WATERVILLE, Maine — Abortion has recently been one of the biggest partisan issues in national politics, but it is now differentiating two Democrats trying to represent this Maine city with a Franco-American history.
The June 11 primary between state Rep. Bruce White, D-Waterville, and Cassie Julia is intriguing in large part due to Planned Parenthood’s Maine political arm making its first-ever endorsement in a state legislative primary by backing Julia over the incumbent.
That decision stems from White, a Catholic seeking a final term after holding the District 65 seat since 2018, opposing abortion-rights measures in the Democratic-led Legislature, including Gov. Janet Mills’ bill last year to allow doctors to perform abortions deemed necessary after viability and a failed effort to enshrine a right to “reproductive autonomy” in the Maine Constitution.
White, 66, is a vanishing sort of Democrat with anti-abortion views. Over the past decade, both parties have become more strident on the issue. It could make for one of the last Democratic primaries here with abortion as a central issue, two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
Julia, 45, who advocates for public education as founder of Friends of the Waterville Public Schools and serves on the city’s Planning Board, has leaned into the issue by highlighting Planned Parenthood’s endorsement and describing herself on her campaign website as “the only reproductive rights advocate” on the primary ballot.
White, who is retired from a career split between working at the former Scott Paper mill and in Winslow, Vassalboro and China schools, pointed to endorsements from Democrats who do not agree with him on abortion, including former House Speaker Ryan Fecteau of Biddeford.
He noted his legislative experience and progressive record on issues such as labor rights, public education and protections for election workers while sharing disappointment over Planned Parenthood spending more than $3,000 against him. He noted that Democrats who opposed gun control, for example, have not seen progressive primary challenges.
White added he thinks more Democrats were opposed to last year’s abortion-rights bill on the viability cutoff “but probably feared just what I’m going through now.”
“They’re afraid they can almost be persecuted for it,” said White, who has two adult children, two grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Julia, who has a 17-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, said she initially planned on running for the seat after White left office. But she launched her campaign in December after her daughter, who will vote for the first time this November after turning 18, and her daughter’s friends shared they were upset over White’s abortion votes.
“I cannot believe I’m living in a world where my kid has fewer guaranteed rights than I did when I was her age,” Julia said.
Julia, whose backers include Waterville Mayor Michael Morris and several former city councilors, acknowledged LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights are “my banner issues, but I have a lot more to bring to the table.”
She mentioned her education and Planning Board work while arguing a fresh perspective is needed for the district. But White also has served on Waterville’s Planning Board and worked in public schools, serving as a reminder of one issue differentiating them most.
Lisa Margulies, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC, called White’s record on abortion “abysmal,” noting he also voted against a “shield” law to protect abortion and gender-affirming care providers from lawsuits and in favor of Republican attempts to remove abortion coverage under MaineCare, among other proposals.
“We can’t afford to not have the vote here that we need,” Margulies said. “We’re in a historical moment right now where reproductive rights are in danger like they haven’t been in decades.”
Yard signs for both White and Julia are dotted around the city of roughly 15,000 that was once led by former Republican Gov. Paul LePage and is home to Colby and Thomas colleges. Republican Tammy Brown will face the winner in a November race in which the Democrat will be favored.
Ira Mandel, a retired family practice doctor who supports White, said he does not agree with Planned Parenthood focusing on only one issue and called White “compassionate.” Churchill Elangwe-Preston, a neighbor, disagrees with White on abortion but noted how the lawmaker looked out for him and his home when he had surgery a few years ago.
“There’s more to life than just one issue,” Elangwe-Preston said.
Julia’s supporters were not shy about criticizing White over his abortion views. Scott Beale, who has volunteered with her in Waterville schools, said the challenger has “a lot of energy and drive.” Winifred Tate, a former Waterville city councilor, said White has been disappointing on the “core Democratic values” of reproductive and LGBTQ rights.
“If you’re not capable of standing up for those rights, I think we need a new voice,” Tate said.
