Betsy Sweet

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Betsy Sweet

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

July 14, 2020

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Betsy Sweet (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Maine. She lost in the Democratic primary on July 14, 2020.

Sweet completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Sweet was a Democratic candidate for governor of Maine in the 2018 election. She was defeated by Janet Mills (D) in the Democratic primary.

Click here for more information on the June 12 primary election. Click here for more information on the November 6 general election.

In 2020, Sweet participated in a Candidate Conversation hosted by Ballotpedia and EnCiv. Click here to view the recording.

Biography

An activist and attorney, Sweet founded Moose Ridge Associates in 1990 when she also began serving as the firm's principal. Sweet describds the firm as having "promoted state legislation supporting the interests of women, people with disabilities, victims of abuse and discrimination, and the environment." The firm also provides hate crime and sexual harassment prevention workshops and organizational development consulting. Prior to founding Moose Ridge Associates, Sweet was the director of the Maine Women's Lobby and the Maine Commission for Women. In 2009, Sweet established SweetSpirit, a spiritual healing clinic.

Elections

2020

See also: United States Senate election in Maine, 2020

United States Senate election in Maine, 2020 (July 14 Democratic primary)

United States Senate election in Maine, 2020 (July 14 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Maine

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Susan Collins in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Susan Collins	51.0	417,645	0	Won (1)
		Sara Gideon	42.4	347,223	0	1
		Lisa Savage	5.0	40,579	0	1
		Max Linn	1.6	13,508	0	1
		Tiffany Bond (Write-in)	0.0	0	0	1
		Douglas Fogg (Write-in)	0.0	0	0	1
	Submit photo	Ian Kenton Engelman (Write-in)	0.0	0	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.0	228	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 819,183
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Linda Wooten (Independent)
• Danielle VanHelsing (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate Maine

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Sara Gideon in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Sara Gideon	71.5	116,264	0	Advanced (1)
		Betsy Sweet	22.9	37,327	0	1
		Bre Kidman	5.6	9,090	0	1

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 162,681
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jonathan Treacy (D)
• Cathleen London (D)
• Ross LaJeunesse (D)
• Michael Bunker (D)
• Christine Gates (D)

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for U.S. Senate Maine

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Susan Collins in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
✔		Susan Collins	98.8	87,375	0	Advanced (1)
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	1.2	1,073	0

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 88,448
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Derek Levasseur (R)

2018

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Maine

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Janet T. Mills in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Janet T. Mills	50.9	320,962	0	Won (1)
		Shawn Moody	43.2	272,311	0	1
		Teresea Hayes	5.9	37,268	0	1
		Alan Caron	0.0	0	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.0	126	0

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 630,667
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Light (L)
• Betsy Marsano (G)
• Karmo Sanders (Independent)
• Ken A. Capron (Independent)
• John Jenkins (Independent)
• Jay Parker Dresser (G)
• Ethan Alcorn (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Governor of Maine

Select round: Round 4 Round 3 Round 2 Round 1

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Janet T. Mills in round 4 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Janet T. Mills	54.1	63,384	13,439	Advanced (4)
		Adam Cote	45.9	53,866	11,243	4
		Betsy Sweet	0.0	0	-29,944	3
		Mark Eves	0.0	0	0	2
		Donna Dion	0.0	0	0	1
		Mark Dion	0.0	0	0	1
		Diane Russell	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Janet T. Mills	40.8	49,945	5,903	Advanced (4)
		Adam Cote	34.8	42,623	5,080	4
		Betsy Sweet	24.4	29,944	6,957	3
		Mark Eves	0.0	0	-19,521	2
		Donna Dion	0.0	0	0	1
		Mark Dion	0.0	0	0	1
		Diane Russell	0.0	0	0	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Janet T. Mills	35.5	44,042	2,307	Advanced (4)
		Adam Cote	30.3	37,543	2,065	4
		Betsy Sweet	18.5	22,987	2,220	3
		Mark Eves	15.7	19,521	1,634	2
		Mark Dion	0.0	0	-5,200	1
		Diane Russell	0.0	0	-2,728	1
		Donna Dion	0.0	0	-1,596	1

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Janet T. Mills	33.1	41,735	0	Advanced (4)
		Adam Cote	28.1	35,478	0	4
		Betsy Sweet	16.5	20,767	0	3
		Mark Eves	14.2	17,887	0	2
		Mark Dion	4.1	5,200	0	1
		Diane Russell	2.2	2,728	0	1
		Donna Dion	1.3	1,596	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.6	748	0

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 126,139
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Cynthia Soma-Hernandez (D)
• J. Martin Vachon (D)
• Patrick Eisenhart (D)
• Sean Faircloth (D)
• James Boyle (D)

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for Governor of Maine

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Shawn Moody in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Shawn Moody	56.6	53,436	0	Advanced (1)
		Garrett Mason	22.9	21,571	0	1
	Submit photo	Mary Mayhew	14.9	14,034	0	1
		Kenneth Fredette	5.7	5,341	0	1

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 94,382
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Full Democratic primary results may be viewed by clicking [show] at the right.

