Maine's Political Pulse

By Steve Mistler, Kevin MillerNews Politics

Maine's Political Pulse episodes

October 30 Oct. 30, 2026: Maine's two most consequential races
Maine’s U.S. Senate race and the contest for governor have run in tandem for the past year, but along different paths of scrutiny and attention. If that seems unusual, it’s because it is. In most gubernatorial election years, the race for the Blaine House is the most important one on the ballot.
15 min
October 22 Oct. 22, 2026: The 2026 campaign season's final moments
It’s almost over. The campaigns are acting accordingly.
11 min
October 16 Oct. 16, 2026: It's been a bountiful debate season. Here's what we've learned so far
The beginning of October has seen a whirlwind of political debates here in Maine.
10 min
October 08 Oct. 8, 2026: Takeaways from the first Collins-Jackson debate
The first of four debates in the Maine U.S. Senate race is in the books. Some may have been tempted to prewrite how it would unfold. And who could blame them?
9 min
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

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.…