IB News: Tuesday, 7/21: Johan Vigil Update, Troy Jackson Update, Today’s Events, and More

Good morning. Thank you for reading the Indivisible Newsletter.

Friday evening, July 17th, the community held a candlelight/silent vigil in downtown Bangor for Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, the young father and husband who was murdered in Biddeford by ICE agent David Michael Brouillette.


Senate Contest

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson speaks at the No Kings rally in Bangor on Saturday (in October, 2025).. Credit: Lindsay Putnam / BDN

Over the weekend, the second step of the three-step process in selecting the Democratic Senatorial nominee was completed. Maine Democratic voters voted to select the 601 delegates who will vote to select our new nominee for Senate on July 25th. On Sunday, however, two top candidates ended their campaigns, and later that evening, the remaining two ended theirs, and all have backed the candidate who had the most supportive delegates, Troy Jackson.

The convention in Bangor on Saturday will continue as planned.

See below for the description of the process from the Maine Dems website:

About the Process (https://mainedems.org/senate-race/)

Maine Democrats across the state are coming together in a Special Nomination Process to select our next Democratic U.S. Senate nominee — and defeat Susan Collins in November. We have a short window to complete this process, with all steps concluding by July 27th at 5 PM. Here’s how it works:

  1. Candidate Filing: Senate candidates will submit their intent to run and collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.
  2. County Nominating Meetings (July 18–19): All 16 Maine counties will convene special nomination meetings where participants will vote to elect delegates. Maine Democrats can register to be a delegate and to participate and vote in their county’s meeting.
  3. Nominating Convention (Saturday, July 25 at 9 AM at the Bangor Cross Insurance Center): 601 delegates will vote to select our new nominee.

We have worked hard to create a fair process that is inclusive of varying viewpoints and diverse backgrounds of Democrats across the state of Maine, as we all come together in service of our ultimate goal: defeat Susan Collins and win this Senate seat.

These circumstances are unprecedented, but our state party is ready and capable of rising to this challenge.

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The War of Choice

Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii. –U.S. Army

The latest casualties in Trump’s market-manipulation war are Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan. A third service member, so far unidentified, was killed in Iraq on Saturday. In the past, I would urge you to contact Senator Susan Collins to take action against this war, but we all know that her actions are typical of a do-nothing politician who works solely for the billionaire Epstein class.


Happening Today

Tuesday Vigil

The weekly vigil at 11:00 am @ the Federal Building. This was started in January 2025 and is going strong!

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Nominating Contest for Senate District 10

This evening, Tuesday, July 21, from 5:30 – 6pm EDT.

This Virtual event is for Senate District 10 Democrats to nominate a candidate for Maine Senate District 10. Any registered Democrat in Bucksport, Dedham, Otis, Bradley, Brewer, Carmel, Clifton, Eddington, Hampden, Holden, Newburgh, and Orrington may participate in the nominating contest.

Sign up here on Mobilize.

Please Consider:

Working at the polls in your town

The election on November 3, 2026, will be one of the biggest in recent memory. Your local town office may need your help! Consider working at the polls this fall – you’ll not only provide much needed assistance, but you will get first-hand knowledge of how the system works.

Visit here (as of 7/21, this link is broken and they have been contacted to fix it) to find your State of Maine town office’s contact information and give ’em a call! You’ll be glad you did!


Volunteering

There are statewide races that need our help!

Our US House Congressional District 2 candidate, Matt Dunlap, has all sorts of opportunities for volunteering.

And for governor, Hannah Pingree is our candidate! Find out more information about Hannah’s campaign here, with volunteer information here.

Both campaigns have multiple ways to help, from writing letters to the editor from the comfort of your own home, to going out and knocking on doors and speaking to voters! Whatever your comfort level is, there is something you can do for Matt, Hanna, and our next candidate for senate! (Watch this space!)


