Sanford Police Chief Eric Smalls ended his Republican bid for Rep. Chellie Pingree’s (D-Maine) First Congressional District (CD1) House seat on Monday, arguing that he will be a more effective police chief if he steps down from campaigning for Congress.
[RELATED: Sanford Police Chief Eric Small to Run for Congress…]
“This decision is not about stepping away–it’s about stepping where I can be most effective. As Sanford’s Police Chief, I have seen first hand the challenges our families face–from public safety to affordability–and I believe real change begins right here at home,” said Chief Small on Facebook.
“I am grateful for the encouragement, trust, and friendship shown to me throughout this journey. I hope you will continue to work alongside me as we build a stronger, safer, and more affordable Maine–starting right here in Sanford,” he added.
In his announcement, Small endorsed Republican Ron Russell in his attempt to unseat Pingree. Russell is the last Republican nominee to have challenged Pingree in 2024.
Small continued to serve as Sanford’s police chief even after announcing his candidacy in July. Some criticized him for this, even though he was careful to establish a clear firewall between the two roles.
During his campaign, and speaking outside his capacity as police chief, Small suggested that taxpayer funds should not be spent on transgender surgeries.
That statement was enough to prompt Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio (D-Sanford) to claim that Small was unfit to serve as police chief and demanded that he step down. Rep. Mastraccio did not, however, accuse Small of any actual misconduct, and he chose to continue in his law enforcement capacity.
The CD1 House race takes place in a deep blue district, where Pingree has won nine consecutive terms since 2008, and where a Democrat has won every House race since 1997. Any Republican attempt to unseat Pingree faces enormous odds.
