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Two Maine Democratic lawmakers have unenrolled from the party.

Rep. Denise Harlow, of Portland, and Rep. Ralph Chapman, of Brooksville two veteran lawmakers and progressive members of the Democratic caucus both dropped their party affiliations earlier this week, according to the office of House Speaker Sara Gideon. Both lawmakers are heavily involved in environmental issues and recently split with the majority of their party by opposing a bipartisan bill to overhaul Maines metallic mining regulations.

In an interview, Harlow raised concerns about the voice of individuals within the party as well as the influence of lobbyists within the State House.

Denise Harlow

Obviously, this is not a decision that I have taken lightly, said Harlow, who added that her familys Democratic roots go back to her great-grandfather. I have been a member of the Democratic Party for my entire adult life and have proudly represented part of Portland in the Legislature for 6 1/2 years . . . I continue to be aligned with the core Democratic values.

However, Harlow said individual thinkers are often marginalized in the party and she remains extremely concerned about the influence lobbyists have in Augusta. Harlow is serving her fourth term and is prohibited under Maines term limits from running again in the House. While Harlow could seek a Senate seat, she said Friday she had no plans to run again.

Ralph Chapman

Chapman, who is also serving his fourth term, could not be immediately reached for comment Friday.

Their decisions to unenroll reduces the narrow numbers edge that Democrats hold over Republicans in the House but is unlikely to significantly alter the political balance because both lawmakers are considered liberal or progressive. Democrats now hold 75 seats in the House while Republicans hold 71 and independents occupy five seats, including Chapman and Harlow.

Gideon said she respected the pairs decision.

Im disappointed that Rep. Harlow and Rep. Chapman have unenrolled from the Democratic Party, but I respect their decision and value their friendship, Gideon, D-Freeport, said in a statement. I have always admired their progressive values and the passion they bring to their work. Democrats will continue to staff them and our door is always open to them. I look forward to continuing to work with them on issues that matter to all of us.

Harlow declined to go into specifics about her decision. However, she and Chapman were outspoken opponents of a bill to re-write Maines environmental regulations for metallic mining. While the compromise bill that passed both chambers of the Legislature, Harlow and Chapman argued that the bill could still lead to groundwater contamination or other pollution problems. Both lawmakers said they believed large-scale metallic mining posed too large a risk to the clean water, air and land that draws so many tourists to Maine.

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Two Maine Democratic lawmakers drop from the party - Press Herald