At first and only debate, 1st District Republicans square off on healthcare, immigration

In their first and only debate before the June 9 primary, Republicans in the 1st Congressional District U.S. House race Joshua Pietrowicz and Ron Russell discussed their differing stances on the war in Iran, immigration and healthcare.

Russell was the GOP nominee for the district in 2022 but lost in the general election, and now faces off against political newcomer Pietrowicz. 

Whoever wins will face off against incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree in the general election. 

The debate was hosted by Maine Public and the Portland Press Herald, and reporters from the two publications asked the candidates to weigh in on the conflict in Iran. 

Russell, a retired colonel who served as an Airborne Ranger and Green Beret, said from a military perspective, he would say the campaign has gone very well. 

“I think it has been beneficial, and it will continue to be beneficial for the citizens of the United States, because we have been held hostage by Iran for 49 years,” he said. 

Pietrowicz disagreed, “I would say it’s not necessarily been a benefit to the Americans, other than the fact that national security has been pretty steadfast here in the home front.”

He said he supports an ongoing naval blockade in the region, but not a ground invasion — he would support troops on the ground only if there was “credible intelligence” shared with the public that it was an absolute necessity.

“I don’t think the American people have the stomach for Iraq and Afghanistan 2.0 and I certainly don’t think we need another quagmire in the Middle East for the next 20 years, that’s for sure,” Pietrowicz said. 

Russell said he would be more open to the conditions for a ground invasion.

“I don’t think that I would take boots on the ground off the table as an option, I think all of the options ought to be available to the president,” he said. 

When it comes to the war in Ukraine, Russell said he was in favor of supporting Ukraine, but didn’t think the U.S. should give the country a blank check.

“They need support, and when we were providing support — we actually had boots on the ground at one particular point in time — they were far more effective than they are currently,” Russell said. 

Pietrowicz said he did not support a more active role in Ukraine, and that the conflict would have been resolved earlier if it wasn’t for earlier support from the U.S. He also said that he thinks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “is going to have to make some compromises.”

“I certainly don’t support sending billions overseas while we have people in this country that are struggling right now,” he said. 

Both candidates have expressed general support for President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda, and were asked their thoughts about how that campaign was carried out in Maine by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the enhanced operation in January.

Pietrowicz said there needs to be strong oversight of immigration officers, but added that “clearly law and order has a place in this country.” 

“We do need to back our law enforcement and trust the judicial process, but when it fails, we need to hold it accountable and those people that are failing us need to be held accountable, and that includes prison time,” Pietrowicz said. 

Russell said he did not fully support the way the January campaign was carried out, but “I don’t necessarily find the administration at fault.” 

He pointed to the lack of cooperation between Maine law enforcement and immigration agents as the misstep. 

“If state and local and federal authorities had talked, they would have agreed that he either needed to be picked up or not needed to be picked up,” Russell said, referring to a Cumberland County corrections officer recruit who was arrested by ICE agents in January. 

When asked about support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump administration’s sweeping budget overhaul passed last summer, Pietrowicz said he would not have voted in favor of the bill as it was written. 

“I just think the lack of compromise and lack of discussion within the party is not good for us right now,” he said. 

Russell said he would have voted to pass the bill, even with the included cuts to Medicaid.

“I would have voted for the bill, because during Covid the applicability of Medicare, Medicaid, increased more than it should have been prior to Covid,” he said. 

Russell went on to say he would not support reinstating the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which expired this year and causing the price of many health insurance marketplace plans to skyrocket.

“Healthcare needs to be looked at, because that’s one of the largest expenses we have in our federal budget and our state budget,” Russell said. 

Pietrowicz disagreed, and said he would support the tax credits as a bridge, and that Americans should be able to access healthcare without going deep into debt.

“I think we have to do a better job of advocating for our most vulnerable and making sure that they’re not just getting trampled over by Big Pharma,” he said. 

Pietrowicz said he differed from many Republicans in his support for a universal healthcare option.

“We already have about a third of the country on some form of socialized medicine,” he said. “Mainers and Americans are paying for it. They might as well get a deal that includes them as well.”

When it comes to the challenge of competing in the general election in the heavily Democratic district, both candidates emphasized the importance of outreach with voters. 

“My strategy is to hold town halls and to talk to Democrats and independents, and try to convince them that my policies are better than my opponents’ policies,” Russell said. “I think that is the way ahead.”

Pietrowicz similarly said it will take more than just Republican voters to win in November, the nominee will need to reach independents and Democrats too.

“We just got to get those guys off the couch, get them excited, and win over the independents,” Pietrowicz said. “It is possible, but it’s going to take a little effort.”