In the wake of Graham Platner dropping out and potentially being replaced by Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows or Nirav Shah, former State Rep. John Andrews said Maine voters deserve legislators who will confront what he described as corruption and tyranny at the state level.
Andrews, now a candidate for the Maine State Senate, said he has already demonstrated his willingness to challenge powerful political figures.
“I’ve always tried to do the right thing when it was the hard thing. I stood up and called out the misconduct of these very individuals long before any of this became a national story,” Andrews said. “Maine doesn’t need more insiders or replacements who have already shown they will break the rules or ignore their oath to the Constitution when it suits them. Maine needs strong-willed voices in the Legislature willing to fight corruption no matter who it is.”
Andrews pointed to three actions he took while serving in the Maine House of Representatives.
He submitted a formal ethics complaint alleging that Troy Jackson committed mortgage fraud, raising what Andrews described as serious questions about financial integrity at the highest levels of state government.
Andrews also filed two efforts to impeach Secretary of State Shenna Bellows over her role in attempting to remove former President Donald Trump from Maine’s presidential ballot.
During the COVID-19 restrictions, Andrews was also one of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” lawmakers who entered the Maine State House while it was closed. As officials attempted to block his entry, Andrews told them, “I’ll be at my desk.”
Andrews also said he was the only member of either chamber of the Legislature who refused to wear a mask on the House floor, describing the decision as an act of civil disobedience intended to push Maine toward returning to normal during the pandemic.
“These weren’t easy or popular stands in Augusta at the time,” Andrews continued. “But they were the right stands. I did what was necessary and what the people in my district wanted me to do to hold power accountable and defend the rule of law. It’s exactly why I’m running for State Senate. The people need a voice in the face of all this blatant corruption. They need someone who is unafraid to stand their ground. I may not always win, but I’m always willing to have a go.”
Andrews said the current political moment demonstrates the importance of challenging figures such as Jackson, Bellows and Shah at the state level rather than allowing them to run over minority Republicans.
“These individuals are now being positioned as replacements or rising figures following Mr. Platner’s potential decision to step aside. Their records show a consistent pattern of putting personal gain, far-left ideology, or control of people’s lives above transparency, accountability and fidelity to the Constitution. Maine families have had enough of that.”
Andrews served three terms in the Maine House of Representatives and is currently running for the Maine State Senate. His campaign is focused on fighting government waste, protecting individual liberties and restoring accountability in Augusta.
People can follow the Andrews campaign on X or through the John Andrews for Maine Senate page on Facebook.
Troy Jackson, Graham’s nominee, mortgage fraud.
very interesting…