Sara Gideon

Sara Gideon (born December 4, 1971) is an American politician serving as the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.[1] A member of the Maine Democratic Party from Freeport, she represents District 48 in the Maine House of Representatives, which includes part of Freeport and Pownal in Cumberland County.[2]

Sara Gideon
102nd Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
Assumed office
December 7, 2016
Preceded byMark Eves
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 48th district
Assumed office
December 5, 2012
Preceded byCharles Kruger
Personal details
Born (1971-12-04) December 4, 1971
Rhode Island, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Benjamin Gideon
Children3
EducationGeorge Washington University (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Gideon is the Democratic nominee for the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Maine. The seat is currently held by Susan Collins.

Early life and education

Gideon was born and raised in Rhode Island. Her father is from India, and her mother is a second-generation Armenian.[3] She graduated from East Greenwich High School in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, in 1989.[4] In 1994, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. She served as an intern for U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell.[5]

Career

In 2004, Gideon moved to Freeport, Maine, and served as Vice Chair of the Freeport Town Council. She also worked as an advertising account executive at USA Today in 2003.[6][7]

Maine House of Representatives

First elected to the Maine House in 2012, Gideon was reelected in 2014 and chosen as Assistant Majority Leader of the Maine House of Representatives. In 2016, she was elected as Speaker by the House.[8] As a legislator, she sponsored legislation to expand abortion access and extended state benefits to families in poverty.[9] As speaker, Gideon also supported Medicaid expansion in Maine, including the 2017 referendum on the topic, and helped override Governor Paul LePage's veto of a bill to make the anti-overdose drug naloxone (Narcan) available over-the-counter,[10] aimed at preventing deaths from the opioid epidemic.[11]

As a member of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, Gideon worked to lower energy costs and increase energy efficiency. She worked to promote clean and renewable energy and build a clean-energy economy. [12]

After Democratic Governor Janet Mills was elected in 2018, the Maine Legislature under Gideon's speakership passed several key climate change bills, including a measure requiring Maine to achieve 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.[13] As speaker in 2019 and 2020, Gideon also sponsored legislation to expand abortion access by allowing physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform the procedure,[14] and legislation to block the Quebec power company Hydro-Québec from spending money to influence a referendum of a controversial proposed power line project in Maine.[15]

In 2019 Gideon faced an election ethics complaint for breaking a political donation law by accepting reimbursements for her political donations from her own PAC. A spokesperson said, "The contributions were within the legal limit and fully disclosed, but the committee was given incorrect guidance on how to process them. The error was immediately addressed." The campaign said that it had reimbursed the federal government $3,250 for the violations and closed the PAC.[16]

2020 U.S. Senate campaign
Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Maine

On June 24, 2019, Gideon announced her candidacy in the 2020 Senate election to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins.[17] In the first week of her campaign, she raised more than $1 million.[18] Gideon ran against Betsy Sweet and Bre Kidman in the ranked-choice Democratic primary election.[13] In the primary, Gideon received support from the mainstream of the Democratic Party, while Sweet and Kidman drew support from the party's insurgent progressive wing.[13] Before the July 14 primary, Gideon was endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee[19][20] as well as labor unions and women's groups.[13] Gideon led in primary election polling,[13] and won the primary with roughly 70% of the vote.[20][21] By the time of the primary election, she had raised $23 million.[21]

Endorsements

Following her Democratic primary win in June, Gideon received endorsements from NARAL, EMILY's List, Progressive Democrats of America, Brand New Congress, Our Revolution, and the Bangor Daily News.[22] In August, former President Barack Obama endorsed Gideon.[23]

Polls

According to an August Quinnipiac poll Gideon leads Collins, 47 percent to 43 percent, with 6 percent of voters undecided. Politico reports that "Both candidates have mostly consolidated support among their respective parties, while independents in the survey break narrowly for Gideon. Collins has an underwater favorability rating, according to the survey, with 42 percent viewing her favorably compared to 49 percent unfavorably. Gideon's image is above water, but nearly one-quarter of voters do not have an opinion about her."[24] The poll showed that 88 percent of respondents said their minds were made up while 11 percent said they were open to the possibility of changing their mind. Of those voting for Collins, 51 percent, said they're doing so because they like her while 69 percent said they were voting for Gideon because they oppose Collins.[25]

