The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law submitted testimony in support of L.D. 1787, An Act to Strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act. The legislation would expand Maine’s longstanding public financing system to include elections for county commission, district attorney, and sheriff.
The Brennan Center urges Maine lawmakers to adopt the proposed expansion, emphasizing that public financing is the most effective, constitutionally sound way to counteract the growing influence of big money in politics. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, a small number of wealthy donors have increasingly dominated election spending nationwide — a trend that now threatens the integrity of state and local elections, including those for criminal justice offices.
The testimony highlights how public financing improves democratic participation, reduces candidates’ dependence on large donors, and helps ensure that policy decisions reflect the public interest rather than special interests. Noting the longstanding success of Maine’s state-level Clean Election program, the Brennan Center encourages the state to remain a national leader in campaign finance reform.