For years, Congress has had a dismal approval rating, and the House in particular has suffered from its own internal chaos. “Throw the bums out!” is a crude but effective mantra for many.

Which brings us to Maine’s 1st District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who is quietly seeking a fifth term this November. Unlike 2nd District Congressman Bruce Poliquin, Pingree does not have a viable opponent.

Republican Mark Holbrook was disinclined to meet with The Times Record to discuss an endorsement, but his behavior during the primary make us question his temperament.

Meanwhile, his blog provides some insight to his mindset that lays the nation’s problems solely on liberals and on political correctness. For example, see his post of cherry-picked facts linking government and media connections happily ignoring how his own party’s standard bear Donald Trump has done the same.

His stance on other positions are worrisome: An embrace of voodoo economics; a hardline immigration policy; a view of gun control stuck in the 18th century; repealing Obamacare; and a position on climate change based more on conspiracy theory than science.

And like Trump, whom Holbrook supports, Holbrook doesn’t appear to have ever held elected office.

As part of the Democrat minority, Pingree has been focused largely on domestic issues. Pingree sits on the agriculture subcommittee of the powerful Appropriations in Congress, where she works on policy that supports small farmers and organic foods.

In speaking with The Times Record in September, Pingree displayed a depth of knowledge on issues local to our readers, including challenges facing Bath Iron Works workers or green energy developments at Brunswick Landing.

This summer, Pingree participated in a sit-in of the House floor to push for gun control legislation after a number of fatal shootings. That event made national headlines when Republicans turned off the cameras in the House, and the Democrats turned to online streaming tools like Periscope to broadcast their conversation to the nation.

Many Republicans derided the sit-in as a publicity stunt. Perhaps it was. Perhaps it also shined a light on a majority party that has become so inflexible, and so deep in the pocket of the NRA that it is incapable of passing the most basic, common-sense gun control legislation.

Pingree’s voting record also indicates support for the environment, parental leave, steps toward more universal healthcare and equal rights for women and the LGBT community. For these reasons, and the others previously listed that we think Pingree deserves another two years in Congress.

The Times Record endorses Chellie Pingree.