Political positions

Healthcare

Gideon states that she has made affordable drugs and health care her primary campaign issues. She supports the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare"). She also supports a public health insurance option,[13] which would allow Americans to buy into Medicare while also retaining a private health insurance market.[26][27] She supports allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, and a prohibition on pharmaceutical company "pay to delay" agreements.[13]

In the state House, Gideon sponsored legislation to expand abortion access and extend benefits to families in poverty.[28] She states she will fight any attempts to attack or defund Planned Parenthood; will work to roll back the Title X gag rule, which has impacted Maine Family Planning and Planned Parenthood clinics that provide comprehensive health care. Gideon has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and NARAL.[29]

Climate change

Gideon supports the U.S. rejoining the Paris Agreement to combat climate change; the U.S. entered the agreement under Barack Obama, but withdrew under Donald Trump.[13] She supports government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal) and the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.[30]

Police reform

Gideon supports various police reforms, including a police misconduct registry and requirements for the use of body cameras and vehicle cameras.[13]

Budget

Gideon opposed the Trump tax bill.[26]

Gun control

In March 2018, speaking at a Maine gun safety forum, Gideon criticized national reaction to the numerous recent school shootings noting that rather than enacting gun control legislation the U.S. lack of action had "instead led to our kids having lockdown drills in their school. Instead of closing loopholes, we force teachers to make 6 year olds practice being quiet and tell them to hide under their desks. Instead of restricting high capacity magazines, we install cameras and self-locking doors."[31] Gideon supports universal background checks and red flag laws.[32]

Personal life

Gideon grew up in Rhode Island, the youngest of four children. After marriage to her husband Ben, an attorney, the couple moved to Maine. They have three children, Julian, Alek, and Josie and live in Freeport.[33]

Electoral history

2012
Maine House of Representatives District 106, 2012 Democratic Primary[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon 534 50.47%
Democratic Melanie F. Sachs 470 44.30%
Democratic Patrick T. Norton 46 4.34%
Blank 11 1.04%
Total votes 1,061 100%
Maine House of Representatives District 106, 2012 General Election[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon 3,525 62.85%
Republican Jody James 1,837 32.75%
Blank 247 4.40%
Total votes 5,609 100%
Democratic hold

2014
Maine House of Representatives District 48, 2014 General Election[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon (incumbent) 3,226 63.93%
Republican Paul Schulz 1,589 31.49%
Blank 231 4.58%
Total votes 5,046 100%
Democratic hold

2016
Maine House of Representatives District 48, 2016 General Election[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon (incumbent) 3,994 66.08%
Republican Paul Schulz 1,589 30.46%
Blank 209 3.46%
Total votes 6,044 100%
Democratic hold

2018
Main article: 2018 Maine House of Representatives election § District 48
Maine House of Representatives District 48, 2018 General Election[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon (incumbent) 4,003 71.85%
Republican Paul Schulz 1,440 25.85%
Blank 128 2.30%
Total votes 5,571 100%
Democratic hold


2020
Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Maine
2020 United States Senate election in Maine Democratic primary results[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sara Gideon 116,264 71.5
Democratic Betsy Sweet 37,327 22.9
Democratic Bre Kidman 9,090 5.6
Total votes 162,681 100.0%

