Independent Sen. Angus King will be challenged from the right and left in upcoming election

U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, will face at least two challengers — a Democrat and a Republican — for his seat in Congress in the November election. 

Former Maine Republican Party Chair Demi Kouzounas announced her plans to run in late January and will submit her petition signatures for the June primary to the Maine Secretary of State on Friday. David Costello, a Democrat from Brunswick, filed for his run earlier this week, according to the Secretary of State’s website. 

U.S. Senate candidate Kouzounas has record of spreading false information about COVID, elections

Kouzounas headed the state party from 2017 until she was ousted in early 2023 after Maine Republicans failed to win either of the state’s congressional districts, the race for the Blaine House or majorities in the Maine House and Senate in the 2022 election cycle. 

Her campaign website does not list specific priorities, but Kouzounas said she reached her decision to enter the race after being encouraged by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a fellow Republican. 

A self proclaimed “government reform advocate,” Costello is running to strengthen democracy and the economy by addressing climate change, inadequate health care, underperforming schools, among other issues. His campaign website says he wants to protect rights and freedoms — including women’s reproductive rights. 

In addition to his policy priorities, Costello outlines what he calls his reform agenda. This includes abolishing the electoral college and establishing a system of directly electing presidents that uses ranked choice voting in situations with more than two candidates.