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Bangor public health director reflects on HIV outbreak
Penobscot County has now logged 41 known cases of HIV, but there are likely more.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins discloses her longtime tremor
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she has long had a condition called an essential tremor. The condition causes trembling in Collins' hands, head and voice.
Maine candidate for governor unveils plan to lower energy costs
Bennett said he wants to trim back electric company profits, help heritage industries, increase efficiency and create a new authority to look to the future.
Graham Platner and Susan Collins Duel in High-Stakes Maine Senate Race Ads
In strikingly different ads, Graham Platner argued that “Susan Collins’s charade is over” while Senator Collins highlighted the economic benefits she has brought to Maine.
Susan Collins Says She Has Long Had a Benign Tremor
The Republican senator from Maine, running for re-election at age 73 in one of this year’s top Senate races, made the disclosure after mounting online scrutiny on the left.
Maine State Sen. Jim Libby endorses Bush for governor
Even with Libby out, there are still seven men competing for the right to run for governor as a Republican in November. In addition to Bush, Bobby Charles, Ben Midgley, Garrett Mason, David Jones, Owen McCarthy and Robert Wessels will be on the ballot.
Hearing next week on trans ballot signatures
An attorney for Protect Girls Sports in Maine said in legal documents that the group “expended considerable time and resources to ensure that sufficient numbers of valid signatures were gathered.”
NYU Langone Health plans to build new $1B teaching hospital, research center in Melville
The hospital would provide medical services to the Route 110 corridor, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said.
MIT scientists finally reveal the hidden structure of a mysterious high-tech material
For decades, relaxor ferroelectrics have powered everything from medical ultrasounds to sonar systems, yet their inner atomic structure remained a mystery—until now. Researchers have finally mapped their three-dimensional structure in unprecedented detail, uncovering hidden patterns in how electric charges are arranged at the nanoscale. The breakthrough not only challenges long-standing assumptions about how these materials behave but also allows scientists to refine the models used to design them.
Musician West heads Downeast for concerts, workshop
American roots musician Eli West will bring his blend of old-time, bluegrass and country music to coastal Maine for a concert in Steuben and a workshop and concert in East
Building Business: South Portland builder incorporates salvaged wood with a history
Ryan Deane, of South Portland-based Deane Design & Build, creates homes and other structures that incorporate salvaged wood he’s rescued from barns and buildings destined for demolition.
From the Editor: For some business owners, parting is such sweet sorrow
Our cover story looks at top execs who have “retired,” only to reemerge after a short break.
Barney Frank, in hospice, says he remains hopeful but warns Democrats on ‘litmus test’ politics
Speaking from his home in Ogunquit, Maine, the 86-year-old former congressman told CNN that his own experience gives him reason to believe the political landscape can improve.
Hollywood fire crews extinguish business structure fire
The fire has since been extinguished, according to fire authorities, and crews remained on scene conducting overhaul and ensuring the area is safe.
Graham Platner Got Everything He Wanted. Is That Good for Democrats’ Hopes of Retaking the Senate?
Maine was supposed to be Democrats’ marquee Senate primary. It ended before a single vote was cast.
What the Maine Senate Race Feels Like on the Ground
The anti-establishment mood is palpable in the state, home to one of the country’s top Senate contests. But Senator Susan Collins has some strengths.
Maine nurses demand Maine Health cancel its contract with Palantir Technologies
Maine Medical Center Nurses are demanding that Maine Health cancel its contract with Palantir Technologies, the tech company powering ICE surveillance.
Democrat David Costello says he’s a viable alternative
David Costello and Graham Platner are competing to take on Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican seeking a sixth term. Democrats hope to take control of the Senate by flipping four seats, with Maine considered a top pick-up opportunity.
Maine AFL-CIO endorses Platner for Senate
On June 9, Graham Platner will face David Costello of Brunswick for the right to take on Sen. Susan Collins in November.
Maine health system lays off 38 IT staff after EHR upgrades
Central Maine Healthcare, which suffered a data breach incident last year and was purchased by Prime Healthcare Foundation three months ago, attributes the IT staff reductions to the expiration of legacy systems.
Underwater robot tracks sperm whale conversations in real time
Understanding how they communicate remained difficult because these marine mammals dive to depths of more than a mile for around 50 minutes each hour.
Schumer’s Maine pick Janet Mills drops out; VRA ruling boosts GOP path: Join Friday’s Whole Hog
Progressive Democrats cheered after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills (D), exited Maine’s Senate race, reshaping the field. Republicans are…
What to Know About the Maine Senate Race After Janet Mills Drops Out
The exit of Gov. Janet Mills kicked off the general election early in what is likely to be one of the most important, expensive and combative Senate races of 2026.
