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==Maine Politics==

==Maine Politics==

Maine politics was dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democrat [[Edmund S. Muskie ]]became governor in 1954. He and others broadened the Democratic base.

Maine politics was dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democrat [[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 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.  

Muskie became one of Maine's Senators in 1958. He was prominent in the environmental movement and also considered 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.  

Senator George Mitchell of Waterville succeeded Senator Muskie, and becane Senate majority leader from 1988 until he 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 becane Senate majority leader from 1988 until he 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. A Republican, she was notably honest, independent and courageous. She is remembered as being the first Republican senator to speak out openly against what many people considered to be the excesses of McCarthyism in the 1950s.  

[[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. A Republican, she was notably honest, independent and courageous. She is remembered for her famous [[Declararation of Conscious]] in the early 1950s.  

Maine is a hotbed of independent voters, who outnumber both enrolled Democrats and Republicans and determine the outcome of most elections today. Two political independents have been governors of Maine: James B Longley of Lewiston in 1974, and Angus S King of Brunswick in 1994.

Maine is a hotbed of independent voters, who outnumber both enrolled Democrats and Republicans and determine the outcome of most elections today. Two political independents have been governors of Maine: James B Longley of Lewiston in 1974, and Angus S King of Brunswick in 1994.

Maine's current Senators, [[Olympia Snowe]] and [[Susan Collins]], are both Republicans. The current Representatives, [[Mike Michaud]] and [[Tom Allen]], are both Democrats.<ref>http://www.maine.gov/portal/facts_history/</ref>

Maine's current Senators, [[Olympia Snowe]] and [[Susan Collins]], are both Republicans. The current Representatives, [[Mike Michaud]] and [[Tom Allen]], are both Democrats.<ref>http://www.maine.gov/portal/facts_history/</ref>

==Notable people from Maine==

==Notable people from Maine==