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As we approach the November election, political spending in Maine and around the country has started to skyrocket. Political ad spending for the midterm election is expected to exceed $11 billion for the first time, shattering the previous midterm record of $8.9 billion set in 2022.
Mainers are tired of this pay-to-play system. In recent years, we’ve passed several new laws to help rein in the dominance of money in our political system. In 2023, Maine passed a historic referendum to ban foreign government spending in state elections. The initiative passed with 86% support, the largest margin of victory of any referendum in Maine’s history.
As part of this new law, the Maine Ethics Commission is required to issue an annual report about money in politics. The commission recently issued their third annual report. The report outlines different amendments in Congress that are aiming to address unlimited and unchecked political spending. The commission collected public comments from Maine voters to be included in the report and the testimonials are overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority calling for Maine’s congressional delegation to do something about the problem.
I urge your readers to visit the Maine Ethics Commission website and look for their 2026 Report on Proposed Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Learn about the different amendments in Congress and then ask your representatives to help address the issue of money in politics.
Chris Cayer
Stratton