Senate President Troy Jackson presides over the Senate vote on the proposed “shield law” on April 11, 2024. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)
Maine legislative Republicans have received a nearly $1.4 million funding boost from a Washington, D.C.-based committee in the final stretch of this election season to try to bust the state’s current Democratic trifecta.
Since mid-September, the national Republican State Leadership Committee has donated a combined $1,375,000 to the Maine Republican Party and political action committees focused on helping conservative candidates win down-ballot races — especially in the Maine Senate — according to filings with the Maine Ethics Commission.
Democrats currently control the Blaine House and hold majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. But every legislative seat is up for grabs this election and there are 43 seats in the Maine Senate and House without an incumbent running, clearing a path for either party to add to its total.
Eight of those open seats are in the Maine Senate; half of which were previously held by Republicans and half by Democrats. Last session, Democrats had a nine-vote margin, with 22 seats to Republicans’ 13.
Outgoing Senate President Troy Jackson, a Democrat who has reached his term limit, said he believes national groups see an opportunity to flip the “the more volatile chamber” that is the Maine Senate.
Since 2009, the Senate majority has flipped four times. Democrats have been in control since Jackson became president in 2019.
If Republicans gain control of the Maine Senate, leaving Democrats with the House and the governor’s office for the next two years, Jackson said it would give them the ability to block bills or judge confirmations, which fall to the upper chamber.
While Jackson said he can imagine a scenario where his party expands its foothold in the chamber through certain competitive open seats races, he said it’s “unfortunate that big money interests try to come into a state like Maine and tear [legislative] records down.”
He said outside groups want to help restore Republican power in the upper chamber that under his leadership has prioritized topics like reproductive rights and prescription drug costs.
“Clearly there are outside groups that have the bullseye on the Maine Senate because we were the ones pushing many of these agendas,” he said, speaking specifically about issues such as lowering medication costs. For example, Jackson sponsored a bill last session to reduce the cost of insulin.
Spending targeting the more ‘volatile’ chamber
Last week — less than two weeks before Election Day — the RSLC announced it would increase its total investments nationally this election to $44 million to bolster efforts in recruiting, training and supporting Republican candidates for state offices. The next day, it contributed another $125,000 to Maine Senate Republicans. In total, the RSLC contributed $600,000 to the organization dedicated to electing Republicans to the Maine Senate.
The RSLC also contributed $475,000 to Maine’s House Republican Fund in September, filings show.
Across the aisle, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the national party’s arm that focuses on winning state legislatures across the country, has targeted two seats in the upper chamber that it hopes to turn blue, but overall hasn’t had Maine as a top priority this election cycle.
Spokesperson Sam Paisley said the DLCC “never takes our majorities for granted.” Paisley said it’s been clear for several months that Republicans are “making an aggressive move and spending heavily” to break up Democrats’ power in Maine, so the DLCC has provided resources, and support to defend critical seats in both chambers.
Overall, the DLCC has contributed $95,000 to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, which is focused on defending the Democratic majority in the Maine Senate.
In addition, the national organization spotlighted state Rep. Raegan LaRochelle’s bid for Senate District 15, which covers Augusta, Belgrade and China in Kennebec County, as well as former state Rep. Bettyann Sheats, who is looking for a comeback in Androscoggin County’s Senate District 20.
Altogether the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee has outraised its Republican counterpart, receiving around $2 million in contributions this election cycle, compared to the about $1 million Maine Senate Republicans have received in contributions.
For the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, almost two-thirds of the donations came from in-state donors, whereas only about a quarter of donations to Maine Senate Republicans came from within the state, according to Maine Ethics Commission filings.
Aside from individuals, labor unions have been a significant supporter of defending the Senate’s Democratic majority. The New England Council of Carpenters has donated $60,000 to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, while the Service Employees International Union Committee on Political Education contributed $40,000.
Neither the Maine Senate Republicans PAC nor the Maine Republican Party responded to requests for comment.
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