Maine Democratic activists gathered in Bangor this weekend for the party’s state convention.
More than 1,000 Democrats attend the state convention to hear from congressional candidates and top elected party leaders. It’s also a chance for party loyalists to organize as they approach an election in which not only the presidency but also every seat in the Maine Legislature is on the ballot.
During Friday night’s opening session, speakers described the party as one of inclusion and “small-D democratic” values. They also portrayed Donald Trump as a threat to the nation if he were re-elected president.
In fact, the loudest applause and cheers of the night came when former state legislator Emily Cain mentioned the guilty verdicts against Trump a day earlier in a New York courtroom.
“And maybe you don’t need a pep talk today because Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts last night,” Cain said to loud applause and whoops and hollers from the crowd. “In the 34 counts of a jury of his peers. And now you’re in a room of Maine Democrats, so you might not need a pep talk tonight.”
It was one of several references to Trump’s conviction in the so-called hush money trial. Meanwhile, Republicans in Maine and across the country have denounced the entire process as politically motivated, while Trump has called it rigged by sowing doubt about the integrity of the judicial system.
Friday’s opening session of the Democratic convention was largely low-key, with most major speakers scheduled for Saturday. But a small group of pro-Palestinian protesters briefly disrupted the evening, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to US military support for Israel.
Protesters began shouting and throwing leaflets at the convention floor as Democrats were about to watch a videotaped message from U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, who is running for re-election in Maine’s 2nd District. The three-term congressman and Marine Corps veteran, who did not attend Friday, criticized President Joe Biden’s threats to withhold military aid to Israel and said Hamas must release all prisoners before a ceasefire.
Protesters continued trying to shout over the convention center’s sound system after Senate President Troy Jackson played the video. They were eventually escorted out of the building by security and police. The groups Jewish Voice for Peace, Health Workers for Palestine and Maine Students for Palestine took credit for the interruption.
The convention continues Saturday when attendees will hear from Gov. Janet Mills, legislative leaders and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District.
The keynote speaker is former U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary and New Mexico Representative Deb Haaland, who was one of the first Native American women elected to Congress.
Republicans held their state convention a month ago in Augusta.
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