John –

I've written an open letter to the Washington elites who are flooding our state with money and consultants and opinions and even more money in an attempt to hijack the democratic primary months before a single vote is cast.

Read it over. If you agree that Maine voters ­– not party insiders – have the right to pick our nominee to defeat Susan Collins, please sign my petition.

Betsy

An open letter to Democratic leadership:

How many times?

How many times are you going to interfere with primary races by picking a winner before the people do?

How many times are you going to back middle-of-the-road candidates in hopes that they'll somehow manufacture enthusiasm out of caution?

And how many more times will Democrats be disappointed on election night, because you misunderstood the word "electable"?

Here's what makes a candidate "electable": not donors. It's voters. Voters vote for candidates.

That's it. (Really, it's not that complicated.)

I've been talking to Democrats all over this state for the last couple years, and I can promise you this: Mainers have had enough of the national Democratic party force-feeding them candidates that they choose.

We've had enough of candidates so afraid to upset the rich and powerful that they won't even take a stand.

Mainers are ready for progressive leaders who won't hesitate to say what we believe, even if it means stepping on some donor's thousand-dollar shoes.

At a time when people are choosing between putting food on the table and going to the doctor; when people are worried about their jobs vanishing in an abstract trade war; when the weather itself is attacking us, no one needs more poll-tested, corporate-friendly incremental ideas.

And no one wants party elites telling them how to vote.

So, – and I can't believe I even have to say this, but ­– the Democratic leadership needs to respect the democratic process in Maine.

Sincerely,

Betsy Sweet
Democrat for Senate
Hallowell, ME

Sign the Petition