Maine GOP state senator Eric Brakey has resigned and moved to New Hampshire, where he cast his ballot in Tuesday's election, WGME-TV reported. Brakey chose not to run for reelection and previously said he wanted to start a libertarian organization there.
Last November, Brakey announced that he would not seek reelection for his seat as he would be moving to The Granite State. On Tuesday, he stunned his Democratic opponents when he finally made that happen.
Brakey posted an announcement to social media on Election Day. "I just resigned my seat in the Maine State Senate, completing my move to the state of New Hampshire and I’m now walking to the polls to go register to vote and cast my ballot," Brakey wrote.
Brakey's statement shared his accomplishments and explained the reasons for his resignation, which was "effective immediately" on Tuesday. "This decision comes after much reflection and necessitated by my relocation to the State of New Hampshire," Brakey wrote.
"During my three terms in the Maine State Senate, it has been my profound honor to represent my constituents in Auburn, New Gloucester, Poland, and Durham (as well as Minot and Mechanic Falls prior to redistricting)," Brakey added. He then listed many accomplishments.
Some were solid Republican policies, including welfare reform and abolishing sales tax on gold and silver. Brakey also supported constitutional carry, which "allows law-abiding citizens to carry firearms without a permit, safeguarding the right of all Mainers to defend themselves, their families, and their communities."
The state senator showed his libertarian side with his support of legalized marijuana. "I led the Health and Human Services Committee to pass laws that expanded access to medical cannabis and ensured an industry driven by small businesses on market principles, increasing access for patients while protecting against corporate capture," Brakey wrote.
Blakey also boasted how he pushed for "the right to keep a hedgehog as a pet." The lawmaker said the idea came at the urging of schoolchildren who learned how to use the "legislative process to advocate for a little slice of freedom" in the process.
The 36-year-old also shared his plans for the future in the same lengthy post. "For the last several months, I have been engaged in the process of relocating to the state of New Hampshire for professional opportunities," he explained.
"Today, I am completing that move with the intention to change my voter registration and cast a ballot in the New Hampshire elections.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues, staff, and my constituents for their support, trust, and cooperation over the years," Brakey added.
"It has been an immense honor to serve our state, and I look forward to watching the continued progress and prosperity of the Pine Tree State from across the border in the Granite State. Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation," Brakey said, adding that he's "committed to ensuring a smooth transition" for his replacement.
Brakey ended his letter with one last point. "Furthermore, my opinion is, the Federal Reserve should be destroyed." This point is fitting as, according to the Sun Journal, Brakey is the executive director of the Free State Project in New Hampshire, which was created to persuade more libertarian-minded people to move to the state.
Brakey has made it his mission to flood New Hampshire with libertarian voters, including himself, to turn the state into a haven. It's only fitting that he should end his political career in Maine by doing just that.
