If you wanted to build a name for yourself with Maine Democrats to lay the foundations to run against Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins in 2026, what would be your smartest play? Silly question, I realize, the answer is so obvious: convince elite audiences in Washington, DC that you, in fact, the man.
That’s exactly what Jordan Wood, 35, a former chief-of-staff to progressive California Democratic Congresswoman Katie Porter, is now doing through back-to-back media hits in POLITICO and on NPR.
Betting on the odds that what Maine Democrats desperately need now is another insider, Wood is going for broke.
Even POLITICO, though, sounded unconvinced:
“Wood is born and raised in Lewiston and now lives in Bristol. Wood has spent a chunk of his career in the nation’s capital, which could expose him to attacks that he is out of touch with the state. He moved back to Maine in 2021 after spending 10 years in national Democratic politics.”
The article went on to express thinly-veiled hopes that Maine Governor and Putative Trump Slayer Janet Mills (D) would herself sweep into the race and make short work of Senator Collins — who has in past races defeated Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-CD1), Congressman Tom Allen (ME-CD1), Congressman Mike Michaud (ME-CD2), failed Trump Slayer Shenna Bellows, and the well-funded Sara Gideon.
NPR proved itself more useful to Wood’s aspirations for higher office by portraying him as a convener of useful discussions, sharing beers with veterans during a “Pints and Patriotism” event at a hip Portland brewery.
“We support elected officials from both parties that are committed to publicly defend the most core, fundamental principles of our democracy that we do not believe are partisan,” [Wood] says by way of introduction. “They are: the right to vote for eligible citizens; denouncing political violence against your opponents; stopping the spread of misinformation about our elections; and accepting the outcome of elections and supporting the peaceful transfer of power.”
In this context, Wood is speaking for a group called Democracy First, which appears to be a stealth “bi-partisan” branding ruse for Democrats just bright enough to realize how toxic their party’s brand has recently become. Together with gauzy talk about democracy that could be cribbed from his Lincoln County neighbor Heather Cox-Richardson, this appears to be part of an effort to portray himself as a young man vested in old traditions.
Coincidentally, the democracy talk tracks with overall Democrat messaging in the 2022 midterms, before it was publicly acknowledged that the party’s then standard bearer, President Joe Biden, was not entirely mentally present.
But this is only the beginning of Wood’s long road to winning the Democrat nomination next year. Saying one is going to run against Susan Collins is sort the hip thing to do. To date, a former SpaceX engineer and an online talk show host in Aroostook County have done so. In past years, former Obama national security advisor Susan Rice toyed with the idea, and even I told New York Magazine in a fit of pique in 2019 that briefly I had too.
In most cases, reality sets in before long.
Wood’s true service may end up being smoking out the intentions of more serious candidates. But then again, I too may well be under-estimating the young man from Washington who is here to help. Stay tuned.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="38163 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=38163">19 Comments
No more career politicians. Please just someone who works for the people not party, but not like mills whos willing to flush the entire state for two transvestites.
Anyone who is in bed with Politico and NPR must be as queer as a three dollar bill.
More low class politicians for Maine
i will never vote for susan again dont care if the senate flips… she flips
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Suuusan Cooollins needs to retire now- RIGHT NOW!
I could have sworn that Collins said she was only going to stay for two terms. I guess the grift was to much to give up. I sure hope the GOP puts up a good primary candidate otherwise she will lose her seat at the trough
I’m confused, the democrats could not find a better partner than RINO Collins, why would they want anyone else? Her record shows what she is and what she stands for, the real joke is when you get the flyer asking for money from the party to support her, and they actually expect us to donate! Hopefully the Republicans will find someone that is part of the party.
Susan Collins mailed a donation request to me yesterday. Collins has rarely (Brett Kavanaugh maybe the only recent exception) acted like a Republican.. Even though I’m polite and respectful, my contacts with Collins office are rarely ever acknowledged and never sway Collins on whatever issue I try to bring to her attention. The mailer required a postage stamp, had it been prepaid I would have written this message to her compensated staff.
Democrats still despise Collins, real Republicans don’t have representation from Collins….. Do we lose a seat in the Senate by abandoning Collins and assure the election of a Marxist opponent?
Maine being Maine a milquetoast RINO is probably the only Republican that stands a chance of being elected. It’s easy to blame Collins, but Maine voters are the real reason we have choices like Collins or the deep blue sea.
I doubt Collins can get enough democrats to vote for her this time around, straddling the fence is going to bite her right on her behind. The good news is she could care less, she is worth millions.
I’d vote for road kill before voting for Susan Collins again.
Twitter Files’ accuses Angus King of censoring conservatives by flagging ‘suspect’ accounts | Maine Public
https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2023-02-21/twitter-files-accuses-angus-king-of-censoring-conservatives-by-flagging-suspect-accounts
X pose Angus and his legal handbook how to file for DIVORCE in Skowhegan!
Collins needs to retire NOW so that a Constitutional Conservative Canidate can begin Campaigning ….. Collins is a Withered Old Crone that is as out of Touch with the Maine people ! During her last Campaign I was told I could ‘Talk with Collins , If I coughed up 2K first as a Campaign Donation ” My reply was ” Excuse me while I laugh in your Face !”
Collins’ most formidable foe is herself.
No MAGA support
She has lost before the race begins
Jettison her
Maybe with Woods we already know he hates America. Collins was always trying to hide it by putting an (R) by her name.
Mainers will vote for this guy without a doubt, just look at how they have voted up to now. Low information and lazy, Maine voters to a T.
I despise Collins, generally. That being said, she’s better than anything the Democraps will put on the ballot. In any case, that is one spot on my ballot that remains blank.
Well, we can vote for a CA democrat, or vote for Collins, either way, we are getting a democrat, time for “middle of the road” Collins to go, but we need an actual republican to run, and at this point, there is no one in the pipeline that can beat Collins.
Anybody but Susan Collins .