Action 217 MAINE rules 4 ME!
Background: The Maine Democratic Party has a very important rule in its charter. Here it is:
Maine Democratic Party "Neutrality Policy"
Charter Section 130, states:
"The Maine Democratic Party, and all state and local Party organizations, shall not endorse any person in a Democratic Party primary, unless they are the only candidate who has qualified for the Democratic Party primary election ballot as verified and certified by the Secretary of State's office after the statutory filing deadline... This subsection does not prohibit a Party organization from making general support services available to primary candidates as long as those services are offered equally to all candidates.”
Various branches of the national Democratic party clearly do not hold themselves to this standard. Sometimes they openly endorse: at other times they pour money into campaigns they favor, clearly violating the second portion of the “Neutrality Policy”. The Maine party expects all Maine state and local party organizations to comply with Maine policy. Most of us believe that, in fairness to all, we should!
But so should the national party, when it comes to its dealings in Maine.
Action: If you are a registered Democrat, express your approval of the Maine neutrality policy. Let the national party know that we expect any organization worthy of the name Democratic to adhere to the state rule when dealing with political candidates in the State of Maine. Respect our desire to have a level playing field in our primaries so that the best candidate, according to local judgment, can win. The national party “putting its fist on the scale” for a designated favorite suppresses the participation of Democrats and of potential Democratic voters - who identify such heavy-handed election manipulation with the Republican party.
Contacts:
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
c/o Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair
120 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Democratic National Committee
c/o Ken Martin, Chair
430 South Capitol Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
https://democrats.org/contact-us/
House Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries
2267 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515