Outside groups spent $2.9 million on House and Senate races as of Oct. 16. A majority of that spending, of $1.8 million, is going into Senate races, while the remaining $1.1 million are going into House races.
Here’s a look at the 10 biggest spending groups.
DEMOCRAT-ALIGNED:
Democratic State Party Committee has spent $875,000, including nearly $673,000 on Senate races and $202,000 on House races. The committee’s most recent round of digital ads and mailers touts Democrats as protectors of reproductive freedoms and abortion. They have also been promoting the party’s efforts to expand access to affordable health care and improve public education.
Maine Conservation Voters Action Fund, an environmental conservation group, has spent over $193,000, including $115,000 on House races and $78,000 on Senate races. The group’s ads promote Democratic candidates as protectors of drinking water and the environment from forever chemicals.
Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC has spent $80,000, primarily on mailers, in 37 House races. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which provides reproductive health care services, was at the forefront of efforts to expand abortion access and protect health professionals who provide those services, as well as gender-affirming care.
Maine Labor Climate PAC, which supports clean energy and strong labor standards, has spent $50,000 in two Senate races, including more than $28,000 in direct mail and $22,000 in digital ads. The PAC is controlled by the Maine AFL-CIO, a state federation of over 200 local labor unions representing over 42,000 working men and women and retirees across the state.
Strong Maine Communities, a leadership PAC controlled by Rep. Marc Malon, D-Biddeford, has spent $24,000 on direct mail to boost independent candidates running against Republicans in four House races.
REPUBLICAN-ALIGNED:
Maine Senate Republicans have spent $425,000 on consulting, staff, mailings and digital ads in 12 Senate races. Recent digital ads blame Democrats for raising property taxes on seniors by eliminating the senior property tax stabilization program. But ending the program and bolstering existing property tax relief program, like the property tax fairness credit, was done with bipartisan support, because the senior tax stabilization program was not sustainable and not targeted toward people who need it. They’re also attacking Democrats for the high cost of energy.
Renew the American Dream, a PAC controlled by Dale Crafts, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Jared Golden in the 2nd Congressional District in 2020, has spent $310,000 on mailers, texts and get-out-the-vote efforts for Republicans in House and Senate races. Most of that spending – $254,000 – went to ads attacking Democratic candidates.
Dinner Table Action, a leadership PAC affiliated with Laurel Libby, has spent $253,300 on mailings, voter contact services and digital ads in support of Republicans in nine House races. One mailer highlights the themes of fiscal responsibility, “traditional Maine values” of personal responsibility and hard work, and accessible health care through the free market and reduced regulations, rather than government programs.
House Republican Fund, has spent $202,000 on mailings and digital ads in 26 House races, including 15 seats they’re trying to flip from Democrats and independents, seven of which of which have incumbents seeking reelection.
Bright Future Maine, a leadership PAC controlled by outgoing Republican Sen. Lisa Keim, has spent $40,000 on digital ads in three Senate races, including two seats in the Augusta area that do not have an incumbent seeking reelection. One digital ad takes a humorous approach to blaming Democrats for high energy prices by featuring a woman saying she’s charging her phone with static electricity, eating dinner by candlelight and using her grandmother’s hair rollers. Other ads promote Republicans.
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