Steve Collins’ April 20 column (“Don’t be fooled by Republican trickery in Maine Senate races”) alleges that the increase in independent candidates running for Maine congressional seats is “political trickery at work by the GOP.”

Many of these state Senate candidates may truly represent the 29% independent voting bloc in Maine. And yes, others may prefer running as independents rather than as Republicans. This is so they don’t have to deal with the vicious attacks from the demented anti-Trumpers who have been lining our streets for months now.

Maine’s current Democratic administration has trashed Maine’s education, economy and affordability. Obviously, Democratic candidates can’t run on their record, so they’ll need to rely on falsely painting even independent candidates as MAGA supporters. In political jargon, this is called a “red herring,” meant to divert attention from a central issue.

Don’t let this boogeyman delusion distract us from making the right choices this November.

Theodore Sirois
Saco