Maine's Political Pulse

By Steve Mistler, Kevin MillerNews Politics

Maine's Political Pulse episodes

October 01 Oct. 1, 2026: Old foes face off once more in 2nd District contest
Maine's 2nd Congressional District contest pits former Republican Gov. Paul LePage against former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. They have a history of butting heads on voting rights, but they’ve never faced one another in an election.
10 min
September 25 Sept. 25, 2026: Assessing the fallout from ProPublica's Susan Collins bombshell
Maine's high-profile U.S. Senate contest has produced more national and international headlines than any election in this state in recent memory. Most of that coverage focused on the turmoil on the Democratic side of the race. But this week, the harsh media spotlight turned on Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
10 min
September 23 Sept. 23, 2026: ProPublica reporter shares key takeaways from investigative story involving Susan Collins
A new report from the news site ProPublica investigates a former defense contractor’s allegations that he won millions in federal contracts by bankrolling the campaigns of powerful politicians, including U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
13 min
September 17 Sept. 17, 2026: Pervasive dark money is swamping Maine Senate race
Dark money. If you follow politics, you’ve heard of it. It’s anonymous cash that’s flowing into the U.S. political system, particularly during congressional and presidential elections. And it’s increasing in prevalence as both political parties work to keep their financiers secret.
9 min
September 10 Sept. 10, 2026: Checking in on Maine's gubernatorial contest
It seems strange to remind everyone about arguably the most consequential contest this fall, but the U.S. Senate race has been a black hole for attention. Nothing escapes.
12 min
September 03 Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026: Jackson vs. Cicero in the Maine Senate race
This week, we focus on the Maine U.S. Senate race. Of course. The contest has dominated the political scene for more than a year.
8 min
July 28 July 28, 2026: Troy Jackson is about to go under the national microscope. Here's a look at his past
Troy Jackson has long pushed for the rights of the working class, but will now face heightened scrutiny from the national press and the Republican Party on his record and conduct in the Maine Legislature.
10 min
July 17 July 17, 2026: Who are the candidates hoping to become Maine's Senate nominee, and what happens next?
The field of 12 includes several seasoned politicians fresh off primary campaigns for governor or Congress but also about a half-dozen lesser-known Mainers who are hoping to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins this November.
8 min
June 26 June 26, 2026: We're through the primaries. Here's how things are shaping up for November
While Republican turnout was strong compared to most years, it fell well short of the Democrats’ get-out-the-vote effort, suggesting the GOP may have to overcome a marked enthusiasm gap headed into the fall.
12 min
May 15 May 15, 2026: Looking to topple Bobby Charles, Maine's GOP primary candidates are turning to an unlikely tool
While public polling in the contest has been scarce, Bobby Charles has drawn the most scrutiny from his rivals.
9 min

About Maine's Political Pulse

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The Maine Political Pulse features news and analysis of politics and government by correspondents Steve Mistler and Kevin Miller. Both have extensive experience covering the Maine Legislature, U.S.…