skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, September 25, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Federal judge blocks AZ law that 'disenfranchised' Native voters; government shutdown could cost U.S. travel economy about $1 Billion per week; WA group brings 'Alternatives to Violence' to secondary students.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Senator Robert Menendez offers explanations on the money found in his home, non-partisan groups urge Congress to avert a government shutdown and a Nevada organization works to build Latino political engagement.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

Experts See Maine Sen. Collins' Race with Gideon as Toss-up

play audio
Play

Friday, July 17, 2020   

AUGUSTA, Maine - Longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is facing her toughest reelection campaign yet. She's running against Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon of Freeport, who won the Democratic primary this week.

The Cook Political Report calls Maine one of the closest Senate races, and it's also become the most expensive in the state's history. American Government Professor Sandy Maisel at Colby College thinks he knows why Senator Collins' approval rating is less than 40%, when it used to be in the high 60s.

"She lost it, frankly, by key votes on important Trump initiatives," says Maisel. "Particularly his tax plan, the nomination of Justice Kavanaugh, and the vote on impeachment."

Collins, one of the last centrist Republicans, voted with President Donald Trump on these three issues, most critically in confirming Justice Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. But Collins has been in the Senate for 24 years, and Gideon is still an unknown on the national political scene.

University of Maine Political Science Professor Mark Brewer notes that Sara Gideon's track record in the Maine House has been largely liberal, although she won the primary as the most moderate Democratic candidate. Brewer says it would benefit Sen. Collins if she can help get more stimulus money through the U.S. Senate.

"The Senator herself is teasing that they're going to be able to get that done, right? So, I think that's going to be something that's going to play into this race, too," says Brewer. "The Paycheck Protection Program has been hugely important for a number of, not just Mainers, but Americans."

He adds that Collins helped write the Paycheck Protection Program. However, Brewer thinks the Gideon campaign could have the edge if it can convince enough voters that Collins has changed during the Trump era.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Peter Sussman is among three patients with disabilities who have asked to intervene in a lawsuit challenging California's End of Life Option Act. (Nancy Rubin)

Health and Wellness

play sound

California's medical aid-in-dying law is back in court. Three patients with disabilities and two doctors are asking to intervene in a lawsuit …


Environment

play sound

A new federal jobs program aims to mobilize tens of thousands of young Americans to address the growing threats of climate change. The American …

Social Issues

play sound

Little Priest Tribal College in Winnebago says its student body and campus are growing - and so are its options for people to study in STEM fields…


The Student Assistance Program in some Ohio schools connects students with tools in order to remove obstacles to learning, and is now incorporating mental-health resources. (Rosalie Murphy/Kent State NewsLab).

Health and Wellness

play sound

By Nathalia Teixeira for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Social Issues

play sound

Maine's new Office of Affordable Health Care holds its first public hearing this week, and people are being strongly encouraged to participate…

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five of the young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The number of children locked behind bars in Alabama has declined, but their advocates said more needs to be done to create alternatives to …

Environment

play sound

Scientists at Purdue University have been experimenting to create adhesives designed to be easier on the environment. So many products from …

Social Issues

play sound

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021