Vance Set to Talk Fraud Probe in Maine 05/14 06:22

   Vice President JD Vance is slated to make an appearance in Maine on Thursday 
to highlight the Trump administration's efforts to combat fraud ahead of the 
state's primary elections for several high-profile races.

   BANGOR, Maine (AP) -- Vice President JD Vance is slated to make an 
appearance in Maine on Thursday to highlight the Trump administration's efforts 
to combat fraud ahead of the state's primary elections for several high-profile 
races.

   Vance, who chairs the administration's anti-fraud task force, is scheduled 
to deliver remarks at Bangor International Airport, the White House and the 
Maine Republican Party announced.

   The vice president, who is seen as a potential GOP candidate for president 
in 2028, has been promoting the work of the task force as he has campaigned for 
Republican candidates in recent months. But Thursday's visit is the first that 
has been expressly billed as a stop to talk about the fraud-fighting efforts 
rather than an economic-focused message he's delivered in other visits.

   Vance's pitch on President Donald Trump's economic policies has become 
tougher in the wake of the Iran war, which has driven up costs of gas and other 
goods, including food.

   The visit to Maine comes after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said earlier in the year that he was 
calling for corrective action on alleged fraud in government health programs in 
Maine, a request characterized by the state's Democratic governor, Janet Mills, 
as a "political attack." It also comes as Maine residents begin voting ahead of 
the state's primary elections on June 9, when they will be selecting candidates 
for governor, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House.

   Mills, who is prevented by term limit laws from running for a third term, 
recently dropped out of the Democratic primary race to challenge Republican 
Sen. Susan Collins, effectively ceding the nomination to progressive activist 
and oyster farmer Graham Platner. The seat is considered one of the most 
competitive in the nation and critical to Democratic hopes of reclaiming 
control of the chamber.

   Republicans are bullish about their chances of taking back the 2nd 
Congressional District, which encompasses Bangor, after Democratic Rep. Jared 
Golden announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection to the seat. Former Gov. 
Paul LePage, a Trump ally looking to make a political comeback, is the sole 
Republican vying for the nomination.

   LePage is expected to speak at Thursday's event, but Collins is scheduled to 
be in Washington. LePage posted on social media channel X before the event that 
"every dollar of fraud is a dollar stolen from taxpayers and not used to help 
those who truly need assistance."

   In the governor's race, seven Republicans and five Democrats are vying to 
replace Mills, who has sparred with the Trump administration over the issue of 
transgender athletes in high school sports.

   Some Maine Democrats have used Vance's appearance as an opportunity to boost 
their campaign messages. Progressive groups were planning a demonstration in 
Bangor at the time of the appearance, and Maine Secretary of State and governor 
candidate Shenna Bellows said she planned to speak at it.

   Nirav Shah, the former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention 
director who is now running for governor, said in an email to supporters and 
media that Vance is visiting Maine when costs of necessities such as heating 
oil and gas are surging in the state.

   "That is the record JD Vance is bringing to Maine on Thursday. That is the 
record the Maine Republicans hosting him are 'honored' to celebrate," Shah said.

   Maine is a largely Democratic state, but Trump has proven popular in rural 
areas, and he has won the 2nd District in three consecutive elections. Mills 
had made her opposition to Trump a focus of her Senate run against Collins 
until she suspended her campaign in late April, clearing a path for Platner to 
take the nomination.

   Vance paid a visit to northern New England in March 2025, when he went to 
Vermont on a family vacation. The appearance attracted protests near a ski 
resort.