Our Nation is a democracy, which is a representative form of government. Acknowledging that there are differences in belief systems from region to region, we have divided our States and Counties up into districts to try and help elect a representative, who bests represents the needs and desires of that area. Although flawed in some respects, that is the general idea.
So, one would think that a candidate running for election in a selected district would try to best show himself a good representation of that district. Not so, for one career politician, who is running in the Republican primary for U.S. Congressional District Two. This man seems to be confusing who is representing whom?
Kevin Raye recently announced his candidacy, again, for Congress in CD 2. This will be his third attempt. In the last Republican primary for CD 2, Raye was only able to muster 51% of the vote against a no-name first time candidate. Moreover, 13% decided neither candidate was worth voting for, stayed home and didn’t vote. In only three counties, other than his own, was the former Senator able to garner more than 50% of the primary vote. Not a good omen for a candidate who claimed he could win the general election.
In the general election, Raye fared worse in his second attempt than he did in his first, losing by a larger margin. It seems name recognition did not work to the benefit of the State Senator from Washington County the second time around. The more they saw of him, the less they liked him. Kevin Raye lost every single county other than his own in the general election. Yes, even the historical Republican bastion of Piscataquis County chose perennial wallflower Mike Michaud as a stronger candidate over Kevin Raye. Many officials refused to carry Raye’s signs in parades fearing the backlash they would receive from the decidedly conservative crowds in the Second Congressional District.
Which brings up another interesting point. The Rayes have been very public about their support and promotion of abortion. They support Emily’s List and The Wish List; two organizations that zealously promote abortion and candidates that follow this mantra. Yet, Kevin Raye feels that somehow an overwhelmingly Pro-Life 2nd District should set aside their belief system and allow him to represent them. Who is representing whom? And this represents the 2nd District in what way? These are just few reasons why there is such tough sledding for Raye outside of Washington County.
Kevin Raye has done everything he can do to disenfranchise the voters of the CD 2. His one major political accomplishment outside of his county is to be the first Republican to lose an election in Piscataquis County, the Red County, in a very long time. It is easy to see, after a look at all the facts, that there is not a Raye of hope that this candidate represents the interests of our district.
The Maine Conservative Voice 
The problem with establishment Repubklicans is that whn a Republican candidate loses, they think they need to find a more liberal Republican to run. That thinking is what has kept them in the minority for the last four decades with one exception. In 2010 we had a conservative platform and we recruited conservative candidates. We got majorities in both houses and the Blaine House. The establishment response to that victory was to place the most liberal legislators they could find in leadership positions. What happened? The voters who worked so hard in 2010 stayed home in 2012. They got the message when the legislature purged conservatives from leadership positions and made LURC bigger, stronger and meaner. Many voters in 2014 will just let those progressives stew in their own juice. They made their choice.