Amy Fried

@asfried.bsky.social

9654 Followers 5564 Following

Political scientist, kayaker Emeritus, UMaine Political Sightlines at https://amyfried.substack.com/ Books on how U.S. conservatives weaponized distrust, New England politics, professionalizing polling, and perceptions of public opinion as a resource

Troy Jackson's high school yearbook page.
"Queens Man Convicted" re: Trump
Rumors swirled that Jared Golden is being recruited to vote for Senate as new scandals plague Platner.
Results of ME-2 Dem primary. Baldacci: 19,242; Dunlap 18,535; Wood 18,080; Loud 6,591
In a private chat group last summer, months before Mr. Platner acknowledged the tattoo himself, Ms. Fifield told friends that her ex-boyfriend-turned-Senate candidate “has a Nazi tattoo on his chest.” “It’s a Totenkopf,” she told them on Aug. 20, according to a screenshot she shared with The Times. “An actual one.”
Meet Rabbi Sam
Shows location of event.
Electrical workers’ union letter supporting Mills for her veto of data center moratorium,
Maine International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union letter supporting Gov. Mills’ veto of AI data center moratorium bill.
Chicken matzoh ball soup cooking
2016 Dem primaries. Clinton about 17 million votes. Sanders 13.2 million votes.
Graham Platner is not ready for prime time The vile comments Graham Platner made re-victimizing women, as well as his disparaging statements about the “stupidity” of rural folk and alleged ignorance of Nazi symbolism — from only 12 years ago — are certainly of deep concern.What is of greater concern, though, is that people have dismissed these comments in favor of his self-professed “change” declaration by merely accepting an apology. Based on what? What I see — and I have looked carefully at his “platform” and remarks, as should you — are no corresponding actions that indicate how he has changed or evidence of the changes he has allegedly made. Is an unsubstantiated apology enough to gain the trust and confidence of fellow citizens especially during this time of disastrous upheaval? It shouldn’t be. Yes, his online “platform” and campaign speeches offer words of rage shared by many, but little substance. Resolutions he proposes are either naïve, lacking in substance or just plain incorrect. The idea for a medical school as a mechanism for increasing the number of rural doctors was recently nixed as costly and ineffective: increasing residences is far more productive. A recent ad holding Big Pharma responsible for rural hospital closures is wrong: look instead at Medicaid reimbursement rates. His lack of any political experience coupled with an absence of practicable reforms of how to confront the severity of the issues this state and this country face during the most divisive times in recent memory should leave all of us with grave concerns.The U.S. Senate is not a place to practice leadership and ideas. Luisa S. Deprez Cape Elizabeth
Account says a good poll for Graham Platner "will drive the Bluesky pearl clutchers out of their minds," providing a "enough reason for vote for him."
Quote from Graham Platner: “In today’s current climate, when every whisper of a misplaced hand brings down a feature length film, anyone who actually thinks the military is purposefully covering up rape to save the career of some god damn [captain], is clearly both an idiot and junior enough in rank or life experience to think it matters.”
cross tabs show 42% registered unenrolled for Dunlap for 68% independents for him.
Packing boxes of groceries.
"One Maine mother who was detained by ICE and transported to Louisiana tried to no avail to communicate to agents that she is a U.S.-born citizen and had papers to prove it, Saciid-Siice said. After family members presented identification ranging from passport to birth certificate, ICE officials still did not release her."
Explains how CostPlusDrugs figure its prices. "Our prices are the true cost to get each medication from the manufacturer to you. We cut out the pharmacy middlemen and negotiate directly with manufacturers to get the best possible price. Then, we show you exactly how much you’ll pay for us to keep our business running and how much it will cost to prepare and ship your prescription."
“I thank the Governor and the Tribes for their work on this bill,” said Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross. “LD 2007 is the product of the time, resources, and commitment of many people, and it represents meaningful progress in the important and ongoing effort of partnership and collaboration with the Wabanaki people that has the support of Mainers from all over the state.”
To fill the term of a deceased U.S. Senator in Maine, the Governor first makes a temporary appointment. A special election is then held to choose a successor for the remainder of the unexpired term, unless the vacancy occurs less than 60 days before a primary election, in which case the new nominee is chosen at the next regular primary. Governor's appointment: The Governor of Maine will appoint a qualified person to serve temporarily. The 17th Amendment allows states to empower their governors to make these appointments to fill a vacancy until an election can be held. Special election: A special election is held to fill the seat for the rest of the term. The process for scheduling this election is determined by Maine law, as directed by the 17th Amendment. Timing of the election: If the vacancy occurs 60 days or more before a regular primary election, nominees for the special election must be chosen at that primary. If the vacancy occurs less than 60 days before a regular primary, the new nominee is chosen at the next regular primary following that date. Election outcome: The winner of the special election will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term
