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.


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The holidays can be stressful, and our deeply divided political times can make it harder to see family. But efforts across the country are happening to bridge the gap in our differences. One such effort is from the organization Braver Angels, a national nonprofit that holds events in Washington and other states.

Bill Doherty, Braver Angels co-founder, has advice for people who may be sitting down at the Thanksgiving table with family members of different political leanings. He said folks should not try to enlighten them or make them change.

"Let people be. That's number one. And number two, when somebody differs from you, try to practice curiosity rather than convincing them," Doherty said.

Braver Angels' next event in Washington state is on November 29 at the Spokane Public Library. The nonprofit is holding an in-person workshop on communication skills for bridging our political divides.

Along with helping found the organization, Doherty also designed its workshops, which bring together so-called "reds" and "blues," or people on the right and the left. He said when face to face, folks find they're not so different.

"They get past stereotypes, they see common ground -- because it's almost always there in some way -- and they come out having lowered their hostility meter, if you will, towards people who differ from them politically," he said.

John Wood Junior, a national ambassador for Braver Angels, said when it comes to political divisions, things likely have to get worse before they get better. But Wood also noted there's momentum behind depolarization, as evidenced by his organization and many others that are working to build bridges in our society.

"There's serious movement in a constructive direction towards repairing these divides," he said, "and so that's going to bear fruit in a visible way as well in the years and even the months to come."


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On the heels of the midterm election, state officials say they are now focused on improving voters' experience at polling locations.

No Ohio counties reported significant problems with the voting process on Tuesday, but a few polling locations were plagued by equipment issues and longer-than-expected wait times because of higher-than-average turnout.

Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State, said he plans to work with county boards of elections to assess what can be done to mitigate issues and upgrade in-person voting next time around.

"We're going to be working with county boards of elections on things like the allocation of voting machines," LaRose pointed out. "But also the layout and the design of a polling location to get better throughput so that voter experience is much more convenient."

Across eighty-eight counties, workers continue to process absentee and provisional ballots. LaRose explained results are unofficial until they are certified, and noted the official canvass will be completed in the coming weeks.

LaRose emphasized the numbers show more Ohioans are utilizing early and absentee voting.

"Having this record-breaking number of early and absentee votes is really just validation that Ohioans like the choices," LaRose asserted. "And they realize that they're both secure and convenient."

He added his office's misinformation team, which began its work in 2019, worked to combat false information on social media, so voters were not tricked into going to different polling locations or mislead in other ways about the voting process.

"It's like whack-a-mole, right, going after individual instances of false information," LaRose acknowledged. "But we try to identify the ones that are likely to catch on and spread like wildfire."

The state's misinformation team will be back in full force for the next election. Ohioans head to the polls again in 2024, the nation's next presidential election.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.

A majority of Connecticut voters have elected to allow early voting in the state. Though a similar ballot initiative failed in 2014, this time 60% of Connecticut voters approved the amendment.

The goal is to provide people with greater ability to vote. Before, Connecticut was one of four states to not allow early voting.

Helen Humphreys, communications coordinator for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, noted the biggest drawback of single-day voting is lack of access. She thinks cities will see direct benefits to adding early voting.

"I've voted in Suffield, and I've voted in Bridgeport, and the experience was very different," Humphreys recounted. "In Suffield, you walk in and out; in Bridgeport, I waited in line for over an hour to vote. So, I think especially for those in cities and high population areas, this is going to be a huge benefit, because it will give them the opportunity to vote when they can."

Passing with a modest majority, the new amendment already faces a legal challenge from a New Britain woman who claims it is unconstitutional. Humphreys disagrees, after speaking with some legal experts in the state. Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott, and Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, both wanted more checks and balances in the state early-voting bill to prevent voter fraud.

Humphreys acknowledged implementing the rules for early voting will be a matter of balance. She wants to ensure people have enough time to vote, while towns and poll workers are not overburdened. She noted the change will help those who might not have the time to go out and vote on Election Day.

"People want a voting system that meets the needs of Connecticut families today," Humphreys contended. "Really, it's clear Connecticut voters want more opportunities to exercise their right to vote. It's something that I think will benefit a lot of people who aren't available on one specific Tuesday in November."

In November 2024, Connecticut voters will be asked to add an amendment about no-excuse absentee voting. It would mean any voter can request a mail-in ballot, rather than having to submit an application to receive a ballot.