What happens to Maine’s economy without congressional clout? | Letter
Maine’s 2026 election could reshape the future of Bath Iron Works, a Portland resident says
PORTLAND – In a letter published in Maine Matters, Kay Aikin, a long‑time Portland resident, urged voters to consider the long‑term implications of the upcoming November election for one of the state’s most critical employers, Bath Iron Works (BIW). Aikin, who said she was voting “against Donald Trump” but was not supporting either of Maine’s two Senate candidates—Senator Susan Collins or former state Sen. Troy Jackson—warned that the state could lose a vital source of jobs and industrial capacity if the senior delegation that has championed the yard’s interests departs.
Aikin’s letter, dated in the weeks leading up to the 2026 election, focused on the strategic importance of BIW to Maine’s economy and national defense. “Bath Iron Works is not just another employer,” she wrote. “Its future depends on a steady Navy workload and continued investment in the yard. BIW has historically competed against Huntington Ingalls Industries in Mississippi for DDG‑51 destroyers, and Maine’s congressional delegation has repeatedly fought to preserve ship allocations and funding that sustain the workforce and industrial base.”
The letter highlighted how the private‑sector yard is at a disadvantage compared to one of the Navy’s four public shipyards—Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. Portsmouth benefits from the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), a federal initiative that has funded major modernization projects. “BIW, as a privately owned shipyard, does not have that same direct federal recapitalization path,” Aikin noted. “That makes congressional influence especially important.”
Aikin warned that a sustained loss of destroyer work would have a ripple effect across the workforce. “A loss of destroyer work could mean not only thousands of jobs, but erosion of the engineering, design, integration and skilled‑trades capacity needed to build complete warships,” she wrote. She drew a historical parallel to other U.S. shipyards that have declined over time. “We have seen that kind of decline before. Once‑major yards such as the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Quincy Shipyard lost workload, shed skilled workers and capabilities and ultimately ceased shipbuilding altogether. The lesson is that industrial capacity can disappear gradually before the final closure makes headlines.”
Aikin’s central concern was that the senior delegation in Washington—particularly Senator Collins, known for her long tenure and influence over defense appropriations—might leave after the election. “Maine should also think carefully about what happens after this election, when we no longer have a senator with Collins’ seniority and appropriations power,” she wrote. The letter called for a proactive plan to preserve BIW’s shipbuilding capability in the absence of the current senior leadership.
The letter was published amid a broader discussion of Maine’s 2026 election. The state’s two Senate candidates, Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson, have long been at the center of debates over federal defense spending, maritime policy and Maine’s economic future. While Aikin made it clear that she was not supporting either of them, she underscored the importance of voting “against Donald Trump,” suggesting a clear partisan stance on the presidential race.
For Maine’s voters, Aikin’s message adds a layer of complexity to the November ballot. The election will not only decide the state’s representation in Congress but could also shape the funding and strategic direction of a shipyard that employs thousands and contributes significantly to the state’s GDP. If the new delegation lacks the seniority and experience to advocate for BIW, the yard could face reduced orders and a corresponding erosion of its skilled workforce—a scenario that has played out in other shipyards over the past decades.
The letter’s call for a “serious plan” has sparked conversation among local business leaders, defense contractors and policymakers. Business owners at BIW have expressed both optimism and caution, noting that while federal appropriations are crucial, the yard’s ability to adapt and secure future contracts will also depend on its competitive positioning and workforce development initiatives.
As Maine’s voters head to the polls, Kay Aikin’s letter serves as a reminder that elections can have ripple effects far beyond the ballot box. Whether the state’s leadership can sustain its support for Bath Iron Works, and by extension the broader maritime defense industry, remains a question that will likely continue to shape Maine’s economic and political landscape in the coming years.
