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.

Climate Change

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

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Angus King (I)

Yes. “One of the greatest threats of our lifetime” to both environment & national security. Keep Clean Power Plan restrictions on emissions.

Courts

Support Judge Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations)

Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

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

Education

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

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.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Angus King (I)

Yes. “Fundamental human right.”

Guns

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

Health Care

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

Eric Brakey (R)

Repeal. “Look to free-market solutions.”

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)

Protect vulnerable, but consider work programs if include enough support.

Zak Ringelstein (D)

No. Opposes making it harder to get healthcare.

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)

Yes. “Make all DREAMers citizens.”

Iran

Support President Trump’s withdrawing from Iran nuclear treaty?

Marijuana

Legalize marijuana?

Eric Brakey (R)

Yes.

Angus King (I)

Yes.

Zak Ringelstein (D)

Yes.

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)

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

Net Neutrality

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

Eric Brakey (R)

No. Avoid  “heavy-handed government controls.”

Eric Brakey (R)

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

Zak Ringelstein (D)

Yes. Create federal law protecting net neutrality.

Privatization

Cut or privatize Social Security?

Eric Brakey (R)

No position found.

Zak Ringelstein (D)

Expand Social Security & Medicare.

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

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)

Yes. Refinance student loans at lower rates.

Voting Rights

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

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