AUGUSTA, Maine — Senate President Kevin Raye, R-Perry, submitted paperwork Tuesday to make official his run for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat.
The news was something of a formality since Raye’s name has been out there for a long time as a GOP challenger to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud.
“I am encouraged by the excellent response and expressions of support I’ve received across the district, from Waldo County to the St. John Valley, and from Fryeburg to Eastport,” Raye said in a statement. “I look forward to running an issue-oriented campaign focused on making Congress work better for the American people, encouraging job creation and getting federal spending and debt under control. Everywhere I go, I hear enormous frustration with Washington.”
Raye has been in the Maine Senate since 2005 and was named Senate president after the 2010 elections when Republicans took control of the House and Senate.
He ran for the 2nd District in 2002, when Michaud was first elected, and lost by about 10,000 votes. Since then, the Democrat has been re-elected four times.
Greg Olson, Michaud’s campaign manager, released a statement about Raye’s candidacy.
“Congressman Michaud takes all elections seriously and this one will be no different. Mike’s as frustrated with Congress as many Mainers are right now,” Olson said. “To make Congress at least get their basic work accomplished, he’s pushing a bill to make sure members of Congress don’t get paid unless they pass a budget and appropriations bills on time.
“Come the fall, we believe that Mike’s record of delivering results for veterans, investing in Maine’s economy and opposing unfair trade deals will resonate with Mainers. In the meantime, Mike is focused on doing the job he was elected to do.”
It’s not clear whether Raye will face a primary challenge in June. No other Republicans have declared for the 2nd District. Similarly, Michaud is so far unopposed on the Democratic side.
Raye outlined some of his priorities in his official announcement.
“Poll after poll shows that Mainers feel the country is headed in the wrong direction. In Congress, I will work to move America in a new direction, away from explosive federal spending and a heavy-handed health care law that raises taxes on small business and cuts Medicare for seniors,” he said. “We need to encourage job creation, rein in runaway debt that threatens future generations and prioritize spending in a way that protects national security and cares for the truly needy.”
Raye also pledged to run an issue-oriented campaign and said he would reject the use of negative attacks, although he is facing criticism already.
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant said this week that Raye should disclose more information about his work with the K Street lobbying organization AdvaMed. In 2009 and 2010, Raye reportedly was paid as a consultant to advocate against the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama.
“Mainers deserve to know more about Kevin Raye’s lobbying career,” Grant said. “We may have a part-time Legislature but we don’t have part-time ethics laws. Raye should disclose how much he was paid by AdvaMed and the full scope of his work for the organizations.”
Raye said he never lobbied but rather was hired to educate the public about a proposed tax.
“It was fully disclosed at the time,” he said. “I don’t know why Ben Grant is going back and talking about this now. This is exactly the kind of thing Maine people are tired of.”
“Raye also pledged to run an issue-oriented campaign and said he would
reject the use of negative attacks, although he is facing criticism
already.”
And the Democrats start throwing the mud from the get-go. Sigh. My vote already goes to Kevin Raye because he kind of looks like my brother—weird.
Your buddy Raye has been a stooge for Paul LePage and the corporate right wing, and it is disgusting. The hypocrite stood there on the floor of the Maine Senate and argued loudly to suppress Maine voters with their corporate right wing scam to end same-day voter registration. I wouldn’t vote for this corporate phony for a million dollars. He got his tail handed to him on Question-1, and Mike will defeat him too, AGAIN.
Perhaps he should consider a run for Governor? He’s about the only thing that’s been keeping the crazy train on the tracks for the past year and looking at the polling results on the other story about poor Paul the front door of the Blaine House looks to be wide open to just about anyone who can speak in complete sentences. Of course if Kev has a problem with embarrassing lobbying activities (Big bucks from away that would make Mainer’s jaws drop!) he might be better off laying low right where he is.
He couldn’t beat Michaud the first time so what makes him think he can do it this time?
I’ll tell you what. If Kevin Raye wants to stand a chance to get this seat, he damned well better defend his appointments to legislative committee’s. Remember, the governor saying that he can’t work with the current committee membership as it pertains to Utilities?
Kevin Raye is termed out….he would be gone either way. Charlie Summers ran for congress as well, now he’s the Sec. of State. Let’s just see who kisses butt now.
Kevin Raye? I’ll check out some of his tweets….oh wait I allread have. It’s a fun read. More later.
