The energy and enthusiasm that infused the Democratic State Convention in Portland this month underscored the momentum so many of us are feeling this year as we work to pick up seats locally, in the statehouse and Congress.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz spoke of how it’s imperative to regain Democratic leadership to put our constitutional rights back on course. Maine State Party Chair Charlie Dingman addressed the work ahead for us to achieve the votes we need in November. And candidates in the major races took the spotlight and mapped out their priorities.
All of that is against a backdrop of plummeting support for President Trump. The latest Washington Post-ABC-Ipsos poll showed 62% of Americans surveyed disapproved of the president – the highest disapproval in either of his terms, and that’s after little more than a year in office. More than two-thirds are unhappy with how he’s handling the economy and the war in Iran. More than 70 percent disapprove of his performance on inflation and the cost of living, his signature issue when elected.
Nevertheless, we have our work cut out for us. We cannot rely on the president’s declining popularity. Nor can we just assume that the string of election successes we’ve seen in the past year, as Democrats have repeatedly flipped seats in red districts and outperformed their 2024 results, will go on or be enough. The recent Supreme Court ruling that is propelling last-minute GOP gerrymandering, and a Virginia state court ruling invalidating a referendum that would have helped Democrats pick up seats in Congress have also thrown fresh hurdles in our way.
Many Americans continue to have serious doubts about Democrats and what we stand for. In Hancock County, we are working hard to address that. One of the most effective tools we have is meeting people face to face for discussions that can help put our Democratic values in perspective and counter the GOP’s years of misinformation demonizing our party and our candidates.
In the past few weeks, our local committees have begun to beef up canvassing, already knocking on hundreds of doors. Many more foot soldiers will be out there in the months to come. We’ve also rolled out the first in a series of radio ads that address the contrast between GOP lip service and how Democrats are the actual stewards for a healthy economy and working class voters. Fliers and door hangers are being prepared that will spell out how WE are the party that will protect healthcare, voting rights, and the environment.
And we’re ramping up Action 26, a fundraising effort that will allow us to blanket the county with our message and make sure we get Democrats elected to the seats necessary to put the brakes on the GOP agenda.This will require an army of volunteers and we need you to join us. This is the year that could either give us the wins we need to start rebuilding from the GOP damage, or losses that could set back our rights, healthcare and livelihoods for decades to come.
If you’d like to find out how you can help, please call our office at (207) 664-6021 or stop in at 53 Church St. in Ellsworth. We’re open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays 10:00am–2:00 pm. Or go to hancockdems.org/town-committees and we can help connect you with the committee in your town.
Onward.
Marcia Myers, HCDC Chair
