2020 Maine US Senate Voters Guide
Susan Collins (R) vs Sara Gideon (D)
The Candidates
Mixed. Backed budget plan that would have ended ACA. But voted against repeal of ACA. Urged Atty. Gen. William Barr to defend ACA.
Yes. “The best system for us to build on is the Affordable Care Act.” In Maine House, “repeatedly supported efforts to expand Medicaid” under ACA.
Mixed. Voters “have the right to know who is contributing,” but called DISCLOSE Act “a partisan bill that would not fix the real problem.” Did not support constitutional amendment to roll back Citizens United.
Yes. Backs legislation that would require disclosure of dark-money donors. Supports passing the DISCLOSE Act and constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
Mixed. Co-sponsored Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act. Joined Climate Solutions Caucus. Voted to support Keystone XL pipeline construction to transport Canadian tar sands oil to U.S. refineries.
Yes. “One of the most urgent challenges we face.” Co-sponsored bill to “limit greenhouse gas pollution.” Committed to rejoining Paris Agreement. Calls “bold and immediate action on climate change” a top priority.
Yes. “The President did a lot that was right in the beginning.”
No. Accused President Trump of slowing delivery of relief for political gain.
Co-authored Paycheck Protection Program; calls for additional $250 billion. Supports COVID-19 funding for education.
Calls for support of various sectors during the pandemic, including the lobster industry, local governments, and farmers.
Mixed. Supported environmental protections such as preventing Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling. However, opposed Obama designation of Maine’s Katahdin region as national monument.
Tighten. Calls environmental stewardship “deeply important to our livelihoods.” Voted to ban foam containers and single-use plastic bags. Introduced water quality bill to protect tribal sustenance fishing.
Loosen. Voted to repeal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule allowing class action suits against banks & credit card companies.
No position found.
Yes. Supported background checks bill and assault weapons ban. Reintroduced “red flag” bill to “prevent individuals posing a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms.”
Yes. Supports “universal background checks and red flag laws.” Co-sponsored a “red flag” bill, prohibiting guns from “extremely dangerous and suicidal individuals.”
Yes. Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide a path to citizenship for “Dreamers.”
Yes. Urged Maine’s congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act, with conditional legal status for undocumented youth.
Mixed. Was one of two Republican senators to vote to hear witnesses, but subsequently voted to acquit Trump.
Yes. By not calling witnesses, the Senate failed to provide “the fair impeachment trial that Mainers and Americans deserved.”
Mixed. “I believe the strike that killed Soleimani was justified, but that sustained hostilities committing American troops would require congressional approval.”
No. The administration must explain “the imminent threat facing American soldiers and why [a strike is] absolutely necessary. … Congress must provide oversight.”
No. Voted to advance President Trump’s nomination of anti-union lawyer Eugene Scalia to head Department of Labor. Given a 45% lifetime score by AFL-CIO for record on labor rights. Yes. Co-sponsored Maine House bill to require public employers to grant unions right to meet with and get information on employees. Endorsed by major Maine labor unions.
Yes. Co-sponsored Maine House bill to require public employers to grant unions right to meet with and get information on employees. Endorsed by major Maine labor unions.
Mixed. Condemned Alabama law banning most abortions. However, voted to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote in a 2017 judicial opinion that “the Government has permissible interests in favoring fetal life.”
Legal. Calls self “a strong and vocal advocate for protecting and expanding access to women’s reproductive care.” Co-sponsored legislation to require Maine’s Medicaid program to support abortion services.
Yes. Supported same-sex marriage before Supreme Court decision. Supported same-sex veterans’ benefits. Opposed Trump judicial nominee over record on gay rights.
Yes. Calls for “supporting LGBTQ+ people everywhere.” Opposed Trump judicial nominee Lawrence VanDyke because of his opposition to marriage equality.
Mostly no. Does not “support a national, federal effort to decriminalize.” Would allow VA doctors to recommend cannabis for veterans where legal.
Yes. Voted in 2018 for legislation to implement and regulate legalization in Maine, approved by popular vote in 2016, and to override Governor Page’s veto.
Mixed. In 2014, voted against bill to raise federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Led failed effort to negotiate a compromise for a smaller raise.
Yes. In 2018, successfully opposed push to repeal minimum-wage increase passed by Maine voters in 2016. Supports raising federal minimum to $15.
Mixed. Has opposed efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. But in 2015 voted to defund as part of a deal to secure a DOJ investigation into charges of sale of fetal tissue.
Yes. Fully fund so Mainers “have access to the health care they need.” Sponsored bill to replace $3 million in lost federal funding for family planning.
Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to fund need-based grants to low-income students and to allow employers to help pay employee student debt.
Yes. Will work to “lower the cost of college and tackle the student loan debt crisis.” Sponsored education funds for low-income adults with minor children.
Yes. Voted to confirm Kavanaugh. “I do not regret my vote in the least.” The Ginsburg decision “should be made by the President who is elected on November 3.”
No. Said Collins’ pro-Kavanaugh vote “put women’s control over their own health care decisions in extreme jeopardy.” “The next President” should fill Ginsburg vacancy.
Yes. Voted for Trump tax cuts, saying they would bring “good jobs and greater economic growth.”
No. Called 2017 Trump tax cut a “nearly $2 trillion tax break for big corporations and the wealthiest families in America” which “did little for families in Maine.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lisa Savage (Ind.)is also running. Due to limited space, we can only include candidates polling 15%, but do check out her website.