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'''Maine''' was the twenty-third state to enter into the Union. Its capital is Augusta. The state is one of the less staunchly Democratic-favoring states in the Northeast, with its 1st congressional district swinging heavily towards the [[Democratic Party]] and its 2nd congressional district leaning [[Republican]]. Maine, which was discovered by the French, is named after the ancient province of Maine in [[France]], which dates back to [[Gaul]].<ref>http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/05/no-one-knows-why-maine-is-called-maine/</ref>

'''Maine''' was the twenty-third state to enter into the Union. Its capital is Augusta. The state is one of the less staunchly Democrat-favoring states in the Northeast, with its 1st congressional district swinging heavily towards the [[Democrat Party]] and its 2nd congressional district leaning [[Republican]]. Maine, which was discovered by the French, is named after the ancient province of Maine in [[France]], which dates back to [[Gaul]].<ref>http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/05/no-one-knows-why-maine-is-called-maine/</ref>

Maine is unusual in denying all religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccination requirements, by legislation enacted in 2019 over Republican opposition, with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2021.  A ballot initiative in March 2020 sought to overturn this law, but spending by [[Big Pharma]] defeated the initiative by a margin of 73-27%.<ref>https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_1,_Religious_and_Philosophical_Vaccination_Exemptions_Referendum_(March_2020)</ref>

Maine is unusual in denying all religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccination requirements, by legislation enacted in 2019 over Republican opposition, with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2021.  A ballot initiative in March 2020 sought to overturn this law, but spending by [[Big Pharma]] defeated the initiative by a margin of 73-27%.<ref>https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Question_1,_Religious_and_Philosophical_Vaccination_Exemptions_Referendum_(March_2020)</ref>

In the spring of 1837, Maine and Georgia nearly came to blows over abolitionism after a group of Maine seamen took a runaway slave named Atticus home with them. Atticus was eventually betrayed back to his owner, but many Mainers played a subsequent part as stops on the [[Underground Railroad]] that saw many slaves safely away from captivity.<ref>http://imaginemaine.com/mainestories/Atticus.html</ref>

In the spring of 1837, Maine and Georgia nearly came to blows over abolitionism after a group of Maine seamen took a runaway slave named Atticus home with them. Atticus was eventually betrayed back to his owner, but many Mainers played a subsequent part as stops on the [[Underground Railroad]] that saw many slaves safely away from captivity.<ref>http://imaginemaine.com/mainestories/Atticus.html</ref>

Hannibal Hamlin was a Democratic Senator. However, he left the party in 1854 over the slavery issue and was a leading force in the formation of the Republican Party in Maine. He served as the state's first Republican governor and became the nation's first Republican vice president after the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]].

Hannibal Hamlin was a Democrat Senator. However, he left the party in 1854 over the slavery issue and was a leading force in the formation of the Republican Party in Maine. He served as the state's first Republican governor and became the nation's first Republican vice president after the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]].

===Maine and Prohibition===

===Maine and Prohibition===

   

   

==Politics==

==Politics==

Maine politics were dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democratic [[Edmund S. Muskie]] became governor in 1954. He and others broadened the Democratic base.Muskie became one of Maine's senators in 1958. He was prominent in the [[environmental movement]] and also considered an expert in urban legislation and budget control. He was Hubert Humphrey's vice-presidential nominee in 1968, and in 1972 was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. President [[Jimmy Carter]] appointed Senator Muskie Secretary of State in 1979.  

Maine politics were dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democrat [[Edmund S. Muskie]] became governor in 1954. He and others broadened the Democrat base. Muskie became one of Maine's senators in 1958. He was prominent in the [[environmental movement]] and also considered an expert in urban legislation and budget control. He was Hubert Humphrey's vice-presidential nominee in 1968, and in 1972 was a candidate for the Democrat presidential nomination. President [[Jimmy Carter]] appointed Senator Muskie Secretary of State in 1979.  