Janet Mills stood up to Trump. Democratic voters shrugged.
Liberals say they want a fighter. But a popular governor who clashed with the president failed to catch fire in Maine’s Senate race.
Schumer and Platner Talk After Mills Suspends Her Campaign
The top Senate Democrat and the Maine contender had what was described as a cordial conversation despite Schumer’s backing of his primary opponent.
How Janet Mills’ Maine Senate bid fell apart
Conversations with nearly a dozen Democrats reveal how deeply the campaign struggled to raise funds and counter Graham Platner’s meteoric rise.
Graham Platner’s triumph, explained by a Maine reporter
Can we read big national trends into Janet Mills’s defeat? Or are these candidates — and this state — just singular?
Registered nurses, allies to demand Maine Health cancel contract with Palantir Technologies
Maine Medical Center registered nurses will hold a press conference on Friday, May 1 in Portland to demand Maine Health cancel its contract with Palantir Technologies. Joined by their allies in the Purge Palantir campaign, nurses will detail why leaders of Maine’s public institutions and health care organizations should refuse collaborations with the surveillance software giant.
Mills Exit Is a Blow to Schumer as Democrats Question His Strategy
Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and minority leader, considered the Maine governor his top recruit for winning the majority. Critics said her collapse showed he is out of touch with the party’s voters.
Janet Mills quits Maine Senate bid leaving Democrat novice in running
Mills has been a popular governor in the state and was the top choice of a national Democrat establishment, but her campaign never gained momentum.
OpenAI blames ‘nerdy personality’ for ChatGPT obsession with goblins
The company said in a blog post that it ended up retiring the “nerdy” personality entirely, but the issue remained, forcing it to create a specific override code instruction.
Janet Mills Quits Maine Primary After Lackluster Campaign
The Maine governor’s exit from the race clears a path for Graham Platner to become the Democratic nominee and face Susan Collins in the fall.
Janet Mills suspends Maine Senate campaign and makes way for Platner
Gov. Janet Mills has suspended her Democratic campaign for U.S. Senate, making way for political novice Graham Platner to face Sen. Susan Collins.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills drops U.S. Senate bid before Democratic primary
Mills has struggled to outshine first-time candidate Graham Platner, her opponent in the June 9 Democratic primary.
Janet Mills drops out of Maine Senate race, clearing way for Platner
This is a big win for the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspends Senate campaign
Polls had consistently shown Mills trailing oyster farmer Graham Platner in the Democratic primary.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspends campaign for US Senate
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is suspending her Democratic primary campaign for US Senate, clearing the way for Graham Platner to challenge Sen. Susan Collins.
Janet Mills, Governor of Maine, Suspends Senate Campaign
Her withdrawal paves the way for Graham Platner to challenge Senator Susan Collins, and reflects the energy of the Democratic Party’s left as well as voters’ unease with older candidates.
Fed's favored inflation gauge remained elevated in March
The latest PCE inflation data was released by the Commerce Department which showed that inflation rose and remained elevated in March due in part to the Iran war's impact.
Avoid scandal and play hardball politics in the BDN's town meeting game
The text-based game was created in part by training Claude AI on real Maine town meeting warrants.
Bills invite former Bengals third-round pick to rookie minicamp
The Bills invited former Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton to rookie minicamp.
Tech: Data center politics in Maine
Data center politics — an issue we’re closely following — are becoming very tricky for candidates on the ballot this year.
Caesars Entertainment Posts Narrower Loss as Revenue Rises
The hotel and casino company’s sales in its Las Vegas business remained steady at $1 billion, while revenue increased across its regional and digital channels.
Mail-In test for colorectal cancer could help community health centers increase screening
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States and disproportionally impacts people who receive care in under-resourced settings. Fortunately, several effective screening tests are available to detect cancer early when it is most treatable. In partnership with community health centers (CHC), investigators from Mass General Brigham and UCLA Health mailed one of two stool-based screening tests to more than 5,000 participants from CHCs in Boston and Los Angeles. Researchers found that participants were more likely to complete screening if they received a newer stool-based screening test, but follow-up colonoscopy rates remained low for those with abnormal results. Findings are published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Do you follow Maine high school sports? We want to hear from you.
Help us understand what our audience cares about and what we could be doing better.
Andie Piliouras '26 advances to finals in Maine's televised student business competition - College of the Atlantic
The College of the Atlantic senior will compete for more than $20,000 to help grow her business.
Alabama politics shift as PAC attacks, policy gaps, voters collide
A mystery PAC roiled GOP primaries as lawmakers logged narrow gains and a report found 800,000 Alabamians remained outside the electoral process.
