Gov. Mills blasts ICE, calling it ‘secret police’ in Portland remarks
Janet Mills criticized what she said was a lack of transparency from the Trump administration.
Politics
Local, statewide and national political news from the Sun Journal.
ICE operations confirmed in Maine, targeting ‘criminal illegal aliens’
A Homeland Security spokesperson said ‘Operation Catch of the Day’ launched Tuesday, following days of rumors that federal immigration enforcement would be ramping up in Maine.
Maine independent joins race to unseat Susan Collins in US Senate
Tim Rich, a former Bar Harbor restaurant owner, is mounting a longshot bid for one of the most competitive races in the country.
Live updates, Jan. 21: Gov. Mills says Maine is committed to residents’ ‘safety and civil rights’
Reports of ICE activity in Maine have intensified, while a Department of Homeland Security leader told Fox News that federal officers have identified over 1,000 targets across the state.
One year in, Trump’s Maine supporters say he’s doing a great job
President Trump has brought a flurry of broad-reaching changes since taking office one year ago, and they’ve been largely welcomed by Republican voters.
Connect with our reporters
Randy Billings
Billy Kobin
Rachel Ohm
Get Maine political news sent right to your phone. Sign up for text alerts from Politics Editor Kirby Wilson.
Live updates, Jan. 20: Lewiston mayor says ICE presence has increased
Reported sightings of federal immigration agents intensified Tuesday, days after officials began to speak publicly about a rumored uptick in ICE activity in Lewiston and Greater Portland.
Maine Senate backs Janet Mills’ veto of right to repair changes
The bill would have given auto manufacturers more control over diagnostic data that independent repair shops say is essential to service modern vehicles.
Susan Collins’ reelection bid gets $42M boost from Senate majority leader PAC
The investment — the largest ever by the PAC in Maine — shows the race’s importance to Republicans trying to maintain control of the U.S. Senate.
Who has raised the most money in the Maine governor’s race?
Hannah Pingree has hauled in the most cash among Democrats with $1.4 million, while Jonathan Bush is the leading Republican with $1.3 million raised.
Trump donor, dark money largely funding Maine referendum drives
Campaign finance reports filed Thursday showed the out-of-state forces shaping local issues.
Feds won’t confirm whether ICE surge is coming to Maine
But the Department of Homeland Security did respond to Gov. Janet Mills’ video statement, saying Friday that the agency is working to ‘remove criminals’ from Maine.
Maine’s automotive right to repair law, explained
Eighty-four percent of Mainers supported right to repair in 2023, but implementation has stalled over a series of disputes.
Newport co-ed cheerleading team is at center of Trump transgender athlete crackdown
The U.S. Department of Education announced a slew of Title IX-related investigations this week that include 2 school districts in Maine.
Why a Maine Democrat says Trump officials are putting extremist imagery on ‘public display’
The Trump administration’s social media posts and messages in recent months have raised eyebrows.
Trump administration to investigate 2 Maine districts over transgender athlete policies
Title IX is at the heart of the investigations in Newport and Waterboro.
Angus King meets with Danish and Greenland officials amid Trump’s threats
Maine’s junior senator told the Press Herald that the president’s stated reason for wanting to own the Danish territory is ‘nonsense’ and ‘so clearly meaningless’ that it suggests ‘an ulterior motive.’
Lewiston legislator, Chamber director announce bids for state Senate seat
Rep. Mana Abdi and Shanna Cox said they are seeking the District 21 seat after Sen. Peggy Rotundo announced her retirement Tuesday.
Cannabis opponents accused of misrepresenting Maine referendum
‘You have a right to lie under the First Amendment,’ Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, noting there’s little she can do about the alleged trickery.
What could Supreme Court cases on trans athletes mean for Maine?
Two cases from West Virginia and Idaho, argued before the court Tuesday, could have implications for lawsuits about Maine’s policies for transgender athletes in scholastic sports.
Maine House overrides Gov. Mills’ veto of ‘right to repair’ bill
The measure now heads to the Senate, which is scheduled to meet next week.