BANGOR, Maine (AP) 鈥� Vice President is slated to make an appearance in Maine on Thursday to highlight the Trump administration鈥檚 efforts to combat fraud ahead of the state鈥檚 primary elections for several high-profile races.
Vance, who chairs the administration鈥檚 , 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 , which has driven up , including food.
The visit to Maine comes after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator said earlier in the year that he was calling for on alleged fraud in government health programs in Maine, a request characterized by the state鈥檚 Democratic governor, Janet Mills, as a 鈥減olitical attack.鈥� It also comes as Maine residents begin voting ahead of the state鈥檚 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, of the Democratic primary race to challenge Republican Sen. , effectively ceding the nomination to progressive activist and oyster farmer . 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 to the seat. Former Gov. Paul LePage, a Trump ally , 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 鈥渆very dollar of fraud is a dollar stolen from taxpayers and not used to help those who truly need assistance.鈥�
In the governor’s race, seven Republicans and five Democrats are vying to replace Mills, who has over the issue of transgender athletes in high school sports.
Some Maine Democrats have used Vance鈥檚 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.
鈥淭hat is the record JD Vance is bringing to Maine on Thursday. That is the record the Maine Republicans hosting him are 鈥榟onored鈥� to celebrate,鈥� 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 to northern New England in March 2025, when he went to Vermont on a family vacation. The appearance attracted protests near a ski resort.
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Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.
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