The former SpaceX engineer who recently announced his intention to run as an unaffiliated candidate against Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins may be more aligned with far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) than SpaceX founder Elon Musk if his political contributions are any indication.
According to Federal Election Commission Records, Phillip P. Rench, 37, of Waterboro has made just five small political contributions — but all have gone to left-wing Democratic officeholders or committees, including Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.), and former Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris.
The contributions were made through ActBlue, a massive online donation service that facilitates the easy flow of money from donors to Democratic candidates.
When Rench initial declared that he would run as an unaffiliated candidate, his prior employment at Musk’s legendary rocket company fueled speculation that perhaps he would challenge Collins from the political right with the blessing of Republican President Donald Trump’s on-the-spectrum D.O.G.E. Rasputin.
However, Musk publicly opposed Harris’s presidential bid and has feuded with the New York congresswoman ever since she became a viral sensation on the social media platform Musk now owns, formerly Twitter, now X.com.
Although Rench’s donations to AOC, Hill, and Harris don’t amount to big money, they do amount to the only window into Rench’s potential political leanings given his lack of a public track record.
Closer to home, Rench has at least a friendly relationship with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who tapped him to serve on the board of the Maine Space Corporation in May 2023.
During her five previous general election wins, Sen. Collins has faced a few quixotic independents challenging her from the right.
In 1996, she defeated Democrat Joe Brennan for the seat while fending off William Clarke of the Taxpayers Party, who earned 3.1 percent of the general election vote.
In 2020, the late Max Linn, running as an unaffiliated right-wing candidate, swiped 1.6 percent of the tally as Collins defeated former House Speaker Sara Gideon, 51 percent to 42.4 percent.
Historically, independent challengers looking to upset the two-party system in Maine have been left wing candidates, including Lisa Savage, who garnered 5 percent of the general election vote in 2020.
Mr Rench will you please stay home ?
Don’t be throwing a wrench into the works . Maine needs a REAL candidate and YOU aren’t it .
If anyone looked under ActBlue’s hood, he’d find a number of Maine city councilors, state reps and senators already receiving money from them. I hope the Maine Wire will take a crack at it.
From this day forward he shall be forever known anus king Jr.
Maine doesn’t need anymore Independants…RINOS… or traitors… no thanks, Indoctrinated FORMER Space X cadet… stick to what you think you know best, stay out of politics.
Another name to put on the democrats ranked choice list . The democrats love it . Real Maine voters don’t need this guy . He just wants to add more stuff to his resume .
Maine needs right wing republicans, not more left-wing loons,…..
Look up Katie Hill, she is a degenerate slut. This guy is worse than Ethan Strimling, and that’s saying something
Independents generally lean toward a party affiliation associated with liberalism or conservatism. In other words they are Democrats or Republicans dressed up in Independent clothing.
Noted, will not consider.
While Longley was technically a Democrat, Mills comes from a family of Republicans.
A lot of people would have liked to see him run for a 2nd term in 1978, and I do wonder if he knew if he was dying of cancer (which he did in 1980), but he was a polished version of Paul LePage. No left winger!
https://time.com/archive/6878216/the-nation-architect-of-the-biggest-upset/
Oh Man, not another one !
It’s an obvious RCV play.
This is why republicans have a hard time winning with ranked choice. When you have 5 liberal parties and 1 conservative, liberals get to vote 5 times.
He’s as “Independent” as Socialist Anus King!
So did Susan Collins probably….
I’m really concerned we’ll end up with a full fledged Democrat in the Senate now due to ranked choice voting. A lot of Republicans don’t like Collins because sometimes she votes with the Dems, but you best get over it and come out and vote for her in droves next year unless you want her seat to turn deep blue.
Great, just what Maine needs, another AOC and Kamala supporter. Not!
Mainers take back your state!!!
Independent politicians in Maine have issues with the truth. Most don’t understand what independent means.
I will be voting for Susan Collins against my better judgement. Anyone who supported Harris and AOC will not get my vote.