Gideon, along with former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee, supports a plan that would allow people to buy into a Medicare-like program. While some of Collins’ fellow Republicans have long proposed cuts to both in response to an increased federal deficit and some partisan bills backed by the Maine senator could have wrought cuts if they passed, Collins says she opposes cuts to either program and she recently acted to stop one.”, — “Meet the 8 Bangor residents who want to represent you on the City Council,” Charles Eichacker and Eesha Pendharkar, BDN: “The top three vote-getters will each serve three years on the nine-member council, as the city addresses a seemingly growing homeless population and a pandemic that has curtailed operations at the types of businesses that account for a large chunk of municipal revenue, including casinos, retailers, restaurants and concert venues.”. Together we’ll elect a senator who will put Maine first. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Collins has opposed that vociferously while Republicans have argued that such a plan would threaten rural hospitals, but it depends how the program is designed. Key Points Republican Sen. Susan Collins is in the race of her life against Maine’s Democratic House speaker, Sara Gideon. Health care has been one of the topline issues in Gideon’s campaign all along, but it has taken up increased resonance due to an impending Supreme Court battle, as the court is set to hear a case that could undo the Affordable Care Act shortly after the election. The narrative in the Maine Senate race — advanced since Gideon entered in June 2019 and echoed in media coverage — is that Collins is no longer the independent lawmaker that she once was. Collins insisted that the race is “essentially tied” when speaking to the outlet last week. Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, the 48-year-old outgoing speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, had as of June 30 raised $24 million to Collins’ $17 million, according to the nonpartisan OpenSecrets, with much of it from out-of-state. That court could have a more conservative bent if Senate Republicans are successful in confirming Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a move Collins opposes before the election. Whether as a member of her local town council, as a State Representative and now Speaker of the House, Sara has focused on trying to use her office to improve the lives of Maine families. As the market opens on Friday, the issue is pitting conservatives against advocates for the industry in Aroostook County. And it's been going on for two years now: Non-stop negative ads. Sara Gideon is a proud mom, wife, sister, daughter and Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. Collins is in the race of her life against Maine's Democratic House speaker, Sara Gideon. A new poll found Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat challenger Sara Gideon within one point of each other in the race for U.S. Senate in Maine. Sara has always stood up for a woman’s right to choose. There are 25 days until the November election. Now, why, whether or not it became public would be the triggering event, and why she didn’t ask for an investigation, are legitimate issues,” Collins said. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t right on some issues,” she said, citing his policies on China and tax cuts.