Now What?
Collins protest today. And best ways to invest your time to make a difference in November
Dear Friends,
With the primaries past, we can at last move all our energy into something positive: changing the current state of affairs instead of just protesting the current state of affairs. We do this by electing people who can effect those changes.
In this pause before the elections, it might be worthwhile to take a moment to consider the best way you can make an impact here. Below are five suggestions, for people with different amounts of time to invest. I go into detail on two of these ideas that you may not be familiar with—joining a digital citizens project, and registering voters.
That commitment to November is the main long-term action to focus on this week, but as always I’ve included a few things to cheer about, and also a big event to round out the week— a gathering in front of Susan Collins’s Portland office today to mark the anniversary of the tragic outcome of her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.
Yours for democracy,
Amy
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PROTEST at Collins’s office today—anniversary of Dobbs
Susan Collins had the brass balls to lie to Fox News this week about her role in overturning Roe v. Wade, claiming Brett Kavanaugh’s vote didn’t matter because it was a 6-3 decision. It was not. The critical vote was 5-4, and Kavanaugh’s vote was decisive, just as Collins’s vote to confirm Kavanaugh was decisive—a vote she still claims she “does not regret.”
Today (June 24) marks the four-year anniversary of that Supreme Court Dobbs decision. Mainers who do regret that disastrous ruling, who regret keeping Collins in office this long, are planning a rally today at 2:45 outside her Portland office at 1 Canal Plaza. Sign up here, or just show up. We need to remind her we remember the truth, we will never forget her betrayal.
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Five Ways To Help Win in November
So, where do you even start? That depends on how much time and energy you want to commit to bringing about a real change in Congress this fall.
You have some time and really want to make a difference?
1) Join a new “Digital Citizen” brigade dedicated to defeating Collins.
Do you use social media? Are you or do you know “influencers” who might share a desire to send Susan Collins packing? The Chickadee Network, a unique new project run by Mainers, is looking to recruit both team leaders and ordinary digital citizens to help spread messaging about the Senate race in Maine. It’s an extremely well organized, volunteer-driven online team of Mainers that was founded because, in their words, “the Democratic Party is trailing in its ability to engage meaningfully with voters on social media — and we plan to change that.” They aim to “promote left-leaning, Maine-based social media content,” and they need your help. Go here to join the network and to learn more about it. First training session is July 12.
2) Help people register to vote.
From 2020 to 2025, the proportion of Mainers registered to vote as Republicans grew by 7 percent while Democrats shrank by 6 percent. Those of you who worked on my Southern Maine Voter Team know that the best way to fight this trend is by registering people to vote in southern Maine, a Democratic stronghold.
The best way to do that (since SoMe VoTe is dormant) is by joining a League of Women Voters registration drive. LWV of Maine has chapters in the Portland area, Bath/Brunswick, the Midcoast, the Capital area, Hancock County, Piscataquis County, and greater Bangor.
Its volunteers set up nonpartisan information and registration tables at public events, high schools, colleges, and high-traffic community spaces. LWVM frequently partners with community organizations, like Avesta Housing and the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, to run targeted registration events for new citizens. It also maintains a presence at official ceremonies to register newly naturalized citizens immediately. Sign up here to volunteer at one of their voter registration drives.
3) Get out there and talk to neighbors about the issues.
Forget the off-putting PAC-funded ads on TV. The real way to move the needle with voters is a technique called “deep listening.” Really talking with, and listening to, voters is the best way to educate fellow Mainers on the issues and candidates. Two ways to do it:
Cumberland County; June 25: Join Cumberland County Indivisible’s “March to the Midterms” planning session to create ways to do voter outreach, to educate voters about the important issues, and “ensure Mainers will have a free, fair and secure election in November.” Register for the June 25 event here.
Anywhere;Tuesdays 8-8:30 (virtually): Ground Truth is a major grassroots voter-contact initiative launched by the progressive political organization Swing Left. The program aims to rebuild voter trust and win competitive elections in the midterms by throwing out traditional campaign tactics and focusing on deep-listening community conversations. Instead of filtering voter lists by political party, volunteers knock on every single door in a targeted swing district. This includes Independents, Republicans, and low-propensity voters who are typically ignored by mainstream campaigns. Sign up here for virtual trainings (every Tuesday, 8-8:30). Or go here to explore all Ground Truth volunteer opportunities.
You don’t have much time but you want to do your bit?
1) Join a campaign.
Work at your own pace when you can spare some time. Click the links to volunteer for Hannah Pingree, Matt Dunlap, or Graham Platner.
2) Donate—directly to the campaign.
Many people are loathe to give to the national Democratic apparatus, but you can make sure your money goes directly to the candidate of your choice by clicking the Donate button on their campaign web site. Here are donate links for three Maine races, plus five other Senate races the Dems must win:
MAINE: Graham Platner for Senate; Hannah Pingree for Governor; Matt Dunlap for U.S. House.
NATIONAL SENATE RACES: James Talarico (Texas); Roy Cooper (North Carolina); Sherrod Brown (Ohio); Josh Turek (Iowa); and Jon Ossoff (Georgia).
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Good Stuff
There’ve definitely been some things to cheer about recently.
