In 1996, Maine became the first American state to
enact a public financing system for statewide elections. Voters passed a referendum
by which the government provides money to candidates who meet a threshold of
fundraising in $5 increments from voters in their districts. Before 2011, candidates
got matching funds from the government if an opponent was funding his or her
campaign with their own money, or if an outside group was spending money on the
race over a certain amount.[i] The reason for the discontinuance of the
matching funds and the subsequent impact on the number of blue-collar people
running for office and being in the legislature demonstrate that the public
financing of political campaigns can have a huge impact on both political
campaigns and representation in a legislative chamber.
The complete essay is at "Blue-Collar Lawmakers in Maine."
The complete essay is at "Blue-Collar Lawmakers in Maine."
1. Paul Blumenthal, “Maine
Voters Hope to Restore Their Revolutionary Election System,” The Huffington
Post, September 4, 2015.
