Westbrook, MAINE - Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett issued the following statement in response to reports that Republican Les Gibson withdrew from the race for House District 57 after he verbally assaulted two students who survived the school shooting in Parkland:

“Gibson’s comments were not representative of the good people of Greene and Sabattus, and even though this should have happened far earlier, we are glad to see him exit the race. We know Eryn will be the tremendous leader that her community deserves and can be proud of, and we look forward to following her campaign as she works hard to earn the votes of her neighbors. Maine people will not soon forget, though, that when given the opportunity, the Maine Republican Party and its leaders in the State House failed to step forward and speak out against Gibson’s hate and bigotry.”

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