SACO, MAINE – Greek-American and former head of the Republican Party in the state of Maine, Demi (Dimitroula) Kouzounas, has entered the race for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate seat. according to recent polls, conducted two-and-a-half months before the November election, she is believed to have slim chances of winning.

Independent Senator Angus King, who has been consistently elected since 2013, polls at 43%, with Kouzounas trailing by 10 percentage points at 33%. Far behind is Democratic candidate David Costello with 9%, and independent candidate Jason Cherry is even lower with just 3%.

When announcing her candidacy, Kouzounas stated that she decided to enter this challenging race with the tacit support of Maine’s moderate Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is considered one of the bipartisan figures in the party, known for avoiding support for extreme or radical policies. This stands in contrast to Kouzounas’ previous positions, where she supported former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 and linked the COVID-19 pandemic to an alleged targeted attempt by China to harm the U.S. economy and influence elections in America.

Despite her earlier statements, the Greek-American candidate has not responded to questions regarding whether she has reversed her views, especially in a state that rejects extreme or radical positions from any political side.

Senator Susan Collins has clarified that she does not officially endorse any candidate. However, it is emphasized that the Republican Party could not let the Independent Senator run unopposed.

Daughter of Greek Immigrants

According to her biography, Kouzounas was born in Saco, Maine, and was one of four children of a family of Greek immigrants. Her parents, Vasilios and Venetia Kouzounas (née Thymiadakou), were hardworking and ran the Venetia’s restaurant in Old Orchard Beach, where she also worked during the summers, “washing dishes, serving tables, helping in the kitchen, learning the value of hard work, and experiencing the challenges and rewards of running a small business.”

In addition, Kouzounas, who now has grandchildren, served in the U.S. military, stationed in Germany during the Cold War along with her husband.