The federal bill comes at the urging of 15 secretaries of state, including Maine’s Shenna Bellows, and would provide states with additional resources to recruit, train, retain and protect election workers, while creating federal safeguards to shield election workers from intimidation and threats.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
Republicans attack Mills administration for anti-racism lesson plan
A video posted to the Department of Education website and available to high school teachers includes MAGA and “all lives matter” as examples of covert racism.
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Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
Lobbying group for Maine hunters and gun owners gives Mills an A rating; LePage gets an incomplete
The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine says Republican Paul LePage, who received an A from the group in 2014, pulled out of the grading process after it pressed for answers about his position on land conservation.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
While governor of Maine, LePage sought two positions in Trump administration
Two years before the end of his term, former Republican Gov. Paul LePage wanted to oversee national welfare reform and head up an international aid agency, internal records reveal.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
Thelander blames uptick in violent crime on Pingree, progressives in D.C.
Following a string of shootings in Portland, Republican congressional candidate Ed Thelander holds a news conference to express his support for law enforcement and accuse U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of being anti-police.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
Outside money pouring into Maine’s race for governor
Spending by outside groups trying to influence Maine’s gubernatorial election has begun in earnest, with $1.4 million spent in the first two weeks of September and much more on the way.
Posted inMaine, Politics
Candidates for governor set to meet on debate stage
Gov. Janet Mills, former Gov. Paul LePage and independent Sam Hunkler have committed to at least one joint debate, and there could be more.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, News, Politics
The race for governor: This one is personal
While this is the first time their names have been on the same ballot, the enmity between Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage goes back more than a decade.
Posted inMaine, News, Politics
Maine campaigns set to heat up after Labor Day, led by governors race
Incumbent Janet Mills faces a familiar opponent in Paul LePage, who served two terms from 2011-2019. Also at stake is control of the Legislature, where Democrats have advantages in the House and Senate.
Posted inElection 2022, Maine, Politics
Maine parties counting on national issues to mobilize their voters
The economy and an unpopular president are seen as advantages for Republicans, while Democrats focus on abortion, falling gas prices and student debt relief.