Curtis, Mitchell moved from Maine delegation: In Florida, Curtis’ vote in question

Two Democratic super delegates from Maine have been moved to other state delegations.

The Democratic National Committee was notified this week that Former U.S. Sen. George J. Mitchell and former Maine Governor Kenneth Curtis are no longer registered to vote in the state. Therefore Curtis has been moved to the Florida delegation and Mitchell has been moved to the New York delegation, the states where they respectively reside, said Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee.

After losing them, Maine is down to 8 super delegates and 32 total delegates.

Mitchell’s move doesn’t have much of an impact. All delegate totals are counted individually, making up a national total, so nothing will change.

For Curtis, who announced last October that he supports Hillary Clinton, it’s another story. Democratic officials from Florida are at war with national party officials over whether their delegates will count at the national convention. Florida and Michigan were told by the Democratic National Committee that their delegates won’t count because the states moved up the dates of their primaries. Florida is challenging the decision.

Curtis told the Ellsworth American, in an article yesterday: “I could just as well attend the convention with the Florida delegation, and, at this point, I’m not 100 percent sure that I will go. I’ll go only if my vote is meaningful.”

To register to vote, Maine law does not require that individuals live in the state for any length of time, only that they have established a “fixed and principal” residence. DNC rules state that super delegates represent the state where they are registered to vote.

Therefore, if Curtis did move back to Maine before the August convention in Denver, he could avoid the whole Florida mess.

Curtis is a super delegate because of his previous role as chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Mitchell is a super delegate because of his previous role as U.S. Senate majority leader.

LaVera said there is some inaccurate information circulating. Mitchell and Curtis have not been removed as super delegates, he said, they have just been moved to other states.

Arden Manning, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, issued this statement today: "Though his work as a Senator, an Ambassador and Senate Majority leader, George Mitchell has really shown the best that Maine has to offer. We are honored to have him considered as part of our delegation but understand if the DNC decides to seat him with another State's delegation. I know Senator Mitchell spends a significant amount of time here in Maine and I am sure he will continue to be a voice for Mainers and an adamant supporter of the Maine Democratic Party."