Turnout in the Maine primaries. Nearly twice as many people voted in the Democratic gubernatorial primary (215,306) as in the Republican one (117,174). This is in part due to heavy turnout by Dems and in part because Independents--allowed to vote in the primaries--broke for the Democrats by a 3-1 margin. The turnout margin for Democrats is significantly higher than in 2018 when Democrats’ total was 120,406 and Republicans’ was 88,335.
Ocean Observatories Initiative saved. The National Science Foundation reversed its decision to dismantle this ongoing climate-change monitoring project, due to “vigorous objections from Democratic lawmakers and scientists.”
Heartwarming speeches. There have been two in recent days, both guaranteed to lift your spirits. First, a speech by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani praising the city’s togetherness and tough spirit after the Knicks’ won the NBA finals. That win brought out the best in people. A rapturous rap singer described seeing “orthodox Jewish kids break dancing with Blacks.” And “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, Knicks in five!” became a viral meme.
Then, at the dedication of the Obama Presidential Center, Michelle Obama brought Barrack to tears by celebrating the qualities he brought to the White House. “Eight years in the crucible, and not once did you melt from the heat [or] let it harden you. Instead, you used it to reveal your truest essence. Your stubborn optimism and unflinching courage . . . and absolutely unshakeable moral fiber.” (This in contrast to Trump, who was was even then telling heads of state at a G7 press conference that Iranian leaders “laughed at Obama and they said, ‘He’s a stupid son of a bitch.’”)
Resistance pays off in Georgia: Grassroots protests brought about a sudden reversal by GOP legislators on proposed pre-midterms gerrymandering in Georgia. “Make no mistake,” said Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones, “it was the people of Georgia who put pressure on the General Assembly and let them know they did not appreciate the attempt to steal these elections.” And State Rep. Jasmine Clark called it “a massive victory for the people, who organized and protested these maps because they knew the stakes.”
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LAST LAUGH
The World Cup has been another source of good feelings, as the warm welcome given foreign teams by their host cities has made people abroad realize Americans are—unlike their government— in fact welcoming, friendly people. Who can’t, for example, love the love being spread around Boston, thanks to the Tartan Army?
But for the best ever World Cup laugh, this Monty Python skit is a must watch.
ONGOING RALLIES AND EVENTS
There are scores of weekly and special events planned, from South Berwick to Southwest Harbor. Find all of them—and more—at this ActivateMaine calendar, which is searchable by kind of event and by region.
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____RESOURCES____
ICE RESISTANCE RESOURCES
*NEW* ICE-tracking resource: LighthouseME.org. “A statewide platform where Mainers can find trusted information, connect to resources, explore the data, and understand the issues communities are facing.” Includes map of recent ICE activity.
Report abusive ICE behavior to dedicated Maine Attorney General email: CitizenReporting.OAG@maine.gov.
Anti-ICE Events This Week. Search the ICE OUT tab for one near you
ActivateMaine Ice Action Toolkit
Ice Watch Hotline in Maine: 207-544-9989. (To report ICE activity.)
Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition. Great ICE-fighting resources. Hotline operator and verifier training sign-up here.
Jessica Craven’s ICE Out Boycott List
GENERAL RESOURCES
ActivateMaine.com. Website with a searchable calendar of statewide protests and community building events. List your events here!
Maine Congressional phone #s.
Sen. Collins: Portland: (207) 618-5560 -- Lewiston: (207) 784-6969--Biddeford: (207) 283-1101--Caribou: (207) 493-7873 Augusta: (207) 622-8414 -- Washington DC: (202) 224-2523
Sen. King: (202) 224-5344; Portland: (207) 245-1565
Rep. Pingree: (202) 225-6116; Portland: (207) 774-5019
Rep. Golden: (202) 225-6306; Maine: (207) 241-6767
RESISTBOT. Resistbot, a free app, is a quick and easy way for people who prefer to write to elected officials. By simply by texting “resist” to 50409 you can add your name to pre-written letters that will be delivered to them.
Other Congressional Phone #s: Find your Rep here. Find your Senator here.
5calls.org Great app for helping make those 5 calls a day. Does all the heavy lifting.
Find a Group Near You: a listing of the grassroots resistance groups in Maine.
Find a Protest Near You: listing of protests held regularly in Maine.
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Note to All Readers
Maine Matters will always be available as a free resource. Clicking the payment option allows you the choice to pay a subscription fee. I use a portion of those fees to support independent news outlets and journalists, groups that are engaged in the Resistance movement, and those helping our immigrant communities.
My Background
While I am best known in Maine as a children’s book author, I began my writing career as a reporter and editor of a small town newspaper. I have worked as a writer, editor, and freelance journalist for many years, in publications ranging from the Maine Sunday Telegram to the New Yorker. I was the Regional Co-Coordinator for Swing Left Maine in 2020 and founded the voter registration group, SoME VoTe, in 2022. I live in Portland and Vinalhaven.
The Purpose of Maine Matters
Maine Matters is a weekly round-up of resistance efforts in Maine, alerts about opportunities to protect democracy, and updates on the national political scene as it affects Maine.
As always, share this newsletter widely. And thank you for doing your part for democracy.