PORTLAND – With the Democratic primary election seven months away, candidates for the 1st Congressional District are preparing to square off for the first debate of the campaign.

The forum will be hosted by the University of New England’s School of Social Work graduate program at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Five candidates are vying to become the party’s nominee and all have committed to taking part in the debate. They are running for the seat currently held by Rep. Tom Allen, D-Portland, who will relinquish his seat to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Susan Collins. Allen represented the 1st District for five terms.

The candidates are former state Sen. Michael Brennan of Portland; Portland attorney and Iraq war veteran Adam Cote of Sanford; York County district attorney and former U.S. Senate candidate Mark Lawrence of Kittery; former state Senate majority leader, U.S. Senate candidate and president of Common Cause Chellie Pingree of North Haven; and state Sen. Ethan Strimling of Portland.

The debate was arranged as part of a social welfare policy class being taught by professor Thomas McLaughlin. UNE master’s in social work graduate student Katherine Kemp will moderate the debate. During the debate, candidates will be asked to share their views about energy, housing, education, health care and job creation in the state of Maine.

The debate is open to the general public and will take place at the University of New England’s Westbrook College campus, 716 Stevens Ave. in Portland. The debate will be held in the College of Health Professions Lecture Hall located in the Parker Pavilion building. For building location and parking, view map at une.edu/admissions/pdfs/wccmap.pdf.