20th May 2018, 10:02 PM
So I was at the Maine Democratic Party's 2018 state convention this weekend, and it was worth it. I'm still not sure who I am voting for for governor -- the primary is this summer, and we've got 7 Democrats (and 5 Republicans, not that that matters for my vote) running. Now, the primary will be run as a ranked choice vote (maybe for the only time, depending on how the ballot issue also on the same ballot goes) so I don't need to choose only one person, which is great, but I do need to choose what order to put them in. With this many candidates it's tough, and even after hearing their speeches there are good reasons to support several of them -- do you go for a more liberal person, or someone who is aiming for general-election appeal? Because it's ranked choice, do I put a (or some of the) candidates who aren't doing as well higher than the candidates polling better? Etc. I'm still not sure. Ranked choice makes things a lot more interesting and better, so I hope the referendum to keep it passes and its use expands!
Of the three conventions I've been a delegate at now (2012, 2016, 2018), this was the first not in a presidential year. And I could tell the difference; there were a lot of people there, but fewer than 2016, no question. The location this year might be part of that, but there are more issues to cover at a presidential convention than an off-year one like this, so it makes sense. I just hope that Maine Dems do better than we have in recent years, Paul LePage really CAN'T be allowed to be replaced with another Republican...
Of the three conventions I've been a delegate at now (2012, 2016, 2018), this was the first not in a presidential year. And I could tell the difference; there were a lot of people there, but fewer than 2016, no question. The location this year might be part of that, but there are more issues to cover at a presidential convention than an off-year one like this, so it makes sense. I just hope that Maine Dems do better than we have in recent years, Paul LePage really CAN'T be allowed to be replaced with another Republican...