GEORGETOWN
The Georgetown Democratic Committee came out with an early endorsement of Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, nearly a year and a half before election day 2018.
“We wanted to be the leader in having Democrats support Independent Angus King,” said Georgetown Democratic Committee Chairman Jay Holt. “We wanted to back Angus King and not have a third, weak Democrat come [into the race].”
Holt said that the committee believed King was “doing great things” in the Senate.
According to Holt, the committee came to their decision to endorse King about a month ago, but decided to run it by Chair of the Sagadahoc County Democrats Bronwen Tudor first, who he said questioned the early endorsement. Holt said that he didn’t run the decision by the Maine Democratic Party.
“We said we still believe this is the way to go, and we’re independent, and we don’t have to necessarily dovetail to everything that Tudor says,” said Holt.
Tudor clarified in a later interview that while she was made aware of the Georgetown
Democratic Committee’s decision, she did not have the authority in her position to approve or deny their endorsement. She did, however, call it premature to endorse the Independent candidate prior to any Democrats announcing their campaign.
King was first elected to the senate in a three-way race in 2012, where he won 51.1 percent of the vote. Republican nominee Charlie Summers finished with just 29.7 percent of the vote and Democratic nominee Cynthia Dill came in a distant third with 12.8 percent.
“We heard from Angus King’s campaign manager here in Maine. He’s delighted — He thinks it’s great!,” said Holt.
On the Democratic side, no candidates have taken up the challenge to unseat King in 2018, though it is still early. On the Republican side, Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, is the only one to announce a bid for the senate seat so far. Governor Paul LePage released a statement earlier this month saying that he would not be running for the senate in 2018.
The Maine Democratic Party did not return a request for comment.
nstrout@timesrecord.com
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