Gov. Paul LePage has thrown his support behind state Sen. Eric Brakey’s bid to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Angus King.
“He has my full support and I plan to help him win in any way I can,” LePage said in a prepared statement. While LePage had toyed with the notion of running for the seat himself several times in the past two years, he said the Auburn Republican now has his backing.
LePage’s endorsement comes amid an ongoing legal controversy involving Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Max Linn, a Bar Harbor resident and financial adviser who sought to run against Brakey in the Republican primary. Dunlap disqualified Linn from the Maine ballot after concluding there were fraudulent signatures on his nominating petitions. Linn appealed, but Dunlap’s decision was backed in a recent opinion by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and by a Kennebec County Superior Court justice.
Linn has continued vigorously campaigning in Maine, but LePage made no mention of him. Although Linn’s name will still appear on the Republican ballot in the June 12 primary, votes for him will not be counted, according to Dunlap, who has notified voters and election clerks that Linn is not a valid candidate.
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A handful of Linn’s supporters, meanwhile, have filed a complaint in federal court seeking to have his candidacy restored – a case that will be the subject of a court proceeding Friday.
King, an independent and former two-term Maine governor from Brunswick, is seeking his second term in the U.S. Senate. Also in the race is Portland Democrat Zak Ringelstein.
“I have known Sen. Brakey for years, and seen him up close, watched him work and worked with him closely on important issues,” LePage said. “Eric is a tireless public servant who cares deeply about freedom, our future and I know he will always fight to put Maine people first.”
The governor also took a swipe at King – without mentioning him by name.
“(Brakey) has a strong record of accomplishment, consistently delivering for those he serves,” LePage said. “And, most importantly Eric is a man of his word who can always be trusted to do what he says he will. We have a clear choice this November: an incumbent senator who stands with the elites and insiders in Washington, or fresh new leadership that will fight for Maine.”
Scott Thistle can be contacted at 713-6720 or at:
sthistle@pressherald.com
Twitter: thisdog
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