Brakey running for Maine senate seat

[Pandaguineapig]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/senator-eric-brakey-to-run-for-us-senate-against-sen-angus-king/428448546

He starts out as an underdog against king(though he may retire) but he has a large amount of grassroots support and has won a democratic leaning state senate seat by large margins

[MAINEiac4434]

It's "Brakey."

Anyway he's screwed. Angus is untouchable. Summers was a better candidate and King destroyed him in 2012.

[Pandaguineapig]

It's "Brakey."

Anyway he's screwed. Angus is untouchable. Summers was a better candidate and King destroyed him in 2012.

I know, damn autocorrect

[DrScholl]

Who?

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, Brakey isn't even the right candidate to make it competitive.

Still, I wish Angus King just became a full Democrat. I'd actually dislike him less if he did that, it's what he really is, honestly.

[McGovernForPrez]

Somewhere between Likely and Safe D, especially with IRV voting. That being said, I'll never understand why Collins and King have such a wide appeal in Maine.

Collins is a vestige of when Maine was a reliably republican state. King is just someone who's better suited to the state than your run of the mill Democrat. Partisan strength is really really weak in New England, so Angus probably runs better as an independent than he would as a Democrat.

[Figueira]

Likely D.

Is IRV actually happening? I haven't heard much on that.

[MAINEiac4434]

Somewhere between Likely and Safe D, especially with IRV voting. That being said, I'll never understand why Collins and King have such a wide appeal in Maine.

We love incumbents.

Likely D.

Is IRV actually happening? I haven't heard much on that.

It passed in November, but I believe it's subject to a court challenge.

Who?

Exactly.

[Figueira]

I know it passed in November, but I was wondering whether it will actually be in place in 2018.

[MAINEiac4434]

I know it passed in November, but I was wondering whether it will actually be in place in 2018.

Assuming it survives the court challenge, yes. It may not be decided by then, though.

[MAINEiac4434]

Brakey's logo let's you know exactly who he supported in the primary.



Rand should sue for copyright infringement.

Also yesterday, King came out against Gorsuch, which makes me think he's more concerned about a Democrat challenging him than a Republican.

[Kamala]

I'm getting a Josh Mandel vibe from Brakey, except this time it's actually a little boy running for the Senate seat.

Won't be surprised if we see him running in 2020 (if Collins retires), 2022 governor, 2024, any of those years for the house seat, etc., etc....

[MAINEiac4434]

I'm getting a Josh Mandel vibe from Brakey, except this time it's actually a little boy running for the Senate seat.

Won't be surprised if we see him running in 2020 (if Collins retires), 2022 governor, 2024, any of those years for the house seat, etc., etc....

Yeah, he probably knows he's DOA against Angus, even if there is a real Democrat running. He probably also knows that the Dems are favored in the race for the Blaine House with LePage's unpopularity.

If he can get within 20 points of Angus, that'll look better on a resume than losing by five to a Democrat for governor.

[MAINEiac4434]

LePage is still running, right? If so, I think he will win the GOP primary relatively easily.

He's said multiple times he's challenging King, but he hasn't "officially launched a campaign" like Brakey has. And yeah, LePage is hugely popular among the Republicans here (but Brakey is definitely a better candidate against King).

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Who?

[libertpaulian]

Bruce Poliquin should run, IMO.  He's also popular among the Paulist wing of the GOP.

[Figueira]

Bruce Poliquin should run, IMO.  He's also popular among the Paulist wing of the GOP.

Eh, from his POV, running for re-election makes way more sense. He has no chance of beating King, whereas he's heavily favored in his district.

[ProgressiveCanadian]

Safe Angus. Young conservatives are a dying breed.

[MT Treasurer]

Bruce Poliquin should run, IMO.  He's also popular among the Paulist wing of the GOP.

He should either run for reelection in his district or for governor (though that would be a risky move), but not against King.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Endorsed!

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I think King only faces the remote possibility of losing if IRV fails in the courts and the Democrats run a strong candidate.  Speaking of which, is there any realistic possibility of a Democrat running in this election, or can the state party either endorse King or be neutral?

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Bruce Poliquin should run, IMO.  He's also popular among the Paulist wing of the GOP.

Eh, from his POV, running for re-election makes way more sense. He has no chance of beating King, whereas he's heavily favored in his district.

"Heavily favored" is a stretch, to say the least.  It depends what type of Democrat gets nominated and what the national mood is like in 2018.  But yes, it makes far more sense to run for re-election if you're Poliquin.

[smoltchanov]

Endorsed!

No. I prefer King))))

[MAINEiac4434]

Bruce Poliquin should run, IMO.  He's also popular among the Paulist wing of the GOP.

He's gonna turn the second district into his personal fiefdom, he's not going to beat Angus because no one is going to beat Angus.

[MAINEiac4434]

I think King only faces the remote possibility of losing if IRV fails in the courts and the Democrats run a strong candidate.  Speaking of which, is there any realistic possibility of a Democrat running in this election, or can the state party either endorse King or be neutral?

Diane Russell, who made a name for herself as an extremely prominent Benie supporter, but finished third in her primary (out of three) in 2016 and faced questions about her ethics. Most prominent Dems (Alfond, Mills, Dunlap, Lee) are making overtures for Governor, because they realize that King is popular, the alternative is worse and that King is basically a Democrat.