06/16/2026
This is the palm card of my opponent, State Representative Dan Sayre.
Dan has served in Augusta for the past four years and currently serves as Chair of the Taxation Committee. I sincerely respect and appreciate his willingness to serve our community.
That said, elections are about records and results. As an elected official, Dan’s voting record is entirely fair game for scrutiny. That’s how democracy is supposed to work. Frankly, his performance in Augusta is one of the reasons I was inspired to enter this race.
His palm card states that he has “worked to lower costs and deliver results for working families.” Voters should carefully consider that claim. During Dan’s tenure in Augusta, families have continued to struggle with affordability, housing costs, energy costs, and one of the highest tax burdens in the nation.
According to U.S. News & World Report’s Best States rankings, Maine has fallen from 18th overall in 2017 to 27th today. Regardless of party affiliation, that trend should concern all of us.
Democrats especially should read the bullet points on this card: “An Economy that Works for Everyone” and “An Agenda to Lower Costs for All Mainers.” I completely agree with those goals. Most Mainers probably do. The question is whether the results match the generic campaign rhetoric here. They don’t.
While the national Republican trifecta can certainly be blamed for higher prices at the gas pump for example, so many of the policies affecting affordability, taxation, housing, and energy costs are determined in Augusta, period dot. Moreover, as a legislator and Chair of the Taxation Committee, Dan has played a direct role in shaping those policies. That’s simply a matter of public record.
Over the coming months, I look forward to sharing facts, voting records, and evidence so voters can make their own “objective” determination.
To note, I understand many people view this race through a partisan lens. Dan is the Democrat. I’m the Republican. For some voters, regrettably, that alone will decide the race. But our campaign has never been about whether someone has a D or an R after their name.
This election is about leadership. We don’t need the status quo: stale, out-of-touch millionaires dictating policy that shapes real lives. Maine needs younger servant leaders who are enduring the grind, will answer tough questions, engage respectfully with those who disagree, and represent all of their constituents, not just a political base, special interest, or narrowly defined socioeconomic class.
The evidence will show that Dan’s leadership decisions have contributed to the fringe divisions (which exist on both sides!) that increasingly define our politics. Our campaign is bedrocked on different principles: listening to all voices, building coalitions, and doing our best to find practical solutions that improve the quality of life for everyone.
If you’re skeptical, I would invite you to attend one of our events and judge for yourself! 🤝🫡