Senator George Mitchell of Waterville succeeded Senator Muskie, and became the Senate Democratic majority leader in 1988, succeeding the [[Exalted Cyclops]] [[Robert Byrd]] until Mitchell retired in 1994. After his retirement, he was much respected for his attempts to work with both sides of the dispute to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

Senator George Mitchell of Waterville succeeded Senator Muskie, and became the Senate Democrat majority leader in 1988, succeeding the [[Exalted Cyclops]] [[Robert Byrd]] until Mitchell retired in 1994. After his retirement, he was much respected for his attempts to work with both sides of the dispute to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

[[Margaret Chase Smith]] of [[Skowhegan]] was the first American woman elected to both houses of Congress. She was in the House of Representatives for nearly ten years, and then a senator. She was a liberal Republican, and was notably honest, independent and courageous.  

[[Margaret Chase Smith]] of [[Skowhegan]] was the first American woman elected to both houses of Congress. She was in the House of Representatives for nearly ten years, and then a senator. She was a liberal Republican, and was notably honest, independent and courageous.  

===Elected Officials===

===Elected Officials===

As of 2021, fascist Democrat Janet Mills was governor. Mills requires COVID vaccination for all state government workers.

As of 2021, fascist Democrat Janet Mills was the Maine governor. Mills required COVID vaccination for all state government workers.

====Federal====

====Federal====

*Thomas B. Reed was Speaker of the House for three terms. He campaigned for reforms in House rules and wrote Reed's Rules of Order, which are still used in the Maine Legislature.

*Thomas B. Reed was Speaker of the House for three terms. He campaigned for reforms in House rules and wrote Reed's Rules of Order, which are still used in the Maine Legislature.

*[[William P. Frye]], U.S. senator from Maine

*[[William P. Frye]], U.S. senator from Maine.

*[[Clyde H. Smith]], U.S. representative from the 2nd congressional district and late husband of Margaret Chase Smith

*[[Clyde H. Smith]], U.S. representative from the 2nd congressional district and late husband of Margaret Chase Smith.

*[[Eugene Hale]], U.S. senator from Maine

*[[Eugene Hale]], U.S. senator from Maine.

*[[William R. Pattangall]], anti-KKK Democrat politician and judge who later became a Republican due to opposition towards the New Deal

*[[William R. Pattangall]], anti-KKK Democrat politician and judge who later became a Republican due to opposition to the New Deal.

*[[Frederick Hale]], son of Eugene Hale and strongly [[conservative]] Republican U.S. senator from the state

*[[Frederick Hale]], son of Eugene Hale and strongly [[conservative]] Republican U.S. senator from Maine.

*[[Robert S. Hale]], cousin of Frederick Hale and self-described reactionary who was pro-civil rights<ref>[https://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mss/rhg.shtml Guide to the Robert Hale Papers, 1876 - 1976, undated]. ''Bowdoin''. Retrieved September 21, 2021.</ref>

*[[Robert S. Hale]], cousin of Frederick Hale and self-described reactionary who was pro-civil rights.<ref>[https://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mss/rhg.shtml Guide to the Robert Hale Papers, 1876 - 1976, undated]. ''Bowdoin''. Retrieved September 21, 2021.</ref>

*[[Wallace H. White]], Hale's senatorial colleague for a number of years who was the [[Senate Majority Leader|Majority Leader]] from 1947 to 1949

*[[Wallace H. White]], Hale's senatorial colleague for a number of years who was the [[Senate Majority Leader|Majority Leader]] from 1947 to 1949.

*[[Frederick G. Payne]], U.S. senator from the state, whose tenure spanned 1953 to 1959

*[[Frederick G. Payne]], U.S. senator from the state, whose tenure spanned 1953 to 1959.

*[[Stephen King]], a wildly popular horror novelist, is a lifelong resident of Maine and sets many of his novels in the state.

*[[Stephen King]], a wildly popular horror novelist, is a lifelong resident of Maine and sets many of his novels in the state.