PORTLAND, Maine – Portland Mayor Mark Dion is throwing his support behind Senate President Troy Jackson in the race for governor, framing the endorsement as a call for unified Democratic leadership in Maine.
Dion said the moment calls for leadership capable of bringing together the full spectrum of the Democratic Party, from liberal Democrats to Democratic socialists and everyone in between. He argued that if Democrats are going to move forward on substantive issues in the state, the party must be willing to “shake hands with itself.”
According to Dion, that kind of internal unity will be critical to advancing meaningful policy goals in Augusta. He said the party’s “tent” must be big enough to accommodate its ideological diversity if it hopes to govern effectively.
Dion pointed to his experience working with Jackson, saying he believes the Senate president has the ability to bridge those divides. He described Jackson as someone who could serve as both a new voice and a new leader for the Democratic Party in Maine.
The endorsement adds the backing of Maine’s largest city to Jackson’s gubernatorial bid, as Democrats position themselves for a competitive race to succeed Gov. Janet Mills.
