352. State Senator Rick Bennett. Independent for Governor of Maine. Why He Left the GOP. Vacationland as a Bellwether for the Independent Movement. The Massive Drop in Canadian Tourism. Trump vs Governors. Leadership After The Charlie Kirk Assassination.

Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Righteous Media | Bleav

News Commentary, Daily News, National Security, Politics, News, Veteran

4.6 • 907 Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Fall is just around the corner, kids are back in school, football has kicked off and your host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is here to continue to tear into the future of independent politics. And American politics. This week, we’ve got a great conversation with Maine State Senator Rick Bennett, a lifelong Republican and former state party Chair who has recently declared his independence from the GOP and announced a run for Governor. It’s a bold move. And becoming a trend we’ve been focused on for years uniquely on this show. More and more longtime Democrats and Republicans are declaring their independence. Thousands every single day. And more and more candidates for office at all levels. This is a fascinating and inspiring conversation spanning a lot of the stuff that you are going to find yourself nodding along to. Bennett speaks to the growing movement of politically homeless Americans, highlighting his mission to offer common-sense solutions and restore civility and kindness to politics. He also discusses Maine's rich history of independent political leadership, from James Longley to Angus King, and explains why he believes the state is a bellwether for the future of American politics. He candidly shares the challenges of running as an independent, from fundraising to infrastructure, and outlines his top policy priorities for Maine, including the housing crisis, rising energy costs, and education reform. The conversation also touches on an important subject not enough people are thinking about. The very real potential for conflict between state governors and Trump. Bennett affirms his commitment to the people of Maine above all else but this episode is a powerful exploration of "getting-stuff-done". It’s the spirit and mindset that defines the independent movement and it’s the spirit and mindset we’re all going to need to make the change we all know needs to happen. It’s the latest conversation in our groundbreaking “Meet the Independents” series following other Independent leaders like Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, independent candidate for Senate from South Dakota Brian Bengs, Independent candidate for Mayor of New York Jim Walden and Chattanooga, Tennessee Mayor Tim Kelly and more. Do yourself a favor and revisit them all. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) breaks down the most important news stories–and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve–and stay vigilant. -WATCH video of Paul and Rick’s conversation. -Learn more about Independent Veterans of America and all of the IVA candidates. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours. -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us. And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch. -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Power by Righteous Media.
0:15.9	Ladies and gentlemen, independent Americans around the country and around the world,
0:20.7	fall is here and we are deep in it.
0:23.7	And I am very happy to be continuing, jumpstarting, re-igniting our ongoing Meet the Independent
0:29.9	Candidate Series with a leader who is right smack dab in the middle of all of it. This is a very
0:35.9	tense time in America after the Charlie Kirk assassinations.
0:40.3	Just yesterday, Trump announced he struck another craft off the waters of Venezuela.
0:46.3	There are now expanded National DeGuard deployments into Memphis happening.
0:51.3	But Maine is very much going to be the center of our discussion, of our culture,
0:56.7	and of independent politics. So I'm very happy to be continuing to meet independent candidates
1:02.1	who are stepping up to meet this moment. And joining us in this episode is the great and powerful
1:06.9	Senator Rick Bennett. Welcome, sir, to independent Americans. Great to have you here.
1:14.6	Paul, it's great to join you. Thank you for having me on your show. Anyone who listens to this show and has heard my previous conversations knows that I care very deeply about Maine.
1:22.6	We had Senator Angus King on recently, and I think in very many ways, Maine is an amazing place, but also going to be a bit of a mirror not just unaware where America is, but where it can be.
1:37.3	You're a lifelong manor. I want to get into your background and history, but let's just start with where are you and who are you? Tell folks who
1:45.6	are meeting you for the first time a little bit about yourself, sir. Sure, happy. I live in
1:50.0	rural Maine here in the town of Oxford, a small town of about 4,500 people. I have the honor of
1:55.8	serving 14 communities around me here in the state Senate. I've done that since 2020 and had earlier
2:03.6	service back in the 90s in the early aughts when I was, you know, a young man climbing the political
2:09.9	ladder. I actually served as president of the main Senate back then when we had a tied Senate,
2:14.8	which is an interesting experience, unanimously elected then.
2:19.4	And, you know, I went off and focused on building businesses in Maine.
	...

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