Crowd in Portland rallies around electing Maine Democrats on ‘No Kings Day’
PORTLAND, M.A. — On Saturday, Oct. 17, a crowd of roughly 400 Mainers assembled in Deering Oaks to urge voters to head to the polls in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections and to press for the defeat of five‑term U.S. Senator Susan Collins. The rally, organized by Indivisible Greater Portland, doubled as a national “No Kings” day demonstration and featured a lineup of Democratic speakers, a local music group, and a volunteer sign‑up table for door‑knocking and phone‑banking.
The event was part of a broader effort to shift the state’s political balance. Democrats see the Collins‑Jackson contest as a “must‑win” race that could help secure a Senate majority in Washington. “A Senate seat does not belong to a person who’s held it for 30 years,” Jackson said to the crowd. “It belongs to the people of Maine. I owe the people of Maine everything.” His opponent, Collins, has worked to distance herself from President Trump as the president’s approval ratings have slipped, while Jackson’s campaign has sought to frame the two as a single package of policy choices.
Speakers included Maine gubernatorial hopeful Hannah Pingree, Senate candidate Troy Jackson and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Pingree cautioned, “Democracy is on the line here in Maine and across the country. Don’t leave it to chance.” The trio discussed a range of issues, from healthcare and immigration to the cost of heating oil and the war in Iran, and linked the conversation back to Collins’ record. “Collins is enabling Trump every day,” said Ben Bernard, 55, of Cliff Island, who compared the senator to a teacher who gives a bullied child a portion of his lunch money but never stands up to the bully. Bernard referenced Collins’ negotiation to remove some Maine items from Canada’s tariff list amid the Trump‑era trade war.
Attendees carried signs that echoed the rally’s message. Some read “Retire Susan,” “Dump King Corruption,” and “Susan Collins is complicit.” Others held banners with the rally’s theme, “Vote,” and were joined by a 86‑year‑old resident of Cape Elizabeth, Chris Beasley, who said, “I feel there’s a very significant undercurrent of bitterness and feeling that our government is betraying us.” In a quiet corner, 77‑year‑old Portland resident Leah Campbell held a sign that read, “What happened to affordable healthcare for all?” She added, “I and people I know are impacted by healthcare cuts that have already been done. I have Medicare. I want to make sure that’s not cut. I have Social Security. I want to make sure that’s not cut. These are programs I have paid into all my life.”
The rally also featured music. The local “Ideal Maine Social Aid and Sanctuary Band” marched through the park before the speakers, and the “Singing Resistance” group performed songs that punctuated discussions about voting and defeating Collins. A volunteer table was set up for residents to sign up to knock on doors and make calls to encourage neighbors to vote.
Many participants were already registered voters. “I already voted,” said 78‑year‑old Portland resident Nancy Timberlake, while 52‑year‑old Cape Elizabeth resident Holly Parker added, “I already voted and came to the rally to surround myself with positive energy after feeling drained by the most important issues in the elections.” Parker, who had recently bought heating oil at record‑high prices, said she felt the rally would be worthwhile if it persuaded just one more person to cast a ballot. “I had to buy heating oil this week, and it was excruciating,” she noted, adding, “I feel bad for a lot of people who are in a worse position than I am in terms of heating their homes and putting gas in their car.”
The event was a final rally before the last of the four Senate debates, held Thursday, and served as a reminder that the election is only weeks away. The rally’s organizers emphasized the importance of early voting. “This is the last chance to make our voices heard before the ballot goes to the printer,” said a spokesperson for Indivisible Greater Portland.
While the rally was a spirited gathering of activists, lawmakers, and citizens, it also reflected the deep divisions that have shaped Maine politics in recent years. As the state prepares for the November 3 election, the message from Deering Oaks was clear: the future of Maine’s representation in Washington will depend on how many people step out to vote.