Writing a Letter to the Editor

Writing a letter to the editor is a very important part of the process to win the hearts and minds of our fellow Mainers. Many Mainers across the state read the letters, either online or on the printed paper with their morning coffee. Below are some tips written by one of our members who is experienced in writing LTE’s. If you have any questions about writing letters, please reach out to me at george@indivisibilebangor.org!

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Tips for writing LTEs:

Why write?  To influence public opinion.  “With public opinion nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed” (Abe Lincoln)

The Opinion page of the paper is the 2nd most popular page.  We’re all curious about what others think apparently!

LTEs are OUR “bully pulpit”!  They can inspire, educate and motivate others to learn more, speak out and/or take action.  And they can offer you some catharsis!

*Make a point!  Letters that stand out make a point….not 3, 5 or no point.  Get to the point quickly.

*See the word limit as your friend.  All publications have word limits.  That forces you to be concise and increases the likelihood your letter will actually be read.  

*Tie to a recent piece in the paper if possible.  Or respond to another letter writer’s submission that you disagree with.

*Personalize if you can……if you’ve had trouble finding a place to rent or paying for healthcare etc., share your story.

*If you cite factual information to support what you’re saying (quotes, statistics etc.), supply links to the sources.  

*Don’t limit yourself to your hometown papers.  Papers will usually print a good letter regardless of where you live.  

letters@bangordailynews.com…..250 word max., submissions must be 30 days apart

news@ellsworthamerican.com ….300 words, 4p.m. Friday for Wednesday’s paper  (weekly paper)

metln.org 250 words….watch for a followup email asking you to call to confirm you wrote. The Trust for Local New owns the Portland, Lewiston, Brunswick, Augusta and Waterville papers, as well as many weeklies in Cumberland County

Take Action

❗We are disappointed in Jared Golden for being one of 22 House Democrats who voted against the Lebanon War Powers Resolution bill. His vote fuels the escalation of the massive killings in Lebanon by Israel, and detracts from the potential final ending of Trump’s war with Iran. We urge Representative Golden to reconsider and vote for the Lebanon War Powers Resolution bill the next time that the vote comes up. Please consider signing this petition.

Sign up to volunteer with the Maine Democratic Party here.

❗Tell Congress to pass 100% Tax on payouts from Trump’s $1.8 Billion MAGA slush fund here.

❗Tell Congress to say no to payouts for insurrectionists here.

❗Tell Congress to protect the right to abortion, including medication abortion, and guarantee meaningful access to abortion for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live, here.

❗Connect in person and virtually with these upcoming events from Indivisible, here.

❗Head over to take action on our site, or visit 5calls.org to demand Congress take action NOW!

❗Learn how to have a successful district office visit with the resources provided by Indivisible! Check it out here.

Event Submissions

Got a community, political action, or campaign event? Submit it to be featured on the site and in the newsletter.


Weekly Events

Indivisible Bangor Meeting

5:00 pm Every Wednesday @ Zoom

Vigils in the Bangor Area

Tuesdays
11:00 am @ the Federal Building

Wednesdays
12:00-1:00 pm @ Orono town center – Details

Saturdays
12:00-1:00pm @ Ellsworth in front of Shaw’s

Wednesdays
12:00 @ Jared Golden’s office
6 State Street, Bangor , Maine 04401

Bangor Visibility Brigade

Fridays
4:00 pm @ Essex Street Overpass

Tuesdays & Bi-Weekly on Saturdays
2:30 pm @ Hammond Street Overpass


MAINELY NEWS

Coming Soon!

Indivisible Bangor

Do you want to become more involved? Would you like to help with the website and communications? Help organize events like rallies and visibility actions? Or do you just want to keep up with what we’re doing? Sign up to volunteer with Indivisible Bangor — your level of involvement is up to you!

Weekly member meetings are on Zoom, with in-person meetings on the first Wednesday of the month. As always, check out our Bluesky and Instagram for the latest info.


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