Politics
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At least two Democratic gubernatorial candidates have used a legal loophole to give instructions to outside groups to create ads touting their ability to combat President Donald Trump.
Former Maine public health chief Nirav Shah and former House Speaker Hannah Pingree put messages on their websites in recent weeks that pushed supportive political action committees in recent weeks to deliver ads painting the candidates as tough on Trump and having track records of fighting for affordability and low-cost prescription drugs.
The tactic, known as “redboxing,” gets around rules barring party campaign arms from coordinating with political action committees and highlights a few of the core strategies some of the Democrats will deploy in a wide-open race that includes three other Democrats, eight Republicans and two independents aiming to replace outgoing Gov. Janet Mills.
Shah and Pingree face off against former Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, and Angus King III, a former clean energy executive and son of independent U.S. Sen. Angus King. Each has sharply criticized Trump in statements, town halls and events over the last several months.
Shah’s campaign pressed supporters to target newly registered Democrats, unenrolled voters and Democrats who vote in general elections who might be inclined to vote in the primary this year as Maine’s U.S. Senate races are drawing national attention and Trump’s approval rating declines.
“Dr. Nirav Shah is the leader our state needs to stand up to Donald Trump and deliver real results on affordability,” the message read, telling outside groups to target likely voters in the Portland media market.
The Shah campaign, which led a late February University of New Hampshire poll, declined to comment. Pingree’s campaign did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
In a February message that’s been taken down from what appears to be her campaign website’s media kit page, Pingree’s team urged outside supporting groups to focus on women in their advertising.
“Women who are consistent primary voters need to see and read that Hannah Pingree is a lifelong progressive leader, and the only candidate with the experience and backbone to stand up to Donald Trump, greedy corporations or anyone who wants to hurt Mainers,” the message read. “Communication should start as soon as possible with a digital and mail plan that can be sustained through the June 9 primary.”
Pingree’s campaign highlighted her efforts facing opposition among fellow Democrats in passing one of the country’s first marriage-equality laws. Her camp also urged PACs to note legislation protecting families from toxic chemicals in toys and household products.
No other campaign website of either party appeared to currently have similar redbox messages directing focus areas to PACs. The tactic has been common in races across the country that have generated lots of outside spending, including recent congressional elections in Maine’s 2nd District.
Neither campaign has seen outside spending come in so far. The dominant outside spender in the governor’s race has been a group supporting lobbyist and former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason on the Republican side to the tune of $2.3 million in ad reservations so far. The liberal 314 Action Fund has registered a group to back Shah.
Redboxing is used by both parties. The Washington-based advocacy group Campaign Legal Center last year called it an “illegal strategy” that’s increasingly common. More than 200 federal candidates across the country used it in 2022, often boosting super PAC spending, according to Election Law Journal.
