Michael Thibodeau abandons bid for 2nd Congressional District seat

Michael Thibodeau

Michael Thibodeau

Maine Senate Minority Leader Michael Thibodeau, R-Winterport, said Tuesday that he is no longer considering a bid to fill Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat.

Thibodeau announced in early December that he was considering a run for the seat being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud, who is running for governor. Even then, Thibodeau told the BDN that he would enter the CD2 race only if he could do so without interrupting his responsibilities in the Maine Senate.

Asked about his congressional campaign on Tuesday morning, Thibodeau left no doubt.

“No,” he said. “I have far too much work to do in the Senate.”

Still campaigning for the Republican nomination are former State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin of Oakland, who in recent years has run unsuccessful primary campaigns for governor and the U.S. Senate; Blaine Richardson of Belfast, a former Navy captain who unsuccessfully tried to win the 2nd Congressional District nomination in 2012; and Kevin Raye of Perry, a former state Senate president, candidate for Congress and long-time aide to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Two Democrats from the Maine Senate, Emily Cain of Orono and Troy Jackson of Allagash, are also in the race. Alden Smith, a Democrat from Sangerville, has also declared his intention to run for the seat.

 

 

 

Christopher Cousins

About Christopher Cousins

Christopher Cousins has worked as a journalist in Maine for more than 15 years and covered state government for numerous media organizations before joining the Bangor Daily News in 2009.