July 28, 2026: Troy Jackson is about to go under the national microscope. Here's a look at his past
Troy Jackson has long pushed for the rights of the working class, but will now face heightened scrutiny from the national press and the Repu...
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Maine's Political Pulse
A new series of talks on Morning Edition, Maine's Political Pulse taps into the expertise of our top political reporters, Steve Mistler and Mal Leary. Loading...
Episodes
20 of 25 episodesJuly 17, 2026: Who are the candidates hoping to become Maine's Senate nominee, and what happens next?
The field of 12 includes several seasoned politicians fresh off primary campaigns for governor or Congress but also about a half-dozen lesse...
June 26, 2026: We're through the primaries. Here's how things are shaping up for November
While Republican turnout was strong compared to most years, it fell well short of the Democrats’ get-out-the-vote effort, suggesting the GOP...
May 15, 2026: Looking to topple Bobby Charles, Maine's GOP primary candidates are turning to an unlikely tool
While public polling in the contest has been scarce, Bobby Charles has drawn the most scrutiny from his rivals.
May 14, 2026: How the Democrats running to be Maine's next governor are trying to stand out from the crowd
With the primary elections just a month away, the five Democrats running for Maine governor are each working to distinguish themselves in a...
March 19, 2026: In attacking Graham Platner, Maine Gov. Janet Mills hopes women will energize her U.S. Senate bid
This week, Mills, who's been trailing Platner in publicly available polling, launched an attack ad that leans heavily on one of her strength...
Feb. 20, 2026: All eyes are on this special House election in Lewiston. Here's why
The fight for the House District 94 seat in Lewiston is a preview of — or perhaps an early skirmish in — this fall’s larger battle between t...
Jan. 16, 2026: Maine political leaders react as rumors swirl about ICE action
The prospects of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement in Maine’s two largest cities elicited strong responses from state and local elec...
Jan. 2, 2026: A conversation with Rep. Jared Golden on his decision not to run again
The past year delivered a lot of big surprises and Rep. Jared Golden's sudden decision to abandon his reelection bid was among them. Maine P...
Dec. 12, 2025: Deep-pocketed groups are already spending on the Maine U.S. Senate race. Here’s an early guide
AdImpact, an organization tracking political ads, estimates the Maine Senate contest could help draw more than $300 million in spending on c...
Nov. 14, 2025: Angus King broke ranks to help end the government shutdown. The backlash has been withering
The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history is over. But with little to show for it, the mostly Democratic politicians who ended...
Nov. 5, 2025: Maine voters reject elections overhauls, enact red-flag gun bill
The results from Tuesday’s referendum election highlighted new challenges for conservative activists hoping to use Maine’s citizens’ initiat...
Oct. 31, 2025: Here's your last-minute guide to Questions 1 and 2 on Tuesday's ballot
On Tuesday, Maine voters will settle long-running policy debates over voter ID and guns during an off-year election that has been overshadow...
Oct. 24, 2025: Will Graham Platner's commanding polling lead falter amid stream of opposition research releases?
For nearly two months, Graham Platner’s bid for the U.S. Senate was marked by momentum and bravado as the political newcomer drew big crowds...
Oct. 15, 2025: What Janet Mills' entrance means for the Senate race in Maine
State House correspondent Kevin Miller spoke with political science professor Jim Melcher from the University of Maine-Farmington about Gov....
Oct. 15, 2025: With Question 2, voters will weigh in on whether Maine's current gun-confiscation law is sufficient
Proponents of Question 2 argue that the existing law — often referred to as Maine’s yellow flag law — is a failed experiment that was not us...
Oct. 6, 2025: Does Maine's Question 1 call for commonsense voter ID changes or will it undermine absentee voting?
The competing narratives about Question 1’s true objectives and potential impacts are perhaps best epitomized by the names of the groups lea...
Sept. 11, 2025: Maine's Democratic Senate primary is taking early shape
There’s a bonafide primary contest among Democrats in the Maine race for the U.S. Senate. And one of the leading contestants, Gov. Janet Mil...
Aug. 21, 2025: Who is Graham Platner and why is he everywhere right now?
Defeating Susan Collins is Graham Platner’s primary goal, but he and his campaign also signaled that they’re gearing up for a potential figh...
Aug. 14, 2025: GOP gubernatorial hopeful takes aim at one of Maine's Somali-American lawmakers
The 2026 gubernatorial election is 16 months away, yet Republican hopeful Bobby Charles has already managed to break through the mostly rout...