Janet Briggs

In his newest book, “How Maine Decides, An Insider’s Guide to How Ballot Measures Are Won and Lost,” former Professor of Government Christian Potholm ’62 condenses his experience campaigning for ballot measures into an analysis of Maine’s unique political geography. Beyond his book, Potholm has directed some of his research toward the current state of political campaigning.

Ballot measures in Maine can take various forms. Some measures, such as Questions 2, 3 and 4 that were on the ballot this November, award bonds to various causes. Still others are constitutional amendments or amendments to state statutory law.

To write his book, Potholm, who has been an advisor on campaigns for and against ballot measures since 1980, interviewed roughly 40 campaign consultants of various political persuasions to get their impressions not only of substantive ballot issues, but also on how campaigns are run.

“I interviewed a lot of people who were on the other side,” Potholm said. “There’s a dynamic there that I think is very unusual [to explore].”

As he interviewed these consultants, Potholm was struck by what he views as destructive tactics campaigns use to win their side on a ballot measure.

“The biggest surprise to me was the extent to which everybody lamented the change from … when you went out to do a campaign, you wanted as many people as possible to vote, because you wanted to be able to get your message and get new voters or change voters minds,” Potholm said. “The current way in which both parties, but primarily the Republicans, [try to win is to] focus on suppressing the vote.… [There is] almost no effort to get people in the middle.”

Potholm also believes that the proliferation of money in politics has drastically affected how campaigns for ballot measures have operated in Maine. Therefore, he was not surprised that Question 1, which places strict limits on campaign contributions, passed by a significant margin earlier this month.

“When I was doing a particular resolution, I felt that I could control 85 percent of my campaign,” Potholm said. “In other words, I could determine what we were going to put on television,… and we had control.… [But now], the control is out somewhere in the party apparatus, but also in this incredible amount of dark money and independent expenditures. The whole Citizens United thing has, in my opinion, terribly sullied politics. And I think the average person recognizes that it’s just a terrible way to beat up democracy.”

While he advised campaigns, Potholm also taught government and legal studies classes at the College from 1970 until 2022. During these years, Potholm taught a course on Maine politics, where he encouraged students to actively participate in the political process.

“I don’t care whether you’re Republican or Democrat or Tax Party or Green Party. I want you to get out and work for somebody,” Potholm said. “If you’re working for a cause that I don’t particularly believe in, I’m still going to be the professor, so call me and I’ll talk to you. You can ask me questions from your point of view. I always prided myself on that I could teach that the world was flat or it was round, if they asked me.”

Ultimately, Potholm said he wants Bowdoin students to find motivation in what some students see as defeat following the recent election.

“In democracy, it’s very hard when you lose, and you think it’s the end of the world.… You’ve got to stick with it,” Potholm said. “I wouldn’t want Bowdoin students to be disillusioned. I want them to be disappointed, but I want them to turn that disappointment into future action on the causes they believe in and the America they want to see.”