Diana Merenda

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Diana Merenda

Independent

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Dominican Commercial High School

Bachelor's

City University of New York, Hunter College

Graduate

City University of New York, Baruch College, 1991

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Profession

Management

Diana Merenda (independent) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd Congressional District. She lost as a write-in in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Merenda completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Diana Merenda was born in New York, New York. She graduated from Dominican Commercial High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the City University of New York, Hunter College and a graduate degree from City University of New York, Baruch College in 1991. Her career experience includes working in management and as an educator.

Elections

2024

See also: Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024

Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)

Maine's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Maine District 2

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Jared Golden in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Jared Golden	50.3	197,151	0	Won (1)
		Austin Theriault	49.7	194,445	0	1
		Diana Merenda (Write-in)	0.0	0	0	1

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 391,596
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Kevin Ball (No Party Affiliation)

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for U.S. House Maine District 2

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Jared Golden in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
✔		Jared Golden	100	23,183	0	Advanced (1)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,183
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for U.S. House Maine District 2

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Austin Theriault in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Austin Theriault	66.6	26,757	0	Advanced (1)
		Michael Soboleski	33.4	13,419	0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,176
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Robert Cross (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Merenda in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Diana Merenda completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Merenda's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Resident of Surry; former president and now treasurer of local HOA; public service in the State of New York for 8 years including two terms as Mayor, Incorporated Village of Plandome Heights (Long Island NY); former adjunct professor for 7 years at Baruch College (CUNY), specializing in the Dept of Management’s Capstone Course; 9/11 terrorist attack survivor and survivor of 3 cancers; over a dozen bone surgeries during 33 years of marriage, with my husband always by my side. Retired from 30 years on Wall Street, Diana & Azie now run an Airbnb as ‘SuperHost’ category and we lodge travel nurses and other professionals. Find Diana every Saturday at Blue Hill’s anti-genocide ‘stand-out’, and reach her at dianacongressdistrict2@gmail.com. In earlier years I was enrolled as a Republican, as a Democrat, and am now UNENROLLED ... with pride!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• It is important to me that you know you have a choice in the race for Congress, 2nd District. I myself wanted a choice. Last election, I voted for Jared Golden absolutely certain it was the better choice. But then I came to understand how completely Representative Golden is beholden to external forces that do not serve the residents of the Great State of Maine. I looked around for anyone who would stand up and say NO! NOT WITH MY MONEY!! But there was no one, and that is unacceptable. Being able to vote ONLY for pro-war candidates is frustrating and morally bankrupt.
• I am running for Congress to represent Maine’s 2nd District and ONLY Maine’s 2nd District. I want absolutely no funding to be taken away from Maine and deployed for the benefit of radical terrorism resulting in genocidal-like efforts to erase an entire people. I absolutely want the educational funding aggregated from Maine’s taxpayers to accrue to the interest of Maine’s students, not to pay 100% for the education of students in Israel. I absolutely want the healthcare funding aggregated from Maine’s taxpayers to accrue to the interest of Maine’s residents, not to pay 100% for the healthcare of Israelis.
• I offer you an alternative candidate PLEDGED TO TAKE ABSOLUTELY ZERO, NOT A DIME from any special interest, AIPAC or other lobbyists similarly inclined. Nothing.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1) Let’s slash America’s military budget and use that ‘peace dividend’ for education, climate solutions, healthcare, affordable housing … areas that improve Americans’ quality of life

2) Let’s end America’s unconditional and endless gifting to Israel’s genocidal ambitions

3) Let’s agree that diplomacy, not military aggression, improves all lives

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Team of Rivals (Abraham Lincoln) and HAMILTON

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Integrity, and Independence from lobbyists and other special interest groups. Money corrupts absolutely.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Spend American taxpayers' funds in ways that make those same American taxpayers' lives better ... HERE!

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

At 15 I fell out of a tree and subluxated my fifth and sixth vertebrae. I had to leave school and be home schooled instead. Those were days when the modernities of today's healthcare just didn't exist. When I went back to school a year later, all the other kids were friends and I was the odd man out. Feeling estranged like that as a young woman (I was 16 then) helped me hone my empathetic abilities and realize that being different is just that. Different. Not wrong or to be discarded or hated. Obviously I learned to transpose those feelings politically and socially. I am blessed today because of that personal disaster.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

DR WHO

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Bridge over Troubled Water as rendered by DISTURBED

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Theoretically the House should be "of, by and for" the people. A challenge is redistricting. No melting pot. No cohesion as a people.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily, although I can say that I benefited greatly over the years I was in public office.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Inequality, Injustice, Inequity.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Three years would be ideal in my opinion but two can be effective as well.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

ABSOLUTELY! Limits create less of an opportunity for inherent corruption.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Katie Porter. She's picking up the nickels and trying to lock the barn door from utter theft of US taxpayer funds

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I vote for my own story! I'm a senior, covered by Humana Medicare, and just got a letter in August 2024 telling me that Northern Light won't take Humana as in network effective October 1, 2024. So I'm scrambling for Plan B, even as Israeli citizens get total healthcare paid by American tax dollars. Ditto with school tuition. Many young people are struggling with student debt. In Israel school is paid for, with our money. How is this right? We need to clean our house!

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Team of Rivals: Yes, different perspectives must be put forth and then a cohesive rationale developed.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

It's all about the money.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Prudently. If you see something, say something ... It was the mantra after the 9/11 attack downtown NYC where I worked and it was smart then and continues to be valid now. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW WHERE OUR TAXPAYERS' MONIES ARE DEPLOYED! I do not want to kill with my money. I want to heal. I want to learn. I want to eat. I want to live!

What committees interest you?

Finance, Military

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Our military has not yet passed an audit. Aren't you supposed to file your taxes yearly and if something looks amiss to the IRS, you are contacted to explain and to remedy.
EVIDENTLY THE MILITARY BUDGET IS EXEMPT????!!!!!

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Campaign finance summary

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See also

2024 Elections

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Government

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Newsletters

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External links

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Footnotes

[show]

Maine's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Susan Collins (R)

Angus King (I)

Representatives

District 1

Chellie Pingree (D)

District 2

Jared Golden (D)

Democratic Party (2)

Republican Party (1)

Independent (1)