2018 Maine Governor’s Race Voters Guide

Janet Mills (D) vs Shawn Moody (R)

Governor | Election | Nov 7, 2018

The Candidates

Janet Mills

Janet Mills

Democrat

Shawn Moody

Shawn Moody

Republican

Maine’s Governor’s race will not be conducted under new Ranked Choice Voting rules, only ME Senate & Congressional races.

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Janet Mills (D)

Legal. Backed bill advancing access in rural & low-income communities. “I will fight any attempt to undermine or roll back a woman’s right to choose.”

Shawn Moody (R)

Ban. During 2010 campaign said it was a private choice. Now ban, with exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother.

Campaign Finance

Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?

Education

Increase funding for K-12 education?

Janet Mills (D)

Yes. Restore full state funding at voter-mandated 55% level. Otherwise damaging lower-income communities.

Environment

Support Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Administration cutbacks?

Janet Mills (D)

No. Joined legal challenges. Defend “important EPA regulations against attacks.”

Shawn Moody (R)

Unclear. General advocate for fewer regulations, though his company took steps like installing solar panels.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Shawn Moody (R)

Not personally. “Marriage is one man & one woman.” Opposed marriage equality law, but in 2010 campaign, said he would “respect the will of voters.”

Guns

upport more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Janet Mills (D)

Yes. Ban bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. Spent career fighting for sensible gun safety laws, including related to domestic violence.

Shawn Moody (R)

No. Supports ME Constitution’s statement that right to keep and bear arms “shall never be questioned.”

Health Care

Support or Repeal ACA, aka Obamacare? Accept ACA’s Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants, as mandated in 2017 initiative?

Janet Mills (D)

Strong support. Opposed Trump’s “unconscionable” attempts to undermine. Implement Medicaid expansion, yielding “lower healthcare costs, healthier citizens, more stable hospital systems” and stronger economy.

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Immigration

Support legal status for “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after being brought here as children?

Janet Mills (D)

Yes. joined lawsuits against Trump’s ending DACA protections, calling it “despicable” to remove them “from the only country they’ve ever known.

Shawn Moody (R)

No direct statements on DACA. Work “to comply with federal law & prohibit sanctuary cities in Maine.”

Marijuana

Support ME’s 2016 ballot initiative that legalized recreational marijuana use?

Minimum Wage

Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?

Shawn Moody (R)

No. Roll back recent increase. This is among the initiatives he opposed.

Net Neutrality

Support requiring internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Taxes

Support ME’s 2016 ballot initiative that instituted new tax on the wealthy to fund K–12 education, which was later repealed by Maine legislature?

Shawn Moody (R)

Opposed ballot initiative. Citizen-mandated tax increases “would be devastating to Maine’s small businesses.”

Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Voting Rights

Support stricter voting rules even if they prevent some people from voting?

Shawn Moody (R)

Unknown.

Other gubernatorial candidates include Alan Caron (independent) and Teresea Hayes (Independent). Due to limited space, we can only include responses of those polling 15% or more, but encourage you to check out websites.

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