Proponents say the bill is needed to protect people from artificial intelligence and government surveillance, but opponents say it will put small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
Randy Billings
Staff Writer
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined the Press Herald in 2012 as the Portland City Hall reporter, where his beat touched on a wide range of topics, including municipal government, immigration, homelessness, housing and social services. Prior to that, he worked at various weeklies as well as business and arts publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine, Orono. He lives in North Yarmouth with his wife and two children and enjoys the outdoors and playing his upright bass.
Posted inElections, Local & State, News, Politics
Maine could adopt more ranked-choice voting in 2026, but there are legal questions
The effort to include elections for Maine’s governor and state lawmakers under ranked-choice voting faces constitutional questions.
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Posted inElections, Local & State, Nation & World, New England, News, Politics
‘I’m running’: Maine’s Susan Collins launches campaign for a 6th U.S. Senate term
The race is expected to be one of the most competitive and closely watched in the nation.
Posted inElections, Local & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Trump vs. Mills sequel unlikely at White House governors’ event this month
President Donald Trump is reportedly excluding Democratic governors from a historically bipartisan meeting of the nation’s governors, which last year produced a viral clash with Maine Gov. Janet Mills over transgender athletes.
Posted inElections, Local & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
Susan Collins says Democrats have ‘greatly expanded’ ICE demands, jeopardizing funding
Gov. Janet Mills called Democrat-proposed reforms for immigration enforcement ‘the bare minimum,’ while political newcomer Graham Platner said they’re ‘a surrender.’
Posted inElections, Local & State, Nation & World, New England, News, Politics
Susan Collins brings home $425M to Maine as she gears up for tough election
The Republican senator’s funding prowess is a major reason she has been so hard to unseat, despite low approval ratings.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
What’s in the final budget proposal from Gov. Janet Mills?
The Democrat proposed a ‘three-part affordability agenda’ Wednesday, parts of which have drawn criticism from Republicans.
Posted inLocal & State, News, Politics
In Maine U.S. Senate race, Democrats burn cash while Sen. Susan Collins stockpiles it
Democratic U.S. senators and governors are backing Gov. Janet Mills, while unions and progressive groups back political newcomer Graham Platner. Both trail Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in the money race.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World, News, Politics
We read 750 mentions of Maine in the latest Epstein files. Here’s what we found.
Maine and former Sen. George Mitchell appear hundreds of times in the latest batch of files about Jeffrey Epstein, the powerful child sex trafficker.
Posted inElections, Local & State, New England, News, Politics
How Donald Trump handed Susan Collins a political win over ICE
Maine’s senior senator says the Department of Homeland Security ended ‘Operation Catch of the Day’ after she expressed her concerns about the sweeping operation.