WCPT 820 Candidate Interview: Jordan Wood

Joan Esposito is joined by Jordan Wood, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate running to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. 

"I was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, which is in the central part of the state, to a very working-class family," Wood told WCPT. "My father's a pastor, my mom a teacher, and when I was born my mom had to leave the workforce to provide childcare for my twin brother and I. I remember [her] having to go back to the workforce when I was in elementary school because the church my dad served at the time couldn't afford to provide the family with healthcare anymore because of skyrocketing costs. I started work at 16 in construction, for one of my best friend's dad's company. I worked through high school and college. I was only able to go to college because my family was eligible for need-based student loans. And I was also in second grade when Susan Collins was first elected to the US Senate.

"And these problems that so drove the cost of affordability for my family growing up -- in the past 30 years that Susan Collins has been our senator, they haven't just persisted for the working poor and working people; they have gotten out of control and worse. And they are, I believe, at the core of why our democracy and the future of our country is so at threat is that working people are losing trust and faith in the idea that if you work hard and you play by the rules and you treat people well, no matter your background, where you come from, you can achieve the future that you want in this country. And I think that is all at risk right now, and it's because we have not had elected officials that have delivered on solving these problems. And I think it's important we have people in Congress who come from these backgrounds and have lived through these experiences and understand why they must be priority."

Wood criticized Collins' consistent party-line voting and lack of courage on key issues.

"It's a routine we're used to," he said, "where Susan Collins, when she's given permission by party leadership to vote a certain way because her vote is not needed, then that's what she does. But when we need her to stand up for our state, to stand up for our democracy and the rule of law, when we need to be courageous, she's not there. And the slogan that we launched this campaign with, "Maine needs courage, not concern," is really at the heart of the frustration that that so many Mainers feel about her her time in the Senate."

Wood also spoke about his background in politics, which includes a stint as chief of staff to former Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA). He stepped down from that position in order to form the group democracyFIRST, "which was at its core," he noted, "designed to make sure we don't have another January 6, to make sure that we that we combat and stand up and reject this this movement aligned with Trump that was trying to take over offices overseeing election certification at the county and state level in Arizona and Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania .And we helped elect Democrats and Republicans to these offices who were publicly committed to denounce political violence and uphold election results when all the votes were counted." 

He added: "Within a couple years of working in in politics and advocacy, [I] could recognize that that the power that corporations and the wealthy were having over our political system were not just eroding trust in Washington, in our government and politicians by voters, but it was also just preventing us from getting anything done." 

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

And find the Joan Esposito (Full Episodes) podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.