Why I’m running for the US Senate

By David Costello

My first taste of politics was on picket lines as a boy as my father, an Army veteran, and grandparents struck for better wages and benefits at a grocery store in Bangor and a shoe mill in Old Town. All three ended up losing their jobs. My father went on to become a labor organizer, his dream job, but died a couple of years later because of work he did as a teenager. My grandparents acquired work as a janitor and food services worker at the nearby University of Maine. Their labors, and my mother’s struggles as a 27-year-old widow with four young children, are behind much of what drives me today.

I grew up inspired by the strength and work ethic of my family and other working-class families in Maine, and the values, achievements and aspirations of the Democratic Party. I fully recognize that if it were not for such Democratic Party initiatives as the minimum wage, Social Security, Pell Grants and guaranteed student loans, I would not have put myself through college and I would not be running today as the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate from Maine.

I’m running because, like many in Maine, I’m concerned about the health of our democracy and the performance of our government. Washington is broken. Dysfunction abounds, and our imperfect democracy is in danger of becoming more flawed.

As it stands today, I believe our government is failing the American people. Extreme gerrymanders and single-member districts silence the voices of thousands; Senate filibusters derail important legislation; our Electoral College results in election winners becoming losers; and our existing campaign finance system furthers the interests of the wealthy over everyone else.

To fix Washington and ensure that all Mainers are provided with the education, job skills and other life enriching opportunities to thrive, we need to do more than simply change whom we elect every two to six years. We need to substantially reform our governing practices and institutions, and eliminate the excessive and corrupting influence that money, wealth and disinformation have over our politics and government.

I’m running to advance long-overdue legislative and constitutional reforms that will not only help in strengthening our democracy and government, but also better protect our rights and freedoms — including women’s reproductive rights and freedoms — and assist in tackling such critical challenges as climate change, unaffordable housing and health care, economic inequality, gun violence, shoddy infrastructure, and insufficient retirement security. While enacting such reforms won’t be easy, these aren’t especially radical. And, given that most Americans are crying out for meaningful change, many could be realized if sufficient attention, reason and effort are applied.

To succeed, we need to elect senators whose public policy ambitions are greater than their own personal political aspirations. It will never be best practice to choose overly cautious politicians who, like U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, because of what I view as their customary don’t-rock-the-boat approach are considered especially electable, but who generally fail to deliver any significant benefits beyond their own election. As Maine’s senator, I would be unafraid and restless in fighting for real change and progress.

Having grown up in a working-class family in Old Town and having served for more than 25 years in senior-level government positions, managing complex multimillion-dollar programs and operations, including initiatives to combat climate change, revitalize communities, protect public health and the environment, and advance peaceful democratic change in conflict-torn countries around the world. I believe that I have the broadest and most fitting experience of all the candidates competing to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate.

Doing more of the same in Washington isn’t working. If you agree, please consider joining me in fighting for the reforms that would genuinely make a difference! For more information, check out costelloforsenate.com.

Costello of Brunswick is the Democratic Party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate from Maine.