Opposition to “dark money” was one thing Maine’s U.S. Senate candidates were able to agree on in a debate last week. But U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, House Speaker Sara Gideon, a Democrat, and independents Lisa Savage and Max Linn — disagree on how to address that and a number of other political reform ideas.
The Senate race is the most expensive in Maine history, with the party candidates raising more than $40 million as of the end of June with another $40 million flowing into the race from super PACs and other outside groups, according to federal data. Collins and Gideon have sparred over each other’s fundraising while hauling in and benefiting from record amounts.
Several issues commonly come up around money in politics. One is a 2010 Supreme Court decision that made it possible for corporations to spend on elections. Opponents say corporations should not be entitled to political speech. Somewhat separate is dark money, or spending by nonprofits that avoid…
