graham Platner approached and asked where I was from, I blurted out “Bangor.” His immediate response was, “Bangor? Never heard of her.”

With Platner’s supporters acting swiftly to distance themselves as he began to falter in the polls, it seems like Democrats are now scrambling for a replacement. They’re gathering a committee of 600 devoted party members to decide who might fill his shoes. Just imagine that assembly of Mainers meeting—600 Democrats on July 25th! Good luck if you’re trying to get your poodle groomed that weekend.

Bernie Sanders had stood by Platner, and my two favorite political figures, Rep. Ro Khanna from California and Sen. Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts, had initially backed him as well.

Some might argue that Trump has more claim to being a Native American than Liz Warren, considering he has a legitimate tribal name: Wounded Ear. After the nomination of Platner, with his rather questionable tattoo, the tendency to label Trump as a Nazi seems to have faded in this region. It appears that doing so might actually boost his popularity in the polls.

The Democrats believed they finally had a male candidate who was strong enough—not the typical weakling they often attract. Despite their limited appeal to men, they’ve been trying to shift their messaging to connect with that demographic. Even the heir to Toys “R” Us, who, frankly, is difficult to classify, has faced his own allegations of misconduct. Platner had just come up with a campaign slogan aimed at women: “Platner Needs Your Vote, and He Will NOT Take No for an Answer.”

It’s somewhat amusing to watch Democrats, who championed the #MeToo movement and claimed to “Believe All Women,” as they now scramble to reclaim their moral high ground against what they perceive as the barbaric GOP. This is the same party that has seen figures like Bill Clinton and Harvey Weinstein in its ranks. Quick—can anyone name just two Republicans who fit that mold? It feels like “the ladies protest too much.”

Eliot Spitzer had such a troubled past that he literally had to sell the “L” in his first name to manage legal fees.

As for Platner, he didn’t have much of a chance against the hard-working Senator Susan Collins. His campaign strategy was, frankly, a long shot.

A friend of mine, P.J. O’Rourke, who lived quite close to Maine, once remarked that after they became the first state to ban smoking in housing projects, “Smoking is wrong. Progressive elites might be confused about many issues, but not when it comes to smoking.” He went on to say, “Low-income folks don’t have many pleasures; cigarettes are one.”

No discussion of Maine’s politics could be complete without mentioning the seasonal influx of visitors, who arrive with their kayaks, trendy fleece jackets, and strong opinions on maintaining the area’s charm. Millennials and Gen Xers flock to Maine, seeking that authentic experience, generally without feeling overwhelmed.

Mainers do seem to have a good sense of humor. I attended an event featuring homing pigeons where falconers demonstrated their skills. When I asked one participant if he made a living from raising competitive pigeons, he chuckled and said, “Yeah, I’ve sold this homing pigeon on Facebook Marketplace 30 times.”