HOULTON, Maine — Less than 15 minutes into U.S. congressional candidate Jordan Wood’s Thursday night Aroostook County town hall, a man identifying as a “1965-style Louisiana Democrat,” began a tirade about Maine’s immigrant population and voter fraud.
“Are you going to be supporting the voting of illegal aliens in the state of Maine?” Houlton resident Dennis Miller asked. “And every Somalian in the United States will be pulling off the Social Security plan for the rest of their life and they will never have to work a single day.”
Wood, a Democrat vying for a June primary win in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, did not appear rattled by Miller’s profanity-laden string of threats and volatile interruptions, giving a measured response.
“It is a lie that there is widespread voter fraud or undocumented immigrants voting in our federal elections,” Wood said. “It’s a lie that’s been perpetuated by Donald Trump. It’s a lie that’s been perpetuated by Paul LePage. It’s not true.”
Wood continued, calling the targeting of the Somali population “simply racist.”
“There is no evidence to what they are claiming about this community,” he said. “We have welcomed refugees and asylum seekers and they are a very important part of our community and they have been bullied.”
The 20 or so town hall attendees applauded, setting Miller on another tirade of derogatory comments before storming out.
Miller accused Wood of not being a real Democrat, shouted that all the attendees can “go to hell,” and then threatened Wood, saying, “I’m not done with you.”
This was Wood’s 32nd town hall and while there have been some people with differing views in other locations, this was the first such offensive outburst, he said.
“That’s somebody who came in with an agenda to disrupt and create a scene,” Wood said. “I think unfortunately this is what our politics looks like until it changes.”
During the remainder of the traditional town hall, everyone had an opportunity to ask questions that ranged from health care to rising costs, ICE and concerns about the Trump administration.
Wood announced that former Republican Representative from Illinois Adam Kinsinger will be endorsing him this week. He also shared stories about his work as chief of staff for former California Rep. Katie Porter, who is now running for governor of the state, and what he learned from her.
Wood, who was in the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection, talked about the importance of putting truth to power.
“Donald Trump has sown so much distrust, that the only way is when we have opportunities to speak the truth when we are confronted with it,” Wood said immediately after the townhall.
Regarding the war with Iran, Wood said that it will hurt Mainers in many ways including rising oil and utility bills. It’s a war he does not agree with and his disappointment is “saved mostly for Democratic leadership.”
The focus on the process — not coming through Congress for authorization — is not the biggest issue, he said.
“What we need from more Democrats is talking about their opposition to this war, not talking about a procedural issue,” he said. “You do not need to fund this war.”
