Sara Gideon in 2020 ME Senatorial race

On Budget & Economy: COVID: prioritize small business, bolster unemployment funds

Gideon: We have to look at how we build back our economy in a way that supports those who need it most, including Mainers over the age of 50. That means prioritizing small businesses, not corporations, in the next round of federal relief; sending more funding to local governments to protect good-paying municipal jobs, to keep property taxes low, and to continue to bolster unemployment insurance to make sure Maine's seniors can get through this crisis & back on their feet.

On Health Care: Strongly oppose raising Medicare eligibility age

Gideon: We've taken steps in the state House to protect our seniors, by restoring Maine's low-cost prescription drug program and passing legislation to prevent insurance companies from overcharging seniors for health care. I will strongly oppose efforts to raise the Medicare eligibility age. I'll work to cap out-of-pocket costs of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare and continue to champion the Affordable Care Act, which closed the Medicare donut hole.

On Health Care: Let Medicare negotiate drug prices; allow imports

Gideon: I'll fight to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare and to work to implement the low-cost drug importation program on the federal level that we've already passed in Maine.

On Social Security: Raise the earning cap so wealthiest pay their fair share

Gideon: I'll work to raise the earning cap on Social Security, so the wealthiest among us are paying their fair share into the system. I'll get rid of the windfall elimination provision, which unfairly prevents some Maine workers like teachers from accessing their earned Social Security benefits. And I'll continue to fight against any effort to cut funding or benefits from Medicare or Social Security.

On Civil Rights: Support LGBTQ+ people everywhere

Sara Gideon: Yes. Calls for "supporting LGBTQ+ people everywhere." Opposed Trump judicial nominee Lawrence Van Dyke because of his opposition to marriage equality.

Susan Collins: Yes. Supported same-sex marriage before Supreme Court decision. Supported same-sex veterans' benefits. Opposed Trump judicial nominee over record on gay rights.

On Drugs: Voted to regulate marijuana legalization in Maine

Sara Gideon: Yes. Voted in 2018 for legislation to implement and regulate legalization in Maine, approved by popular vote in 2016, and to override Governor Page's veto.

Susan Collins: Mostly no. Does not "support a national, federal effort to decriminalize." Would allow VA doctors to recommend cannabis for veterans where legal.

On Immigration: Urged support for DREAM Act

Sara Gideon: Yes. Urged Maine's congressional delegation to support the DREAM Act, with conditional legal status for undocumented youth.

Susan Collins: Yes. Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide a path to citizenship for "Dreamers."

On Jobs: Co-sponsored bill to give unions access to public employees

Sara Gideon: Yes. Co-sponsored Maine House bill to require public employers to grant unions right to meet with and get information on employees. Endorsed by major Maine labor unions.

Susan Collins: No. Voted to advance President Trump's nomination of anti-union lawyer Eugene Scalia to head Department of Labor. Given lowest rating by AFL-CIO for record on labor rights.

On War & Peace: Congress must provide oversight over military action

Sara Gideon: No. The administration must explain "the imminent threat facing American soldiers and why [a strike is] absolutely necessary. Congress must provide oversight."

Susan Collins: Mixed. "I believe the strike that killed Soleimani was justified, but that sustained hostilities committing American troops would require congressional approval."

On Health Care: Let government negotiate to lower cost of drugs

On Principles & Values: Courts pushed to the right, favors independent judiciary

On Abortion: Protect & expand access to women's reproductive care

On Drugs: Treatment for opioid addiction; hold big pharma accountable

Maine has been hit harder by the opioid crisis than most states around the country. Sara supports a comprehensive approach that includes:
• Expanding access to affordable addiction treatment;
• Creating bridge programs to ensure that people have access to treatment at the moment they're ready;
• Funding education and prevention efforts, as well as public health research; and
• Holding big pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the crisis.

On Education: Access to high quality K-12 education for every family

Sara knows how important access is when it comes to education--as a senator, she will work to:
• Ensure that every family has the opportunity to receive a high quality K-12 education no matter their neighborhood, family circumstances or race;
• Expand early childhood education and quality childcare opportunities;
• Value teachers and the job they do in the form of higher wages and better benefits.

On Education: Tackle student debt crisis; expand trade, technical training

Sara knows how important access is when it comes to education--as a senator, she will work to:
• Lower the cost of college and tackle the student loan debt crisis to make higher education affordable and accessible for everyone; and
• Expand access to trade, technical and job training programs.

On Energy & Oil: Passed aggressive goals reducing carbon emissions in Maine

On Energy & Oil: Rejoin Paris Agreement; invest in clean energy

[On energy and environment]:
• Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement;
• Investing in the clean energy economy;
• Setting aggressive goals to move to a completely clean energy system powered by renewables;
• Setting the carbon emissions reduction goals needed to slow climate change; and
• Sara is proud to be endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters.

On Government Reform: Worked in Maine to pass automatic voter registration

On Government Reform: End influence of big money on our elections and officials

She'll work to end the influence of big money on our elections and officials in Washington by:
• Passing a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United;
• Passing the DISCLOSE Act, which would require dark money groups to disclose their donors;
• Supporting "No Budget, No Pay" legislation so that Congress isn't compensated if they fail to do the most basic part of their job: passing a budget;
• Banning former members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.

On Health Care: Complete the work started under Affordable Care Act

Sara believes we need to complete the work we started under the Affordable Care Act and in the Senate, she will fight to:
• Expand access to quality and affordable health care to every person including those with pre-existing conditions;
• Allow anyone to choose to buy into Medicare through a newly created public option, while preserving the choice for those who like their private insurance to keep it; and
• Crack down on big drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

On Homeland Security: Make sure that services vets have earned remain available

On Jobs: Prioritize needs of small businesses; raise minimum wage

Sara will fight for Maine's jobs and economy by:
• Prioritizing the needs of small businesses in our economic recovery;
• Creating and expanding job training programs;
• Investing in infrastructure development and technological advancements;
• Raising the federal minimum wage;
• Ensuring that we have fair trade policies that help Maine's traditional industries, like logging and lobstering, which are essential to tens of thousands of jobs and to communities across the state.

On Social Security: Protect Social Security, Medicare from cuts & privatization

On Tax Reform: Roll back Trump tax cuts; breaks for hardworking families

On Principles & Values: Public service is about improving the lives of people

"If you are willing to listen and if you are willing to sit around the table, sometimes especially with the people who you think you disagree with the most, it is still really possible to get things done," Gideon said.

On Health Care: Reduce prescription costs; protect pre-existing conditions

On Civil Rights: Husband solicited to run for town council; she ran instead

Gideon: I think a number of reasons. I think many of us have been in this position where the men around us, in our lives or in our workplace, are approached for things before we as women are. And this was one of those cases. For me it was really a call to action, of, "This is the role that I should be playing in the world and a place I can make a difference."

On Government Reform: $500 fine for campaign finance ethics violation

Gideon has drawn the most attention for reimbursed contributions to federal causes, but the commission focused on two $250 payments to the House Democratic Campaign Committee and now-U.S. Rep. Jared Golden's state-level political committee in 2016 that were originally made under Gideon's name but were reimbursed by the political committee.

Contributing in someone else's name is illegal on the state and federal levels. A Gideon spokesperson expressed support for the decision, saying the commission "continued its tradition of fairness" and supported Gideon's attorney's position that the violations were minor.

On Energy & Oil: Bold, immediate action on climate change

On Health Care: Public option for Medicare, but not Medicare-for-All