Elizabeth Mitchell

The biggest political event in Maine Friday night took place four hours from Augusta, in a community center with folding furniture crammed tightly together, potato sacks lining the walls, and high school beauty queens serving up salad and ice cream.

The Potato Festival’s Industry Dinner in Fort Fairfield was the place to be for the who’s who in Maine politics. To give some flavor of the event, below is a video of county resident Jeramiah Donovan singing about potato picking season.

Portland Democrat Cliff Ginn is planning a bid for the state Senate. The seat is being vacated by Democrat Ethan Strimling, who is running for Congress.

Elizabeth J. Mitchell, also a Portland Democrat, had previously said she would also seek the seat, but today decided against it. She is the daughter of current Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell.  read more »

UPDATED JAN. 9, 11 PM with information on other races 

The daughter of Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, plans to run for the State Senate.

In addition, Senate Minority leadership will seek reelection, and Rep. David Miramant, D-Camden, has a confirmed opponent in the race for Senate

Elizabeth Mitchell, from Portland, will run for Ethan Strimling’s seat, her mom confirmed Wednesday.

Thursday night state Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell will answer to the name “Hillary Clinton”. She’ll take on Clinton’s persona and answer questions from the audience as the frontrunner Democratic presidential candidate.

 All of the other presidential candidates, except for U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, have promised to send surrogates. These include staff or campaign workers. The event will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. at Augusta City Hall.

The audience will address the surrogates as the candidate, who will then answer in their persona.

Each candidate will collect money. The winner’s campaign can keep the donations; the rest will go to the Kennebec County Democratic Party. This is their legal version of a straw poll, said Rita Moran, county chairwoman.

Sen. Richard Rosen says control of the Senate next year is within the reach of both parties

UPDATED: NOV. 14

Republicans haven't had control of the state Senate for ten years, and party leaders say it's time to make a run for it.

Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, however, doesn't see this as so likely.

The Senate currently has 18 Democrats and 17 Republicans. Four Democrats and two Republicans will be termed out in 2008, and five Republicans were elected by a margin of 1,500 or less in 2006.