Jared Golden wrote:The overwhelming majority recognizes that no one has a monopoly on virtue or on good ideas. We support commonsense policies from taxing the wealthy to reducing the deficit. We support the First and Second Amendments alike. We’re skeptical of the wealthy and the powerful, but we don’t demonize success. We know there’s value in hard work, and that it should be rewarded fairly. -- From https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/05/opinion/opinion-contributor/jared-golden-why-i-wont-seek-reelection-column/
Transfers from a candidate's nonfederal committee A candidate's authorized (federal) committee may not accept funds or assets transferred from a committee established by the same candidate for a nonfederal election campaign. At its option, however, a nonfederal committee of the same candidate may refund its leftover funds to its contributors and may coordinate arrangements with the federal campaign for a solicitation of those same persons. The full cost of this solicitation must be paid by the federal committee.
Dunlap has emphasized his record of public service and direct engagement with voters, contrasting it with what he describes as Golden’s aloofness and combative tone. Dunlap has made clear his opposition to Trump and MAGA politics. As Secretary of State and a member of a commission Trump created to investigate election fraud in the 2016 election, he resisted Trump’s entreaties to turn over Maine’s voting rolls and successfully sued Trump. At the same time, Dunlap, a commissioner on the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), was seen as a thoughtful bridge-builder. Dunlap is a center-left politician who talks about constitutional norms and public trust.
First votes of Maine were reported from the island of Frenchboro. 12-9 against Question 1 13-8 for Question 2
Sticker shows a lumberjack with a flag and the words “I Voted Bangor.”
Example of a contribution showing donor/location and ActBlue as the conduit.
O'Brien says he is angry because "they are not only trying to sink Graham [Platner]'s campaign but they are manipulating" Platner's former political director Genevieve McDonald.
Andy O'Brien says he's upset that "they are not only trying to sink Graham's campaign, but they are also manipulating" Platner's former political director Genevieve McDonald.
Map of town results for the 2024 presidential race in Maine.
Falsely describes tattoo as one that "some say is anti-Israel."
Criticism of DC based consultants. Says Platner knew what Nazi tattoo was.
Laurie Osher and Amy Fried holding a sign with a crown crossed out and the words "No Kings."
2018 Dem primary for ME governor.
Janet Mills 33.1%, Adam Cote, Betsy Sweet 16.5%, Mark Eves 14.2%, Mark Dion 4.1%, Diane Russell 2.2%, Donna Dion 1.3%, Write-ins .6%.
Our district needs a fighter who will stand up to Trump. There’s a thousand and one crises in America right now: health care and housing prices are skyrocketing, Trump is using armed troops to kidnap our neighbors in broad daylight. And right now Jared Golden is caving to Trump every chance he gets. Trump won’t even meet with Democrats to talk about a bipartisan solution to the government funding debate, but Jared Golden already threw his vote in with Trump’s Republicans – the only Democrat to cave so far. Maine’s 2nd deserves better than a choice between Jared Golden and Paul LePage, and Matt Dunlap is that choice. Learn more at http://mattdunlapforuscongress.com/ #ME02
From at least 1994, up to and including in or about 2004, GHISLAINE MAXWELL assisted, facilitated, and participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to MAXWELL and Epstein to be under the age of 18. The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by MAXWELL and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors. As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein’s residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse.
"Loving Maine doesn’t mean arbitrarily freezing its population in time by putting up walls of fear and division. It means welcoming newcomers who strengthen our towns and cities and help carry the state into the future."
Lawsuit: "Defendants...could not fathom him winning again by a landslide, which is what the American people chose to make a reality."
Infamously Susan Collins has portrayed herself as having been duped by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. However, that’s belied by her own words. As I discussed in the Bangor Daily News in 2022, Collins reported that Kavanaugh “told her that long-standing precedents could be overturned sometimes, including when the decision was ‘grievously wrong.’ In overturning Roe, he called the 1973 decision ‘egregiously wrong’ and there was evidence prior to the confirmation process Kavanaugh saw Roe that way.”
58% want "an insider who can get things done" vs 42% "an outsider who wants to shake things up and change the system." Sept 2025 NBC News Decision Desk poll
Republicans attacked the Dem for having had pink hair and said she had "kooky ideas."
Republicans attacked the Dem candidate with a picture of her with pink hair and the claim she had "kooky ideas."
Letter to AG Bondi from Maine state Rep. Bagshaw asks for an investigation into Maine SoS Bellows for opposing a bill.
Sen. Mike Lee SS declares June Fidelity Month to celebrate family values
Tweet: Susan Collins does not regret her vote for RFK Jr.
Reporter Manu Raju asked Collins if she "regrets voting for RFK Jr." Her reply: "No...I have been able to work with him on several important issues."
In Maine, Medicaid covers 39% of births, 35% of children, 19% of adults who are 19-64, 47% of working age adults w/disabilities, 25% of Medicare recipients and 65% of nursing home residents.