Last spring, Dawn Gilbert circled the week of Aug. 24-27 as a time she’d be watching President Trump renominated for a second term in Charlotte, North Carolina. Instead, like many 2020 plans, they changed. Gilbert and 21 other Maine Republicans were elected national delegates along with 22 alternates. Due to health concerns, the Republican National Committee paired down attending delegates to 300 and only six from Maine will participate.

Even though she won’t be in Charlotte, Gilbert will be glued to her television with the cable channel locked on 35 during the four-day event. This would’ve been Gilbert’s second time as a Maine Republican Party presidential delegate. She was elected in 2008 to attend the Minneapolis convention which nominated the John McCain and Sarah Palin ticket. “I’m awful disappointed I’m not going to be there,” Gilbert said. “It’s  a lot of fun. You go and listen to the speeches and then go out to events like parties, breakfasts and meals. Plus, I loved it when the cameras focused on Maine during the roll call. It’s all so very exciting.”

Gilbert hoped 2020 would be similar to her 2008 experience. In Minneapolis, the Maine and New York state delegations were seated adjacent to each other. Gilbert and fellow Maine delegates saved a seat each day for New York Congressman Peter King of Long Island. “New York wouldn’t save him a seat so he sat with us. So we struck up a friendship and had a conversation each day,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert also spoke to former U.S. Sen. Alphonse D’Amato of New York  and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. During the 2008 convention, Gilbert sported a red, white and blue Uncle Sam hat decorated with two lobsters, a lobster trap and lobster boat. “The press took my picture, and the next day it was in newspapers across the country. I can’t tell you how many people at the convention told me they saw my picture in the papers,” Gilbert said. 

She was an early supporter of then candidate Donald Trump in 2016. Gilbert said as president, Trump has a strong record of supporting “working people” especially in Maine’s fishing community. She cited his recent executive order opening fishing to the country’s only national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. Trump signed the proclamation June 5 after attending a roundtable in Bangor with commercial fishermen. 

“Just look at what he’s done for the fishermen and what he did for people out of work due to the pandemic. He is a real smart man who cares, and it shows in all he’s accomplished,” she said. Despite Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden leading in the national polls, Gilbert believes Trump will prevail. “I don’t think people are telling the pollsters who they are really voting for. It’s just like last time. Everyone said he didn’t have a chance, but he won.”

President Trump was renominated for a second term on Aug. 24 in Charlotte.