Senate Watch 2020
5 Facts About Maine Senate Hopeful Sara Gideon
She’d make history in the Pine Tree State.
For years, Maine Sen. Susan Collins (R) has ranked as the most bipartisan senator, with high in-state approval ratings. But since President Trump took office, her solid seat has looked increasingly unstable.
She's been criticized for voting to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and supporting a 2017 tax-cut package. Her approval ratings have dropped from 78% in 2015 to 42% this past January.
Enter Sara Gideon.
The Maine legislator is challenging Sen. Collins in November in the toss-up race. A new poll from Quinnipiac University has Gideon leading by 4 points. Here are five facts to know about the Democratic candidate.
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1. She's a familiar face in the Pine Tree State.
Gideon has served four terms as a state representative, the latter two as Maine’s speaker of the house. She first ran for office when someone recruited her husband to run for town council. She ran instead.
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2. She has a traditionally Democratic platform.
The mother of three is running on a platform that includes expanding affordable health care, access to education, and reproductive rights.
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3. She knows how to fundraise.
The race is Maine's most expensive yet. Gideon has raised roughly $25 million — not including $3.7 million, which activists raised for whoever wound up as Collins' challenger — to Sen. Collins' roughly $17 million. Between the two candidates, the race is expected to cost about $50 million.
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4. She'd make history.
She comes from an immigrant family, and would be the second Indian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, joining Sen. Kamala Harris.
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5. She's earned lots of fans.
The Rhode Island native — and youngest of four children — has landed key endorsements from President Obama, NARAL Pro-Choice America, EMILY's List, The Human Rights Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Planned Parenthood.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
Make sure you're registered to vote, and stay updated on mail-in and in-person practices in your state.