Kevin , Be truthful now, are you a “lobbyist” for the Washington insider
group ADVA Med or just an “educator” for the Washington insider group ??
And , what is the difference between the two ??
$200,000.00 a year would be my guess?
YES, when can I vote?
did you register 2 or 3 days in advance of election day? if not , then I am sorry you can not vote for the crook of your choice.
Oh thats right, we Dems and Independents voted Raye and Lepages law down, now everyone will get to vote for Michaud.
Raye for Congress
LOL!!!
I hope you keep your sense of humor, youll need it after the election
Michaud has done nothing for the State of Maine and has been nothing but a rubber stamp for Obama. If Michaud is so eager to help veterans lets see what he has to say about Obama’s proposed cuts to the military and decrease in health benefits for active duty members.
Michaud has been is Congress long enough and it is time for him to go!
Vietnam Vet, 66-67, and a believer in a strong defense and a student of government and the American political system.
First, the U.S. spends more on our military then every other country on earth combined.
Second, if truth be known, I suspect, over 80% (closer to 90%) of our military budget goes to private company contractors who are profiteering greatly.
Third, The U.S. never pays up front for the known cost to care for and treat our veterans, it should.
Fourth, Congressman Michaud has fought and continues to fight for our veterans. Mike has been strong on the country’s defense and strong on assuring our dollars spent on defense are for the protection of America, not just someone looking to make millions off the American taxpayers.
just another hack washington insider
Is he offering a free mustard pot in every kitchen?
I didn’t want to be the one to drag that in, but I did wonder if Kevin could cut the mustard…
Kevin Raye is a nice guy. But, he’s a life long political operative. We do not need more political operatives. We need those who came from and who remember Maine’s working-roots. Another political operative is not what America, nor Maine needs.
Raye is a career political worker – turned politician – who has spent his entire adult life in the political system. He’d fall into line behind the like of Eric Cantor and the “national republican machine” quicker than one could say, “Mitch McConnell supports paying American workers a livable wage.”
I guess we can expect a couple of truck loads of “outside” money from the Out-of-State godfathers of Republican politics that will inundate our airways and mail boxes with twisted and deceptive advertisement telling us Congressman Michaud is, on one hand, the reason the Country is in bad shape, and on the other hand, he’s ineffective.
Can’t be both. Michaud’s record of acting on the best interest of the people of Maine far out weights the political-partisian-lock-step-take-American-down-to-win-for-the-party that we have seen from Republican members of the U.S. House of Representative these last two years. If we had more individuals like Michaud Congress wouldn’t be such a mess.
Remind me not to buy the Rolling Thunder Express anymore since they have their paid writers posting partisan political propaganda.
You’re kidding, right? The Rolling Thunder Express is a free paper. I get it delivered to my house every Monday. Do they even pay their writers?
Of course they pay their writers, everybody gets paid. It’s called advertising income. And the only thing I use the paper for is to start a fire, works great for that.
Voted for Mike last time. He doesn’t answer letters, has done little or nothing for Washington County, and When Snowe and Baldacci were rep-ing the second, I saw them occasionally… Not Mike. This time I’m voting for Raye…
Plus the fact that I feel safer when government is divided. The Dems have the Senate and the White House, and It looks like no one on the R side is a serious challenge to the status quo.
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant said this week that Raye should disclose more information about his work with the K Street lobbying organization AdvaMed. In 2009 and 2010, Raye reportedly was paid as a consultant to advocate against the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama.
“Mainers deserve to know more about Kevin Raye’s lobbying career,” Grant said. “We may have a part-time Legislature but we don’t have part-time ethics laws. Raye should disclose how much he was paid by AdvaMed and the full scope of his work for the organizations.” Why dont we go to the Maine State Prison and find a few good men and elect one of them, we would be no worse off.
If Kevin Raye cannot stare this Governor right square in the eyes and tell him that he needs to cooperate with the Legislature, and work together and strive for bi-partisanship as it relates to any proposal, he won’t stand a chance in Washington. If ole Kev can’t play hardball with the executive here in Maine, then he sure as heck isn’t going to be able to compete for relevance in DC.
Nice guy? whatever, I want results. Mike Michaud just put in a bill that would not allow Congress to get paid unless they complete their business, how ballsy is that!? Good for Mike.