Health Care: Our Plan for Taking Care of ME
Maine’s health care is under threat. From closures to unaffordable premiums, policies like the Big Beautiful Bill are making an already terrible problem worse. Health care is nonnegotiable, and we plan to make health care affordable, wide-ranging, and invest in medical education.
What is the Desert of Maine? Unique destination blends history, science, and outdoor adventure.
Desert of Maine blends history, science, and outdoor adventure
Maine data center ban vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills
Maine Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a data center ban because it didn't contain an exemption for a specific project.
As Trump Officials Pushed Health Savings Accounts, RFK Jr. Aide Ran Wellness Company Poised to Benefit
Calley Means remained president of a company that relied on health savings accounts last year as the Trump administration developed policies to expand them.
Gouldsboro aquaculture business selected for blue technology accelerator
Springtide has trained hundreds of seaweed farmers in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Asia. It supplies seaweed seed to industry and research institutions throughout the U.S.
Madrid Presents the Transformation Project of the Former Olympic Aquatic Center Site into a Multifunctional Complex for Sports, Entertainment, and Education
Barsento, the joint venture formed by Live Nation, Oak View Group (OVG), and Atlético de Madrid, has today presented the transformation project of the former Olympic Aquatic Center site alongside the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida. The initiative will breathe new life into the unfinished Aquatic Center building, transforming…
Bethel student launches Girls in Science Day for Maine middle schoolers
Hands-on labs, mentorship and a student-led vision drew 40 girls to the inaugural program at Gould Academy in Bethel.
Maine health, science experts speak on U.S. EPA cuts impacting communities
During Earth Day, science and public health officials gathered in Gardiner to bring attention to the Trump administrations deregulations on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maine’s transgender sports referendum is on the verge of dropping off the ballot
The referendum has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, but the margin is tight with more challenges pending.
On Earth Day, environmental and health experts call on EPA to restore protections
Environmental and health experts joined the Natural Resources Council of Maine to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to restore protective policies. The group gathered in Gardiner on Earth Day Wednesday, to highlight the impacts severe EPA cuts will have on Maine’s environment and residents. “Today is Earth Day, but as we look around Maine, […]
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22
Director James Cameron’s sci-fi fantasy Avatar: Fire and Ash remained atop the Official Film Chart, the U.K. home entertainment sales chart, for a third week through April 22. The title held off Universal’s Oscar winner Hamnet, which climbed six spots to No. 2 in its 10th week on the chart, followed by the studio’s Wicked: For Good, … Continue reading "‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22"
'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22
Director James Cameron’s sci-fi fantasy Avatar: Fire and Ash remained atop the Official Film Chart, the U.K. home entertainment sales chart, for a third week through April 22. The title held off Universal’s Oscar winner Hamnet, which climbed six spots to No. 2 in its 10th week on the chart, followed by the studio’s Wicked: For Good, … Continue reading "‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Remains No. 1 on Weekly U.K. Home Entertainment Sales Chart Through April 22"
Suit against trans sports referendum dealt serious blow by Maine officials
The Maine attorney general's office, representing the secretary of state, has largely rejected arguments that signatures were wrongly validated, according to new court filings.
Gulf of Maine Research Institute applies ocean science to help communities, ecosystems
Its work is split into two main parts.
Advancing Earth Observation at NASA since Release of Earthrise Photo
From cameras pressed against spacecraft windows to the most powerful radar ever flown, imaging technology has taken giant leaps since 1968, but the drive to understand our home in the cosmos has remained.
Senate hopeful Graham Platner calls to investigate Trump and impeach two Supreme Court justices
The underdog Maine candidate, who has risen in polls, told NBC News he wants to carry on the legacy of Bernie Sanders and push Democrats to be more aggressive.
In the US, where people breathe increasingly dirty air, one small city stands out
The American Lung Association calls it a “grim indication of the deterioration of air quality nationwide”: Bangor, Maine, is the last city standing on all three of its “cleanest cities” lists.
US oil prices rise as US-Iran peace talks remain uncertain
U.S. crude futures rose in early trade on Wednesday, despite Washington's announcement that it would indefinitely extend a ceasefire with Iran, as uncertainty over peace talks persisted and the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed.
Maine Sports Hall of Fame announces class of 2026
Maine Sports Hall of Fame announces class of 2026
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
Kansas baseball gains position in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Kansas baseball hasn’t just remained in the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, it’s gained position. Here’s where the Jayhawks are ranked.
Graham Platner nets another endorsement in high-interest Maine Senate race
Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner "a real fighter" who's ready shake things up and make changes in DC.
