2018 Maine Senate Race Votes Guide

Eric Brakey (R) vs Angus King (I) vs Zak Ringelstein (D)

US Senate | Election | Nov 6, 2018

The Candidates

Eric Brakey

Eric Brakey

Republican

Incumbent
Angus King

Angus King

Independent

Incumbent
Zak Ringelstein

Zak Ringelstein

Democrat

Maine’s US Senate & Congressional races (but not state races) will be conducted under new Ranked Choice Voting rules. You can vote for your first-choice candidate while also ranking the remaining candidates in order of preference (second choice, third choice, etc.). The votes will be tabulated in rounds. If your first-choice candidate is eliminated in any given round, your second-choice vote will be counted in the next round, & so on, until one candidate wins.

The Issues

Campaign Finance

Require political ads to disclose their largest funders? Position on Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found. No position on Citizens United. Supported legislation to send Maine’s Clean Election Act back to the voters.

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Climate Change

Consider climate change a serious threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Angus King (I)
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Courts

Support Judge Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations)

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Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Support President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

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Education

Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?

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Elections

Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Angus King (I)

Yes. Supported bill requiring state independent redistricting commissions.

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Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Angus King (I)
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Guns

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

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Health Care

Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Eric Brakey (R)
Angus King (I)

Support. “Not perfect,” but keep & strengthen.

Zak Ringelstein (D)

Support. Then move to “Medicare For All.”

Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

Eric Brakey (R)

Yes. LePage’s push for this is a “tremendous step forward.”

Angus King (I)
Zak Ringelstein (D)

No. Opposes making it harder to get healthcare.

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Immigration

Support “DACA” recipients, “Dreamers,” who grew up here after being brought here illegally?

Eric Brakey (R)

Unclear on DACA. But says “We must put our citizens first.

Angus King (I)

Yes. Co-sponsored bill to create “a path to citizenship for Dreamers.”

Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Iran

Support President Trump’s withdrawing from Iran nuclear treaty?

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Marijuana

Legalize marijuana?

Eric Brakey (R)

Yes.

Angus King (I)
Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Minimum Wage

Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?

Angus King (I)

Yes. Has long supported Federal increase. Not yet backing $15.

Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Net Neutrality

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

Eric Brakey (R)
Eric Brakey (R)

Yes. Ending net neutrality will “deprive Americans of open & equal access.”

Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Privatization

Cut or privatize Social Security?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

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Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Angus King (I)

Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supported legislation to simplify repayment.

Zak Ringelstein (D)
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Voting Rights

Support voting rules that prioritize preventing possibility of fraud, even if limit access?

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guides.vote is a nonpartisan effort to show where candidates stand, with links to credible sources. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office. Vote411.org offers guides to local races.

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Eric Brakey

republican Party

Candidate Image

Angus King

independent Party

Candidate Image

Zak Ringelstein

democratic Party

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guides.vote
guides.vote

Eric Brakey

republican

Angus King

independent

Zak Ringelstein

democratic

See guides.vote for online guides with links & sources https://ericbrakey.com/ https://angusformaine.com/ https://www.ringelsteinformaine.com/
Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Ban. “No innocent life should ever be snuffed out by another.”Legal.  Government should not “interfere in decisions… between a woman & her healthcare provider.”Legal. Provide “full, publicly funded healthcare for women, including abortion.”
Campaign Finance

Require political ads to disclose their largest funders? Position on Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

No position found. No position on Citizens United. Supported legislation to send Maine’s Clean Election Act back to the voters.Yes, including online ads.  Co-sponsored DISCLOSE Act. Pass amendment to overturn Citizens United.Yes, including online ads. Pass amendment to overturn Citizens United.
Climate Change

Consider climate change a serious threat? Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases?

No position found.Yes. “One of the greatest threats of our lifetime” to both environment & national security. Keep Clean Power Plan restrictions on emissions.Yes. Curb emissions & return to Paris Agreement.
Courts

Support Judge Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations)

Yes. “A brilliant legal mind with strong personal character.”No. Could “undo significant progress we’ve made over the past half-century.”No. Strongly opposes. Asked King & Susan Collins to vote “No.”
Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

No. Says, “Government doesn’t create jobs, the free market creates jobs.”Yes. Says has protected “thousands of jobs” at Bath Iron Works & helped bolster & diversify ME forest economy.Yes. Lays out 7-point plan to “reignite Maine’s economy,” including spending for infrastructure & broadband.
Education

Help parents send their children to private schools with public money?

Yes. Supports tax credit for parents who opt out of the public education system.No. “Public schools are the idea at the heart of democracy.”No. Invest public funds in public schools, not voucher or privatization programs.
Elections

Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?

No position found.Yes. Supported bill requiring state independent redistricting commissions.Yes. Create independent redistricting commissions.
Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

No position found.Yes. “Fundamental human right.”Yes. “People have the right to love who they want.”
Guns

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

No. Introduced bills to repeal Maine gun laws.Yes. Expand background checks, ban bump stocks, limit magazine capacity.Yes. Universal background checks & ban assault weapons & bump stocks.
Health Care

Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Repeal. “Look to free-market solutions.”Support. “Not perfect,” but keep & strengthen.Support. Then move to “Medicare For All.”
Immigration

Support “DACA” recipients, “Dreamers,” who grew up here after being brought here illegally?

Unclear on DACA. But says “We must put our citizens first.Yes. Co-sponsored bill to create “a path to citizenship for Dreamers.”

Yes. “Make all DREAMers citizens.”

Iran

Support President Trump’s withdrawing from Iran nuclear treaty?

Wait & see. President “deserves some latitude in negotiations with Iran.”No. A “terrible geopolitical mistake.” Strains relationships with key allies.No position on Iran deal.  Favors diplomacy against potential nuclear threats.  
Marijuana

Legalize marijuana?

Yes.Yes.Yes.
Minimum Wage

Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?

No. Will hurt the people it’s intended to help.Yes. Has long supported Federal increase. Not yet backing $15.

Yes. Increase to $15/hour & tie to inflation.

Net Neutrality

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

No. Avoid  “heavy-handed government controls.”Yes. Ending net neutrality will “deprive Americans of open & equal access.”Yes. Create federal law protecting net neutrality.
Privatization

Cut or privatize Social Security?

No position found.Fight cuts to Medicare & Social Security.Expand Social Security & Medicare.
Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Likely no. Voted for bill allowing extra charges on solar power installations.Yes. Says, has supported “increased production of renewable energy sources”Yes. “Divest from fossil fuels. 100% renewable energy by 2035.”
Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, by increasing taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

No position found. Solution to student debt is teaching students real-world skills.Yes. Voted for Warren bill. Also supported legislation to simplify repayment.

Yes. Refinance student loans at lower rates.

Taxes

Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

Yes. Calls them “pro-growth, pro-taxpayer & pro-little guy.”No. “Unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy & for corporations... their effects will be felt by every aspect of our society.”No. Tax cuts should go to those can use them the most: the middle class & small business, not the wealthiest.
Voting Rights

Support voting rules that prioritize preventing possibility of fraud, even if limit access?

Yes. Co-sponsored bill requiring government or college-issued photo ID.No. Co-sponsored voting rights bill also including automatic voter registration.No. Supports automatic voter registration, Election Day registration, & fully restoring Voting Rights Act.

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