By Ray Cardello for June 2, 2025, Season 31 / Post 19

Maine is a beautiful state for a plethora of reasons. Maine has a diverse natural appeal, from its unique rocky coast to its wooded center and the incredible mountains and lakes of its North Country. Maine also has its people who cling to the beliefs of their ancestors that you always have time to come to the aid of a neighbor, and everyone in Maine is a neighbor. There is a feeling in Maine that is difficult to describe but is palpable and draws you in. That feeling of belonging has prompted my partner, Shay, and me to call Maine our new home despite all of Maine’s mounting flaws. God created Maine’s beauty; the Democrats created her flaws. God is still winning this battle.

Maine has evolved, like many states, into two very different demographics. The Left controls the metropolitan areas of Augusta, Portland, and Lewiston/Auburn. These regions are filled with many transplants from other states; they tend to have money, are driving up living costs, forcing real Mainers out, and they think the Left ideology contains all the answers. These “city folk” are hell-bent on changing Maine to suit their whims. This change will not happen without a fight from the rest of the state. Maine is a large state, and the area outside these metro areas is vast. These people are incredibly conservative and traditional and not thrilled about the control the cities have over them. They are fighting back, but the fight against the Left, with its money, corruption, and power, is brutal at best.

Some recent issues and debates show just how far apart these two factions of Maine are:

Immigration: You do not often think of immigration at the state level, but Governor Mills, a Democrat, is intent on opening Maine’s doors to illegal migrants. This influx of people has overburdened a subpar educational system, created a housing shortage, and exploded city budgets strapped to afford the social services these people need.

Transgender Concerns: the transgender population is minute, despite Mills declaring Maine as a sanctuary state for young people to come and obtain transgender medications and surgery without parental consent. The Democrats are giving a disproportionate amount of attention to this small group, including defying federal mandates by allowing biological males to compete in female sports. They have jeopardized federal funds and set up a court battle between Maine and D.C. Maine will lose this fight in court, but not before Mills and the Democrats waste millions of Maine’s tax dollars defending one of their far-Left beliefs.

Chinese Cartels: There are well over 200 illegal Chinese-owned pot farms throughout rural Maine, and Governor Mills appears to have a hands-off approach to them while her brother is profiting from them. These operations are putting neighborhoods at risk not only with their illegal pot farms but with the known human and sex trafficking that is present at these locations. Mills has even gone so far as to grant some of these operators licenses, making them immune to the law.

Education System: Maine has one of the poorest ranked education systems in the country, but the emphasis from the Mills team appears to be on the transgender sports situation and catering to fringe student groups. One such group hit the headlines this week in Farmington. A group of middle school students who identify as “furries” has grown to twenty. These students navigate their day at school on all fours, hissing like cats at the other students. One of the mainstream students was suspended for five days for barking at some of the furries. This was considered a discriminatory act by the “barker.” I think the suspended student should be heralded for his bravery and common sense. How can such a ridiculous situation be allowed to grow out of control? Do we now need gender-free litter boxes in our schools?

These are just four examples of what divides today’s Maine residents. With hard work and a lot of luck, Republicans can bring common sense back to Maine and turn this ship around. The good thing is that Mills is going to term out next year. The bad thing is that her eyes are targeted at Susan Collins’s senate seat. We do need Mills out of Maine, but we do not need her anywhere near our nation’s capitol. Mills has done enough damage. It is time for her to go. It is also time for the WOKE, far-left ideology, to leave with her. It is not working for most Mainers, and, at last check, the majority still holds all the cards.