Indiana Fever training camp begins with health and focus on improved style
The Indiana Fever began their 2026 campaign on Sunday. Players were healthy and the roster is taking shape, but some questions remained.
Gemini Live redesign replaces fullscreen interface on Android
Visually, Gemini Live has remained mostly unchanged since launch, but Google is now testing a redesign that removes the fullscreen interface.
If education, business and labor come together, Maine can take advantage of AI
Maine has faced large-scale worker dislocations before. In the absence of effective federal regulation, we must invest and collaborate as we face the biggest yet.
Savion Hiter explains why he stayed with Michigan football
Five-star running back Savion Hiter explains why he remained committed to Michigan football despite coaching changes.
Three takeaways from LSU baseball's loss to Texas A&M
Casan Evans got the start on the mound, and the Aggie bats remained hot against him. Here are three takeaways from LSU's Friday night loss.
What Maine Voters Are Thinking About Ahead of 2026’s Senate Election
Our readers in the state tell us about its high-stakes Senate race.
Samuel Tremblay named Outstanding Graduating International Student for the Maine Business School
ORONO, Maine -- Samuel Tremblay of Quebec City is the Outstanding Graduating International Student for the Maine Business School. A business administration student majoring in management, Tremblay is a tutor, mentor, Maine Business School ambassador and president of the UMaine chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.
Sen. King calls for expanded mental health services for incarcerated veterans
Maine Senator Angus King is trying to expand mental health services for incarcerated veterans.
Despite late-night maneuvering, agriculture bond fails enactment again
A final push for a $45 million agriculture bond was still not quite enough to get the legislation past the finish line and on the November ballot. Instead, the bond is stuck between chambers as the Maine Legislature ends the session.
Attica Lumber celebrates a century of business
By Brianna Smith What started in 1925 with R.F. Cook’s passion for lumber and buildings has grown into a fourth-generation family business celebrating 100 years of service in Attica. Founded in the years following World War I, Attica Lumber has remained rooted in the same principles through ge
Business owners 'spooked' by oil price surge, national survey shows
A monthly national barometer of small business optimism released by the National Federation of Independent Business shows a dip in March.
Maine lawmakers adjourn with unfinished business, may return to handle vetoes
State lawmakers wrapped up their legislative session a day early on Tuesday but left several issues unresolved.
Planned Parenthood endorses Mills in Maine U.S. Senate race
Mills is in a three-way Democratic primary on the June 9 ballot. She faces Sullivan oyster farmer and veteran Graham Platner and former federal official David Costello of Brunswick.
Mushrooming business: MTI grant helping spark expansion at North Spore
There’s been “a real increase in demand from customers wanting to grow mushrooms outdoors in their gardens” with over 20% growth in that category, said North Spore’s president.
Carbon removal project supports Maine’s blue economy, broader marine health
MIT researchers introduce a chemical-free approach to balancing ocean acidity that protects marine life and could have huge impact on the global aquaculture market.
Maine GOP calls for ban of transgender girls playing on girls sports teams
Republican lawmakers want their supporters to head to the State House Tuesday to speak out against transgender girls playing on girls sports teams.
Political newcomer running for Rep. Golden's seat in US House
At 29 years old, Paige Loud is the youngest candidate in the Democratic primary race for Maine's 2nd Congressional District.
In Focus Maine: The state budget
@MarisaJacquesTV talks with state Rep. @dgattine, @rightjack58 and state Sen. Peggy Rotundo @mainesenatedems about the state budget, spending priorities and the projected impact on Mainers.
UMA, UMPI launch online medical laboratory science bachelor's degree to expand Maine’s healthcare workforce
The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Augusta are launching a bachelor of science in medical laboratory science degree
UMA, UMPI launch online medical laboratory science bachelor's degree to expand Maine’s healthcare workforce
The University of Maine at Presque Isle and the University of Maine at Augusta are launching a bachelor of science in medical laboratory science degree
"Girls in Science Day" provides Thomas College students with hands-on experience in the field of science.
A Big, Moving Party for Better Lung Health
Peggy shares her experience with the Trek Across Maine and how one bike ride has expanded into a lifelong purpose.
Maine group asks for changes in ballot language
The ballot question criticism is the latest twist in a controversial effort that began last fall when the group began gathering signatures to call for a public vote on the issue.
Maine GOP candidate for governor drops
The report cited “missing or unsigned documentation, failure to provide proof that some contributors were registered to vote, signatures on paperwork that do not appear to be authentic.”
Group behind transgender school sports referendum opposes drafted ballot question wording
The group 'Protect Girls Sports in Maine' is taking issue with how ballot question is worded, arguing it is "not dutifully faithful to the proposed legislative text and has departed from the most critical language."