My Line in the Sand is Purple

People might have assumed that leaving the Democratic Party after a lifetime—and spending the fall backing Susan Collins for U.S. Senate and bashing Democrats—meant I’d be voting a straight Republican ticket. As it turns out, my red line smudged under a big blue wave. My choices paint a purple ballot heavy on X chromosomes.

For U.S. Senate, the only choice is Republican Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee and Maine legend.

For Governor, I can't not vote for Hannah Pingree, Democrat. She is simply the most qualified candidate, an outstanding person, and an inspiring role model—even if justifying my vote means looking past her stance calling the threat of gender identity laws to women's rights a "distraction" to breach my own red line.

For the U.S. House of Representatives, I am voting again for Chellie Pingree to help Democrats capture the House majority and put the brakes on the Trump administration. With a Democratic majority, our Congresswoman will become chair of a powerful House Appropriations subcommittee and known on Capitol Hill as a "cardinal," of all the beautiful things. While Chellie has swallowed gender ideology slop and sits too far left for my taste, I am trusting her to acknowledge the indisputable differences between male and female cardinals. You don't need to be a biologist to know the difference. Here's hoping Cardinal Pingree brings home the bacon, protects Title IX, and votes against the Equality Act unless it restores legal protections to the female sex.

For the Maine State Legislature, I am withholding my votes for both state representative and state senator as an explicit act of protest against my incumbents' stance on gender ideology. My hope is that the Maine House of Representatives shifts to GOP control.

For District Attorney in Cumberland County and Cape Elizabeth Town Council, I am voting for independent Stephanie Anderson twice. As a trusted, hardworking, and honest prosecutor who will fight crime and deliver justice, she brings over 30 years of proven, independent leadership to both seats.

Ultimately, this ballot is a deliberate exercise in political counterweights: wanting Maine state Republicans to take the majority in Augusta, Democrats to capture the U.S. House and Republicans to hold the U.S. Senate so Susan Collins can serve as Chair of Appropriations. My line in the sand isn't red or blue—it's purple.