ME-GOV: Angus King, III (D) will run for governor.

[RandySF]

Breaking news on my phone. He is the son of U.S. Senator Angus King.

[DFW]

1. The Senator is himself a former governor.

I never met his son. If he is half the good person Janet Mills is, he should be a formidable candidate.

[mainer]

7. I have met his son. He's a fine guy.

But what has he DONE for the state?
If he wins the primary, fine, I'll get right behind him. But I feel a little queasy about family dynasties based on nothing more than a name.

[DFW]

8. The name is definitely not enough. It serves as an introduction, but that's it.

He'll have to prove himself just like anyone else. Janet Mills will be a hard act to follow, too.

That having been said, having a dad who is not only a US SEnator, but also a former governor, he can ask for no better adviser to help give a fast track course in learning the ropes.

[mainer]

2. I like Angus, but this isn't right

Kids don’t get to slide into a governorship. There’s a great candidate named Shenna Bellows, our current Secretary of State, who courageously stood up to MAGA when she said felons shouldn’t be allowed on the ballot. She was doxxed, vilified, and had to move out of her house. She has the backbone we need. She is the obvious successor to Janet Mills.

[RandySF]

3. He'll have to earn it like anyone else.

Bellows is no more entitled than King.

[Easterncedar]

5. Shenna has been earning it.

[mainer]

6. Bellows has been MORE than earning it

She was ACLU of Maine director. She served in the Maine senate. She's been our secretary of state. She grew up in a house without running water, in a rural part of Maine. She has proved herself again and again as a reliable and liberal voice for the state.

Angus Jr., as far as I know, is a good guy but his only experience is running a renewable energy company. And he has THAT NAME.

[Easterncedar]

4. I hate political nepotism

Mario Cuomo’s sons, all the hideous Bush git, RFK Jr, Huckabees come to mind. Name recognition is a poor substitute for thinking about a candidate’s qualifications.

Angus King Jr himself got his start as a tv personality. He is tall and looks good on camera. Great qualifications. He’s not a terrible senator, better than any rethug, infinitely better than Collins, of course, but he wasn’t a great governor, and there were some ethical lapses that he has been given a pass on.