For the Waldoboro GOP town committee, there is only one place on Earth for its annual “Great American Picnic" election year fundraiser: The Trump Wall.

In 2019, The Trump Wall appeared on a Route 220 property along Washington Road. Tony Hash is a local excavator who built the wall. His vision for the Trump tribute came after a September 2019 conversation with Maine Department of Transportation officials.

“We were ‘horsing around’ writing pro-Trump messages on the road. They 'growled' at us so I decided we’d do something to really get their attention,” Lash said.

The attention-getter was as 60-foot long by 14-foot-high concrete wall decorated with Donald Trump’s photo and pro-Trump banners on the structure. “I’ve heard a lot of positive comments about it, and some negative ones,” Lash said.

Seven years after the wall’s creation, Lash stands by President Trump even after a 2020 loss. “I hoped and prayed he would run again. Trump is one of us,” Lash said. “He may wear a fancy suit and tie, but deep down he is a working man who always puts the American people first.”

Waldoboro Town Republican Chairman Carolyn Harris said the Trump Wall is a fantastic place for the local political celebration. “The great American picnic is a traditional American event. We celebrate America, and the Trump Wall is a great location," she said.

The event drew about 40 participants from Lincoln and Knox counties. Boothbay resident Dawn Gilbert makes a point to attend the “Great American Picnic" every election year. “Why? Because I’m a patriot and I want to support the Republican party,” she said. Gilbert is paying close attention to the state's U.S. Senate race between incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.

Gilbert described Collins as a longtime friend. Gilbert previously served on the state’s cosmetology board and met Collins when she worked for former Gov. John McKernan. “That’s where I first met her, and I thought she’d make a great candidate," Gilbert said.

Five U.S. Senate terms later, Gilbert is proud of her friend. “She is a wonderful person and patriotic. Susan has done so much for the state of Maine. I can’t imagine what we’d do without her,” Gilbert said.

Joe Grant is the former Wiscasset and Lincoln County Republican chairman. He agrees strong leadership in Washington, D.C. is important, but he also points to Augusta as needing a major change. He believes if Democrats control Augusta, it will be a replay of the past eight years. “In Maine, taxes are through the roof. Fraud is a major problem along with electricity rates. We need a change,” Grant said. "If the Democrats win, then it will be more of the same."

In Grant's hometown, Chet Grover is running for the legislature. Grover is best known for being a vocal critic of local education. If elected, he would seek education reform in Augusta. “Thirty years ago, Maine was a top state in education, and now we are at the bottom,” he said. “We need to dust off the ‘old playbook’ and get back to the 3 R’s (reading writing and arithmetic).”

He also criticized the state’s poor economy he said was caused by Democrats for the past eight years. “Electricity, property taxes are all things killing Maine people. It’s time for a change,” Grover said.

As a first-time legislator, Grover said he is willing to listen to good ideas regardless of who makes them. “It’s time for common sense and there hasn’t been any common sense in Augusta for a long time,” he said. “I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I’m willing to listen and work with anyone who has a good idea.”

Win Mitchell of Boothbay is an unenrolled candidate for state senate. He attended the picnic to campaign with voters receptive to his “change” platform. He proposed reforms which would reverse "Maine's reputation for high taxes and high electricity rates.”

He characterized Maine as being the oldest state. He believes the state is placing too high a burden on the state’s working population. “About a third (of Maine's population) is on welfare and another third is retired. Right now, we need to grow our economy so we can keep our young people here. If not, we are heading to be a welfare state."