Maine Democratic State Convention 2026

Maine Democratic Party State Convention 2026

Join us this May 1st-2nd at Thompson’s Point in Portland for our Biennial State Convention!

A weekend of organizing, connection, celebration, and Democratic action with leaders, delegates, and attendees from across Maine.

Convention Location

Thompson’s Point, Portland, ME

About Convention

This energizing weekend brings together Delegates, party leaders, and Democrats from around the state to:

Hear from dynamic speakers shaping the future of our movement.
Build community at receptions, shared meals, and networking events.
Officially certify charter changes, platform amendments, and the next Democratic State Committee that will guide our party’s direction in the years ahead.

This year, we’re expanding the experience with more opportunities to connect and collaborate, including:

New interactive workshops and trainings.
Welcome lunches to kick off the weekend.
A celebratory Victory Banquet hosted at the Holiday Inn By The Bay in downtown Portland.

Please note: Workshops and receptions are included in convention ticket purchase. The Emerge Breakfast and Victory Banquet are separately ticketed. Whether you’re a long-time Delegate or attending your first convention as a guest, this is your opportunity to engage, organize, and celebrate alongside other Maine Democrats.

Hotel Blocks

We’ve partnered with local hotels to offer room blocks for attendees. To access the discounted rate, please use the associated booking link where available.

Transportation

Getting to the convention is easy with a variety of transportation options available. The Greater Portland METRO provides service throughout Bath, Brunswick, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, and Yarmouth. The Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit system also connects communities in southern Maine directly to Portland. Many routes stop at the Portland Transportation Center, located right next door to our event venue.

Please note that parking at Thompson’s Point is limited, though ample accessible parking will be available. We strongly encourage carpooling and taking advantage of alternative transportation options, including hotel shuttles where available.

To plan your trip, please visit one or more of these sites:

Convention Schedule

*Details are subject to change.

Friday

Time	Activity	Link	Description
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM	Maine Dems CARE – Volunteer Breakfast sponsored by Dan and Beth Kleban	View Event	Join the MDP, candidates, and local community organizations for a volunteer appreciation breakfast for those attending the volunteer trail cleanup opportunity. For the Friday Volunteer opportunity – please note the volunteers will be doing trail clean-up.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Maine Dems CARE – Community Service	View Event	Join the MDP, candidates, and local community organizations for a volunteer appreciation breakfast and community service work!
10:30 AM	Registration Opens	—	Attendees can check in and pick up credentials beginning at 10:30 AM.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM	Lunch and Learn with Simon Rosenberg	SOLD OUT	Join Simon Rosenberg, a Democratic political strategist, author of the Hopium Chronicles Substack, and 30-year veteran of U.S. politics, for a deep dive into the data shaping Maine’s political landscape.

Friday afternoon includes three training blocks. Each block features three concurrent sessions. Attendees should choose one session per block.

Session Block 1 | 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Please choose one of the following sessions:

Time	Activity	Link	Description
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM	Wabanaki Alliance Presentation & Discussion	View Event	Join leaders from the Wabanaki Alliance for an in-depth presentation and discussion about their work, vision and priorities.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM	Labor in Action	View Event	Learn about the labor landscape in Maine, why unions are more important than ever, and how you can support the labor movement with labor leaders, including Jason Shedlock.
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM	Social Media 101 Training	View Event	Join the team from the Maine Democratic Party as we discuss the essentials of your online presence in 2026 and beyond!

Session Block 2 | 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Please choose one of the following sessions:

Time	Activity	Link	Description
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM	Standing with Our Community: Values-Based Messaging on Trans Rights	View Event	Join experts for a polling-and-data-driven training on how to talk to voters about issues impacting the trans community.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM	Cost of Living Crisis Briefing	View Event	Join leaders from organized labor and local elected officials to discuss the ongoing cost of living crisis. The presenters will be Maine Equal Justice board member and MDP Chair Charlie Dingman and MECEP President and CEO Garrett Martin. Learn more about the impact of Trump’s policies on working Mainers, what’s on the horizon with rising costs, and steps we can take to solve this crisis, including the recent millionaires tax.
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM	Fundraising 101 Training sponsored by Raise More	View Event	Join the team from the Maine Democratic Party as we discuss the essentials of fundraising in 2026! This will be presentation with opportunity to weigh in with plans for how your County can approach this type of effort!

Session Block 3 | 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM

Please choose one of the following sessions:

Time	Activity	Link	Description
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM	Legislative Debriefs	View Event	Join Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau for a discussion moderated by Ian from Maine Newsroom.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM	Closing the Gap – How Democrats Can Win the Veteran Vote	View Event	Join experts Scott Kleeb and Matt Crescenzo from the Dem Vets Project for a 101 training on the military and connecting with veteran voters.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM	NEW Maine Dems Website and Branding Training	View Event	Join the Maine Democratic Party and WhichSideDigital to learn about the new website, updated branding, accessibility features, and how to use these tools locally.
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM	Welcome Reception sponsored by Lee Auto Malls	—	Evening reception welcoming guests and delegates to our 2026 State Convention weekend. Located at Brick South. Light bites and cash bar available.
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM	Victory Banquet	Buy Tickets	Join us for an evening dinner celebration at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.
9:00 PM	Maine Young Dems After Dark	Buy Tickets	Join the Maine Young Dems at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge in Portland!

Saturday

Time	Activity	Link	Description
8:00 AM	Credentials / Check-In Opens	—	Morning check-in opens for attendees.
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM	Emerge Breakfast	SOLD OUT	Start the day with the Emerge Women’s Leadership breakfast.
9:00 AM	Vendor Expo Opens	—	The vendor expo opens to attendees.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Convention Session	Register	Convention programming and proceedings.
12:00 PM	Lunch Break	—	Break for lunch and time to connect with fellow attendees.
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM	Bite and Beer with Jordan Wood	Register	Please Join Jordan Wood Candidate for Congress for a Bite and a Beer.
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM	Shah for Maine Supporter Reception	Register	Join Nirav Shah Candidate for Governor for a supporter reception.
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM	Convention Session	Register	Afternoon convention programming and proceedings.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	Candidate Spotlight & Social	Register	An evening reception with opportunities to hear from and connect with candidates and fellow attendees.
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM	Happy Hour with Hannah Pingree	Register	Please join Hannah Pingree Candidate for Governor of Maine for Happy Hour with Hannah.

Sunday

Time	Activity	Link	Description
9:00 AM	New DSC Member Breakfast & Mingle!	—	A breakfast gathering and networking opportunity for new DSC members. A hybrid option will be available.