This is a Presidents’ Day like no other.

On a day when we should be celebrating our nation’s leaders, we must instead confront a sitting President who is dismantling our established rights and public works as fast as he can, with the help - and for the special benefit - of unelected billionaires like Elon Musk. In the short time since we were elected as your new chair and vice-chair, these unwelcome assaults on our freedom, security, and prosperity have been innumerable and astounding. Many of you have been in touch as we begin this work, asking for a bolder, more vigorous, and more disciplined response. This Presidents’ Day, we are writing with an update on the first few weeks of our journey as your new leadership team and to ask for your help and ideas as we seek to respond to this unprecedented threat to our democracy.

We are fortunate that Maine is currently governed by Democrats. Governor Janet Mills, Attorney General Aaron Frey, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows can use their authority and skills to counter and resist some of the proposed damage, for example, on climate change, clean air and water, our voting rights, the relief of hunger, the protection of public health, and the list goes on. Democratic majorities in the State Legislature can provide a xxxxxx against many of the Trump administration's policies.

But we cannot rest. Unless we retain control of the Governor’s Office and the Legislature in 2026, we will not have a state-based stronghold against federal extremism. And only by regaining control of Congress can we stop the destructive, billionaire-driven excesses at the federal level.

Thus, we have two jobs to do simultaneously. Right now, we must call out the unconscionable damage being done to the federal government and, as a result, to our neighbors, our economy, our security, our environment. At the same time, we must begin a sustained effort to build up our capacity as a Party, so that we can elect or re-elect Democrats across Maine at every level.

The path to stopping Donald Trump by flipping the US Senate and House in 2026 goes right through Maine. At the federal level, we need to keep both of Maine’s House seats Democratic. And, it’s equally urgent that we finally end Susan Collins' tenure in the Senate. Time and time again she’s shown that when it matters, she will enable MAGA Republicans. We must replace her with a Democrat who will stand up to the self-interested, heartless and careless agenda of Donald Trump and his billionaire friends.

What are we doing about these dual objectives right now? To begin building toward electoral success next year, we need to fill critical vacancies in key Party staff positions, and we are doing just that. We are also actively seeking the resources our Party will need to organize effectively to reach more Maine voters in more communities and to develop lasting connections that will improve our results in 2026 and beyond.

To identify more ways to resist the extreme Trump agenda at the same time that we build toward 2026, we have pulled together a small Resistance Working Group to help us identify effective short-term strategies. We are eager to share their ideas with you in the very near future. Meanwhile, as we mentioned in our last message, there are some things you can do RIGHT NOW:

House District 24 Special Election—A Crucial Fight

On Tuesday, February 25th, there will be a special election in House District 24 (Bangor, Orono, Veazie, and Brewer). We cannot afford to lose a single seat in the Maine House as we fight for progress and equality. Please support Sean Faircloth, our Democratic candidate, in this critical race.

• Phone Banking: Join us for virtual phone banks. Signing up is easy, and your time can make a big difference! Sign up to phone bank HERE
• Door Knocking: We are talking to supporters at their doors and making sure they have a plan to vote on Election Day. Sign up for door knocking HERE

Keep in Touch with Your US Representatives and Senators

Those who represent you in Congress need to hear from you during this unprecedented attack on the fabric of our national government. Your Democratic Representatives need to know that you want them to speak up and that you are grateful when they do - their staff are wired to tally constituent sentiment and relay it to them, and this helps to sustain their energy, especially since they will doubtless also hear from MAGA voters as well. Your Senators need to hear from you too - with strong objections when they fail to stand up to authoritarians, and with appreciation when they do. HERE are the numbers to call (choosing the Congressperson who corresponds to the District where you live). Yes, we need to replace Senator Collins in 2026, but in the meantime, she needs to hear every day about how important it is for her to – at least occasionally - stand up to the would-be oligarchy that her party has installed in the White House.

Local Committee Meetings

The Maine Democratic Party has active County and Municipal Committees. Many of them have already launched local efforts to respond and oppose the Trump Administration's chaotic attack on our values and our government infrastructure. If you are looking for a way to get involved, this is a great place to start! These local Committees work closely with us on volunteer projects and carry out grassroots organizing work in their communities. Find your local committee HERE.

We still want to hear from you! Thank you to those who have shared feedback, questions, comments, and concerns with us. Please share yours with us HERE. All messages will be shared with us directly, and any optional identifying information you provide will be shared only with us and Party staff helping us to compile it.

Thanks for your patience as we continue to get our bearings in this challenging and chaotic time, and please join us in a sustained effort to hold on to what we have in Maine and turn our national government back toward serving the interests of ordinary working people, here and across our country.

In solidarity,
Charlie Dingman, Maine Democratic Party Chair
Imke Schessler-Jandreau, Maine Democratic Party Vice Chair