NEWS | Pingree rouses Biddeford Democrats

The former Maine House Speaker is trailing far behind her Democrat rivals with only three weeks remaining before the June 9 primary election

By RANDY SEAVER | Editor

With less than three weeks remaining before Maine’s June 9 primary election, Democrat Hannah Pingree brought her campaign to Biddeford on Wednesday for a “Town Hall” event at The Gutter Bar on Main Street.

Pingree, the former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives (2008-2010), is trailing far behind her Democrat rivals, according to a recent poll by Pan Atlantic Research.

As reported Wednesday by WMTW-TV, Pingree is in last place among Democrats (9 percent), a field that shows Nirav Shah leading the pack (29%), followed by Angus King III (24%), Troy Jackson (12%) and Shenna Bellows (10%).

**A CROWD OF ROUGHLY 60** people gathered Wednesday at The Gutter Bar on Main Street in Biddeford to hear gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree explain why she wants to be Maine’s next governor. | *Seaver photo*

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Despite Pingree’s lackluster polling numbers, a crowd of roughly 60 people – including every member of Biddeford’s legislative delegation — gave Pingree a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

Beyond current lawmakers, Wednesday’s event also drew former legislators, city councilors and other influential Biddeford Democrats.

Speaker Ryan Fecteau introduced Pingree, describing her as someone Maine people can rely upon to “stand up against the assault” of the Trump Administration.

Just the mention of the president’s name drew a rigorous wave of support from attendees.

“Trump and his cruelty have no place in our state,” Fecteau said during his opening remarks. “When it comes to our next governor, I want someone who is smart. Someone with a good temperament. Someone who knows our state from south to north, east to west.”

**HANNAH PINGREE** laid out her vision for Maine during a Town Hall campaign event in Biddeford.

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Pingree was gracious and clearly humbled by the warm praise, describing herself as someone who grew up in a small coastal town — in a household where public service was a family tradition.

Pingree’s mother, Chellie, has been serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2009.

Pingree spoke of common values and Maine traditions of hard work and compromise.

The themes she invoked Wednesday are reflected on her campaign website.

“Too many Mainers are working hard and still falling behind,” Pingree says in one section of her site. “It’s not because they are doing anything wrong, but because the cost of housing, health care, energy, childcare and groceries has outpaced what most families earn. The Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs, foreign wars, and economic mismanagement have made it much worse.”

Beyond the mention of Trump’s name, many of those attending raised significant concerns about Republican Bobby Charles who is the clear front runner among GOP gubernatorial hopefuls.

**CURIOUS & LISTENING** | Biddeford residents Ken and Kathy Griffin, Sam Pecor, City Councilor David Kurtz and former councilor Bill Emhiser attended Wednesday’s Town Hall event on Main Street. | *Seaver photo*

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One person attending Wednesday’s Town Hall described Charles as a “MAGA-loving Trump sycophant.”

But not all of Biddeford’s notable Democrats attended Pingree’s Town Hall event.

Richard Rhames, an outspoken progressive Democrat from Biddeford, described Pingree’s supporters as “Clintonian,’ referencing former President Bill Clinton, a self-described moderate leader.

Rhames said he is supporting former State Senate president Troy Jackson in Maine’s Democratic Primary for the Blaine House.

“Do you think any of those people at The Gutter could even utter the words “single-payer?” Rhames quipped in reference to the national healthcare debate.

Several of those attending Wednesday’s event said they are still not sure who they will be voting for on June 9.

Bill Franks of Wells said he traveled to Biddeford on Wednesday because he was “curious” about Pingree.

“I’m trying to figure who will be the best person to stand up to the extreme corruption now happening in Washington,” Franks said.

James Flint of Biddeford also said he is undecided, but added that any of the Democratic candidate would be better than anything being offered by Maine Republicans.

Tom McPheeters, one of the Gazette’s regular contributing reporters, said he is “keeping an open mind.”

“I am curious,” McPheeters said. “I am impressed with Hannah, but I’m keeping an open mind.”

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