Ethan Strimling

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Articles

Opinion: Voter suppression initiative uses Jim Crow-style playbook to get more power for Republicans

Jan 15, 2025 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

Maine Republicans have only been in power in Augusta for two of the past 50 years (they have only held the trifecta of the House, Senate, and Governorship once since 1975). That is a very long reign of futility. I assume that’s why they’re trying to suppress voters they don’t like — the poor, the elderly, communities of color — by proposing a voter ID referendum. The reason for their generational failures at the ballot box is multi-faceted, of course.
Opinion: Let’s have a conversation about what capitalism is wreaking

Jan 8, 2025 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

When I sat down with my editor at the end of 2024 to chat about writing for the Beacon in 2025, she asked me what I care about most in politics. It wasn’t just an idle question—when I write about what I care about, I feel like I do my best work. I expect this is similar for most writers. To that end, perhaps the columns that flow most easily for me are those where I celebrate progressive champions and call out those Democrats who fail to meet the moment.
2024’s hard truths and a path forward for Democrats

Dec 17, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

End of year columns usually reflect back on the most important moments, biggest regrets, the high and lows, etc. Since this will be mine, I thought I would take a stab. The easy path would be for me to write about Trump’s election in 2024 and our country’s quickening pace toward fascism. How his plans to deport millions of hard-working immigrants — while jailing his political enemies and pardoning those who committed crimes on his behalf — should be a flag for anyone who doubts our direction.
Will Collins use her power to protect Maine from the Trump Administration?

Dec 10, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

Next month, U.S. Senator Susan Collins will likely become chair of the most powerful committee in the United States Senate — Appropriations. She will then, arguably, become the third most powerful member of Congress behind the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader. The question now is whether she will use that position to protect Mainers from the fiscal damage President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to inflict on Maine and the nation.
Mainers deserve a say in constitutional elections

Dec 3, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

When I served in the state Senate from 2003–2005, Republicans sponsored constitutional amendments to change the way Maine picks our attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer. Last year, they tried again. I voted with them back then and would have done the same last year — because, and I don’t say this often, they are right.
What I am thankful for in politics

Nov 26, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

Last year at Thanksgiving I wrote a column listing everything I was thankful for in politics. It wasn’t too hard, as both 2022 and 2023 had been great political years — from Democrats holding strong in the midterms to progressives beating back local attempts to gut rent control — and there was obviously great hope for 2024. Then came this most recent election when 49.9% of Americans decided to give the keys to the White House, for a second time, to our own Mussolini-wannabe.
Opinion: Conservative Democrats cost us the election

Nov 20, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

Two million fewer Democrats turned out in urban areas around the country this year compared to 2020, according to an early New York Times analysis. It appears that many of them felt there was no real value in voting for the Democratic party. Working class Democrats in urban centers stayed home because Democrats in power failed to use that power to impact change. Or, to be clearer, conservative Democrats blocked the progressive legislation working class families most need.
Opinion: Guns are no longer the third rail of Maine politics

Nov 14, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

Last Tuesday, 81 incumbent Democrats ran for reelection between the Maine House and Senate. Only three lost. That is a remarkable percentage and the campaign teams in both chambers deserve tremendous credit. Their messaging, ground game, and targeting were superb. Especially in a red-leaning year. But underneath those numbers is something that should fundamentally change the way Maine legislates. First, a little background. For decades, Maine has been a wasteland when it comes to regulating guns.
Opinion: Fascism is on the ballot

Nov 4, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

This column is about the importance of voting this Tuesday. I was gonna start it with a story about how in my first race for elected office I lost by 24 votes. How, in the weeks after the election, people hadn’t realized Election Day had passed (it was a May election) and I had dozens of people tell me how they couldn’t wait to vote for me. How it was a lesson on the importance of not forgetting to vote (and not forgetting to invest heavily in GOTV).
Opinion: These progressive champions will protect what makes Portland great

Oct 29, 2024 | mainebeacon.com | Ethan Strimling

This year, Portland is guaranteed to turn over a third of its city council seats due to retirements. For context, that is the equivalent of the U.S. Congress turning over 143 members. You may think I am being dramatic, but in the last decade, this has only happened twice, 2015 and 2021.