BIDDEFORD –– Pat Pinto, 78, of Saco, walked up to the memorial to Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero at the corner of Hill and Pool Streets in Biddeford Wednesday morning, carrying the “I Voted” sticker she got yesterday while casting her ballot.
“I’m so excited to do this,” she said as she affixed her sticker to a sheet of plastic hanging at the memorial.
In the wake of sweeping Democratic wins nationwide, Pinto and other Maine voters have quietly dedicated their votes to Guerrero, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent at the intersection in July.
On Wednesday, many “I Voted” stickers adorned the memorial at the intersection and were also beneath a mural to Guerrero on the side of the commercial building downtown.
It was a similar scene to Minnesota, where voters there have been leaving “I Voted” stickers at memorials for Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by immigration officials earlier this year.
In July, the Biddeford shooting prompted outrage and protests, with some criticizing members of congress, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, for not doing enough to rein in DHS and ICE agents arresting and deporting thousands of people nationwide.
On Tuesday, voters across the country flipped enough GOP seats to ensure that Democrats will take control of both the senate and house.
In Maine, challenger Troy Jackson defeated Collins in her reelection bid. Pinto, who wore a Jackson t-shirt Wednesday, said she worked as a campaigner for Jackson, something she hadn’t done since college.
It was Guerrero’s shooting, she said, that motivated her to get involved.
“I felt like when he was slain by ICE that it really helped us to get our eyes open and to pay attention to what’s happening in Maine,” she said.
Many national media outlets are describing Tuesday’s midterm elections as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s policies, including the ramping up of DHS and ICE activity.
Pinto said she had no idea what Tuesday’s political upset would mean in the long run, but she was all smiles Wednesday, nonetheless.
“I’m so happy with the results of the election nationwide,” she said.
