The Candidate with the Background and Experience to Defeat Senator Susan Collins in 2026

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Friends,

To defeat Senator Susan Collins in 2026, Maine Democrats would do well to nominate a candidate whose personal story presents a significant contrast to that of Senator Collins. The daughter of a well-connected and wealthy Aroostook County business family, who has excelled as a politician but has accomplished little of substance beyond electoral success in her 28+ years in office.

 

An ideal candidate is one that Maine’s middle-and-working class communities and families could readily identify with. A candidate who’s committed to fixing a broken Washington and ensuring that all Mainers, not just the wealthy, are provided with the education, job skills, healthcare, and other life enriching opportunities to thrive. A reform minded candidate with an extensive public service record.

Someone like David Costello, who was born in Bangor and raised in Old Town by his mother and mill working grandparents Pauline and Alfred Baillargeon following the early death of his Army veteran and labor organizing father.

 

David, whose family was not well-off and who, like many in Maine, began work early and worked his way through the University of Maine, George Washington University, and the London School of Economics. And who served for more more than 30 years in senior-level government and non-government positions, both in the United States, including in Maine, and abroad – implementing and managing; not simply legislating or talking about complex multi-million-dollar programs and operations.

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Programs and operations that included working closely with U.S. Army, the United Nations, and foreign aid organizations overseas – and various state and local government agencies, businesses, and non-governmental organizations in Maine, Maryland, and elsewhere.

 

Programs and operations that resulted in: elections, campaign finance, and motor vehicle safety reforms in Maine; improved public schools and expanded assistance to children, youth and families at risk in Baltimore; the implementation of ambitious job creation, education, healthcare, crime eduction, and environmental protection programs in Maryland; and the completion of more than 4,000 peace and community building projects in conflict-torn Cambodia, Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia.
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The contrasts between Senator Collin’s and David’s backgrounds and public service records couldn’t be starker, and the decision regarding whom to support in 2026 should be an easy one.

If you agree, please share this statement with others and consider signing on to costelloforsenate.com to help in our efforts to defeat Senator Collins in 2026 and begin the hard work of fixing our imperfect democracy and terribly broken federal government. 
 
Sincerely,
Team Costello