Are Maine’s votes for sale? | Letter

A letter to the editor in the Press Herald’s “Maine Matters” section drew attention to the role of outside money in the state’s 2026 election cycle. The piece, written by M‑A Barker of Scarborough, argues that political action committee (PAC) contributions are being directed at state senators, specifically Senator Collins, and questions whether voters’ support is being bought.

Barker, who signed the letter as “M‑A Barker, Scarborough,” described how large sums of money have been flowing into Maine, not as a tribute to Mainers, but as a means to “pummel” residents with “skewed political assertions.” He suggests that PACs invest in Senator Collins’ votes because that’s where donors can reap the rewards. “The only hope they have to get Collins’ votes is to buy ours,” Barker writes, implying that voters’ ballots are effectively on sale.

The author also notes that Senator Collins has achieved some successes but that her votes have, according to him, funneled money elsewhere—including to the “president’s whims.” He references a 30‑year history of influence, claiming it buys “road salt, cement and concrete.” The letter ends with the admonition, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me six times, shame on me.”

While the letter was published in the Press Herald’s political coverage, no official statements from Senator Collins or her campaign have been released in response. The piece appears amid broader discussions about the 2026 election, the state’s political reporting, and the influence of PAC money on local elections.