Maine Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party
in the state of Maine
.
Soon after, in 1834, the Anti-Federalists adopted the Democratic Party name.
The Democrats had limited success for nearly a hundred years, in in part due to slavery. The Northeast was predominantly anti-slavery whereas the South was pro-slavery. When the Whig party
split in 1856, it formed the Republican Party
, which dominated the state of Maine due to its anti-slavery stance.
Maine was predominantly Republican until 1954.
In 1954, in a gubernatorial election, the Democratic legislator Edmund S. Muskie became governor, ending Maine's one-party rule. He won the state over in part due to his stance on economic growth through industrial development, accessible politics on television and being acceptable to diverse population growth. Between 1954 and 1974, the number of registered Democrats more than doubled from 99,000 to 212,000.
In more recent years, Maine has been roughly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. For instance in 1990, independent registered voters constituted 37% of the electorate, Democrats 33%, and Republicans 30%. This is a great contrast to the first hundred years of Maine politics.
The platform ensures economic security through an non-privatized social security program. Strict regulation of public and private pensions and assured protection of worker pension funds.
Maine Democrats' promote fair workplace opportunities and guarantee workers of Maine the right to form unions through the Employee Free Choice Act, which gives employees' the chance to strike without consequences and keeps the workplace free of hazards, harassment, discrimination, etc.
The Party Platform promotes a universal single-payer health care system at the national level and until this is reached they believe each state should develop a heath care system at the state level.
The platform notes education as extremely important. They believe in, investing in educational institutions, and promoting lifelong learning.
The platform also supports environmental protection through implementing a comprehensive energy plan to increase efficiency and reduce pollution.
As noted in the Party Platform of the state of Maine, these are some of the principles and values the Democrats pledge to work on with local governments, and other states to ensure a better future for the state.
. Typically most Democrats are classified in these two ideologies.
The focal point of present day liberalism in Maine includes issues such as, voting rights for all adult citizens, equal rights, protection of the environment, and the provision by the government of social services such as, equal education opportunities, access to health care, transportation infrastructure, basic food for the hungry and basic shelter for the homeless.
All of these principles and issues were a main focus on the 2010 Maine Party Platform.
Progressivism is a ideology that stresses social, political and economic reforms. Progressives typically advocate reforms in areas such as, education, health care, political affairs, etc.
For example, health care reform is progressive. From the traditional system to the universal single-payer system on the national level. The progressives want the reform. In Maine's Party Platform they advocate to stand by the single-payer health care system on the national level, which increasingly labels them part of the Progressivism ideology.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
.
Current Democratic officeholders
The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S. House seats.History
Maine entered the Union in 1820 as a Anti-Federalist State.Soon after, in 1834, the Anti-Federalists adopted the Democratic Party name.
The Democrats had limited success for nearly a hundred years, in in part due to slavery. The Northeast was predominantly anti-slavery whereas the South was pro-slavery. When the Whig party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
split in 1856, it formed the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, which dominated the state of Maine due to its anti-slavery stance.
Maine was predominantly Republican until 1954.
In 1954, in a gubernatorial election, the Democratic legislator Edmund S. Muskie became governor, ending Maine's one-party rule. He won the state over in part due to his stance on economic growth through industrial development, accessible politics on television and being acceptable to diverse population growth. Between 1954 and 1974, the number of registered Democrats more than doubled from 99,000 to 212,000.
In more recent years, Maine has been roughly evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and independents. For instance in 1990, independent registered voters constituted 37% of the electorate, Democrats 33%, and Republicans 30%. This is a great contrast to the first hundred years of Maine politics.
Party platform
The Maine Democratic Party goals are to promote economic security, opportunities, health care, education, ethical government, freedom, safety and national security. Maine Democrats are also in support of civil rights, clean environment, global peace and security. These are the issues and guidelines the Maine Democratic elected officials base their political work around while serving the people of the state of Maine.The platform ensures economic security through an non-privatized social security program. Strict regulation of public and private pensions and assured protection of worker pension funds.
Maine Democrats' promote fair workplace opportunities and guarantee workers of Maine the right to form unions through the Employee Free Choice Act, which gives employees' the chance to strike without consequences and keeps the workplace free of hazards, harassment, discrimination, etc.
The Party Platform promotes a universal single-payer health care system at the national level and until this is reached they believe each state should develop a heath care system at the state level.
The platform notes education as extremely important. They believe in, investing in educational institutions, and promoting lifelong learning.
The platform also supports environmental protection through implementing a comprehensive energy plan to increase efficiency and reduce pollution.
As noted in the Party Platform of the state of Maine, these are some of the principles and values the Democrats pledge to work on with local governments, and other states to ensure a better future for the state.
Ideology
The Ideology associated with the Maine Democrats can be classified as American Liberalism and ProgressivismProgressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
. Typically most Democrats are classified in these two ideologies.
The focal point of present day liberalism in Maine includes issues such as, voting rights for all adult citizens, equal rights, protection of the environment, and the provision by the government of social services such as, equal education opportunities, access to health care, transportation infrastructure, basic food for the hungry and basic shelter for the homeless.
All of these principles and issues were a main focus on the 2010 Maine Party Platform.
Progressivism is a ideology that stresses social, political and economic reforms. Progressives typically advocate reforms in areas such as, education, health care, political affairs, etc.
For example, health care reform is progressive. From the traditional system to the universal single-payer system on the national level. The progressives want the reform. In Maine's Party Platform they advocate to stand by the single-payer health care system on the national level, which increasingly labels them part of the Progressivism ideology.
Members of Congress
- U.S. House of Representatives
- Chellie PingreeChellie PingreeRochelle M. "Chellie" Pingree is an American politician. She is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing since 2009. The district includes most of the southern part of the state, including Portland and Augusta.Pingree was a member of the Maine Senate from...
; 1st districtMaine's 1st congressional districtMaine's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. The geographically smaller of the two congressional districts in the state, the district covers the southern coastal area of the state. The district consists of all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc,... - Mike MichaudMike MichaudMichael Herman Michaud is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district comprises nearly 80% of the state by area and includes the cities of Lewiston, Auburn, Bangor, and Presque Isle...
; 2nd districtMaine's 2nd congressional districtMaine's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Maine. Covering , it comprises nearly 80% of the state. It is the largest district east of the Mississippi River and the 24th-largest overall. The district consists of all of the state north of the Portland and...
- Chellie Pingree