See also

References
  1. "Maine House of Representatives: Sara Gideon". Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  2. Gardner, Kate (November 5, 2014). "Democrats Cooper, Gideon retain southern Maine House seats". The Forecaster. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  3. Dispatches, From News. "Indian-American Sara Gideon announces bid to unseat longtime Maine Senator Susan Collins". IndiaAbroad.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  4. McNamara, Elizabeth (June 25, 2019). "EGHS Alum Sara Gideon ('89) In Race for U.S. Senate in Maine". East Greenwich News. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  5. Touchberry, Ramsey. "Who Is Sara Gideon? Democrat Challenges Susan Collins, Cites Senator's Vote for Brett Kavanaugh". Newsweek.com. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  6. "Sara Gideon". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  7. "The Final Word | Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  8. Scott Thistle (November 18, 2016). "Democrats pick Freeport's Rep. Sara Gideon to be next speaker of Maine House". Press Herald. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  9. Saul, Stephanie (June 24, 2019). "Sara Gideon to Challenge Susan Collins for Maine Senate Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  10. Jones, Sarah (June 24, 2019). "Susan Collins Has a New Democratic Challenger". The Cut. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  11. Jon Kamp, Maine Lawmakers Clash With Governor Over Naloxone Access, Wall Street Journal (April 16, 2018).
  12. Dispatches, From News. "Indian-American Sara Gideon announces bid to unseat longtime Maine Senator Susan Collins". IndiaAbroad.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  13. Jessica Piper, How the 3 Maine Democrats running for US Senate differ on voters' top priorities, Bangor Daily News (June 28, 2020).
  14. Patty Wright, Bill To Expand Abortion Providers In Maine Gets Ok In House, Maine Public Radio (May 21, 2019).
  15. Steve Mistler, Maine Bill Would Prevent Hydro-Quebec From Spending To Influence Referendum On Powerline, Maine Public Radio (March 5, 2020).
  16. Bowden, John (August 23, 2019). "Susan Collins challenger hit with ethics complaints over reimbursements". The Hill. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  17. Pindell, James (June 24, 2019). "Sara Gideon, speaker of the Maine House, to challenge Susan Collins". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  18. "Sara Gideon touts early fundraising success in run for Senate seat". Associated Press. Retrieved July 4, 2019 – via WABI.
  19. Everett, Burgess. "Inside Susan Collins' reelection fight in the age of Trump". Politico.
  20. Kate Ackley, DSCC-backed Sara Gideon wins primary to face Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, Roll Call (July 14, 2020).
  21. Emily Cochrane, Sara Gideon Wins Nomination to Challenge Susan Collins in Maine, New York Times (July 14, 2020).
  22. "Sara Gidean". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  23. Fink, Jenni. "Trump-Backed Collins Trails Obama-Endorsed Gideon in Maine Senate Race". Newsweek. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  24. Arkin, James. "Quinnipiac polls: Gideon leads Collins in Maine; South Carolina Senate race tied". Political. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  25. Fink, Jenni. "Trump-Backed Collins Trails Obama-Endorsed Gideon in Maine Senate Race". Newsweek. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  26. Mal Leary, Sara Gideon On The Issues That Are Most Important To Maine Democrats, Maine Public Radio (December 2, 2019).
  27. Christina Prignano, Who is Sara Gideon? A look at the Democratic challenger to Maine's Susan Collins, Boston Globe (July 15, 2020).
  28. Saul, Stephanie (June 24, 2019). "Sara Gideon to Challenge Susan Collins for Maine Senate Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  29. "Sara Gideon's Issue Positions". Vote Smart. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  30. "Sara Gideon's Issue Positions". Vote Smart. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  31. transcript. "GIDEON REMARKS AT MAINE GUN SAFETY COALITION EVENT". Maine Legislature. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  32. Caitlin Troutman, Maine 'Moms Demand Action' Advocates For Gun Control Legislation, Maine Public Radio (August 20, 2019).
  33. Dispatches, From News. "Indian-American Sara Gideon announces bid to unseat longtime Maine Senator Susan Collins". IndiaAbroad.com. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  34. Albair, Rebecca (July 2, 2012). "6-12-2012 Primary Election Representative to Legislature - Democratic" (XLSX). Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  35. "November 6, 2012 General Election Tabulations State Representative by District and Town". Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. November 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  36. Albair, Rebecca (November 13, 2014). "Representative to the Legislature" (XLSX). Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  37. Packard, Melissa (November 18, 2016). "Representative to the Legislature" (XLSX). Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  38. Lajoie, Louisa (November 30, 2018). "State Representative" (XLSX). Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  39. "Maine U.S. Senate Democratic Primary". Maine Secretary of State. August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
Maine House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles Kruger		 Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 48th district district
2012–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Mark Eves		 Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
2016–present		 Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Shenna Bellows		 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Maine
(Class 2)
2020		 Most recent
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