U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine’s 1st District said Wednesday that Maine would turn into “Alabama tomorrow” with abortion laws if Republicans control state government.
The comments from the seventh-term congresswoman came in the first debate with Republican Ed Thelander, the latest in a string of political newcomers to challenge Pingree in a safely Democratic district. Abortion’s role in the debate shows how it has permeated campaigns in an election coming less than five months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Pingree said she had “no doubt” that abortion would be made illegal if former Gov. Paul LePage was to win a third term and his fellow Republicans took control of the Maine Legislature. LePage has a staunch anti-abortion history, but he has played down the issue in his race with Gov. Janet Mills, saying last week he would veto a 15-week abortion ban.
Thelander, a retired Navy SEAL from Bristol, said he was “pro-life” but would oppose federal bans on abortion, saying it should be left up to the states. Pingree supports enshrining abortion rights into federal law.
The debate, held in Lewiston by Maine Public and the Portland Press Herald, addressed a number of issues including vaccine mandates, the war in Ukraine, election integrity and immigration.
Asked about vaccine mandates, Thelander said that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website says that most people seriously ill with COVID-19 were vaccinated. But those who were not fully vaccinated were three times more likely to be hospitalized than those who are vaccinated as of the week ending on Sept. 17, according to state data.
Thelander also said it was an open question how much human activity contributes to climate change, something that goes against the scientific consensus that the warming climate has primarily been caused by human activity.
Hours before the debate, Thelander drew criticism after comparing federal regulations on the lobster industry aimed at protecting endangered right whales to rape. He apologized during Wednesday’s debate, calling them “very over the top” and noting his passion on the issue.
Pingree, who has also fought regulations on lobstering, called the comments inappropriate and pushed back on Thelander’s statement that not enough had been done on the lobster issue, noting united efforts from Maine’s congressional delegation.
It was among the contentious moments of a largely civil debate, though Thelander leveled most of his most intense criticisms of Pingree in his closing statement.
“She throws red meat at her base to raise money for her next election,” he said. “We need somebody who will represent us by showing up, and I guarantee I will do that.”
