Beer and politics don’t necessarily mix. At least, not when two know-it-all knuckleheads are arguing at the bar. This is different. Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Company, recently announced that he’s running for the United States Senate, hoping to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, who’s held the office for 30 years. The first challenge, he’ll need to win the primary; he is the eighth Democrat to enter the race.
When Kleban founded Maine Beer Company in 2009 it marked a change of course from his career as an attorney. Based in Portland, Maine, it was a diminutive affair at first, operating a one-barrel brewhouse, but very quickly expanded to a 15-barrel brewhouse that fed 30-barrel fermenters. In 2019, Maine Beer Company completed a 35,000 square foot expansion project at its facility in Freeport. It is one of the largest breweries in the state.
Along with being a brewery owner and former attorney, Kleban previously served as Chair on the Board of Directors of the Brewers Association. His bid for a seat in the Senate will start with a run against a group of other Democrats that includes a couple of experienced politicos. Most notably, Janet Mills, Governor of Maine.
In a campaign video on his website, Kleban says, “I’m running for U.S. Senate because politicians in Washington, they’re making it harder to do what’s right for Maine. Donald Trump is trampling on the values of Mainers and tearing this country apart. And Susan Collins, she’s been in Washington for 30 years. She stopped looking out for us. She lied about protecting abortion rights, and she refuses to stand up to Donald Trump when it really matters. Enough is enough.”
The slogan at Maine Beer Company is “Do what’s right.” Kleban says he and his brother set out to create a company that provided employees with living wages, healthcare, and retirement benefits. That’s what they did. Because that’s what’s right. He hopes to take that same straightforward approach to the U.S. Senate. Learn more about Kleban and his campaign at the official campaign website.