Democratic primary election rounds First round Maine Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, first round, 2018 Candidate Vote % Votes Janet Mills 33.09% 41,735 Adam Cote 28.13% 35,478 Betsy Sweet 16.46% 20,767 Mark Eves 14.18% 17,887 Mark Dion 4.12% 5,200 Diane Russell 2.16% 2,728 Donna Dion 1.27% 1,596 Write-in 0.59% 748 Total Votes (574/574 precincts reporting) 126,139 Source: Maine.gov, "Tabulations for Elections held June 12, 2018," accessed July 6, 2018 Second round Maine Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, second round, 2018 Candidate Vote % Votes Janet Mills 35.49% 44,042 Adam Cote 30.25% 37,543 Betsy Sweet 18.52% 22,987 Mark Eves 15.73% 19,521 Total Votes (574/574 precincts reporting) 124,093 Source: Maine.gov, "Tabulations for Elections held June 12, 2018," accessed July 6, 2018 Third round Maine Gubernatorial Democratic Primary, third round, 2018 Candidate Vote % Votes Janet Mills 40.77% 49,945 Adam Cote 34.79% 42,623 Betsy Sweet 24.44% 29,944 Total Votes (574/574 precincts reporting) 122,512 Source: Maine.gov, "Tabulations for Elections held June 12, 2018," accessed July 6, 2018 Fourth round Maine Gubernatorial Democratic primary, fourth round, 2018 Candidate Vote % Votes Janet Mills 54.06% 63,384 Adam Cote 45.94% 53,866 Total Votes (574/574 precincts reporting) 117,250 Source: Maine.gov, "Tabulations for Elections held June 12, 2018," accessed July 6, 2018

Campaign finance

Following are campaign finance figures obtained from the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices containing information on all contributions to and expenditures by candidates as of May 1, 2018.

Maine Clean Elections Act

The Maine Clean Elections Act is Maine's optional public financing program for political campaigns. Gubernatorial candidates participating in the program are allowed to solicit up to $200,000 in seed money contributions, which must be donated by individuals and cannot exceed more than $100 per donor. Participating candidates are also required to solicit at least 3,200 contributions of $5 or more to the MCEA's fund, known as qualifying contributions. In order to receive financing from the MCEA fund, candidates were required to file the required paperwork with proof of 3,200 qualifying contributions before October 16, 2018. Once a candidate has submitted their paperwork, they are no longer allowed to collect additional seed money contributions. Candidates may receive additional payouts from the fund by submitting proof of additional qualifying contributions. Each candidate could collect up to four payments of $150,000 each before May 22, 2018, in exchange for 800 qualifying contributions per payment, and an additional eight payments of $175,000 each could be collected before October 16, 2018, in exchange for 1,200 qualifying contributions per payment. The only Democratic candidate who pursued MCEA fundraising was Betsy Sweet (D).

On May 22, 2018, the Portland Press-Herald reported that as a result of a clerical error in the most recent state budget, the Maine Clean Elections Fund would not be permitted to disburse funds to candidates after July 1. The Press-Herald reported that a special session of the legislature would need to be called in order to correct the clerical error. On June 26, 2018, Maine Ethics Commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne sent a letter to legislators which stated that $1.3 million in funding that was in the commission's accounts could not be released to candidates as a result of the error. The letter stated that Gov. Paul LePage (R) had twice refused the commission permission to use $1.9 million in funding left over from 2016's clean elections fund to make up the shortfall. Maine Citizens for Clean Elections filed a lawsuit against LePage calling on him to approve the release of the remaining funding from 2016. On August 2, 2018, the judge ruled in favor of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections. LePage announced on August 7, 2018, that he had released the requested funding.

Campaign themes

2020

Candidate Conversations

Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A. Click below to watch the conversation for this race.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Betsy Sweet completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sweet's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Betsy Sweet is a life-long activist, political organizer, small business owner and mother who lives in Hallowell, Maine. She is a progressive Democrat running for U.S. Senate, seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

Sweet supports and advocates for the Green New Deal, Medicare for All and eliminating student debt. Sweet helped create the first Clean Elections System in the country in Maine because she saw the corrupting influence of money in politics and policymaking and decided to do something about it. She ran as a Clean Elections candidate for governor in 2018. She has pledged to refuse all corporate PAC and dirty money.

Betsy Sweet has more than 37 years of experience fighting for working-class Mainers -- highlights include: - Writing and helping pass the first Family Medical Leave Act in the country, creating the first Clean Elections system in the country - Working on every Maine State Budget for 37 years - Serving as executive director of the Maine Women's Lobby - Serving as program coordinator for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Serving as Commissioner for Women under Governors Brennan and McKernan - Co-founding the Maine Center for Economic Policy and the Dirigo Alliance, - Founding and running her own small advocacy business, Moose Ridge Associates - Co-founding the Civil Rights Team Project, an anti-bullying program currently taught in 400 schools in Maine.

Website: betsysweet.com

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Healthcare is a human right. Medicare for All is the only solution that ensures a focus on healthcare and not private industry profit.

• Green New Deal: We have to address climate change with solutions that match the magnitude of the crises we face. The GND will also help create jobs in renewable energy.

• As an advocate for the people of Maine for nearly 40 years, I know what it takes to fight for what matters.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Medicare for all. Everybody in, nobody out.

Medicare for All means we:
- Guarantee quality healthcare to every American
- Reorganize our healthcare system to provide coverage for mental health care, dental care, eye care and hearing aids.
- Pay caregivers in and outside of the home a living wage
- Lower the cost of prescription drugs by requiring price negotiation

The Green New Deal will be America's biggest and most transformative initiative since our national mobilization for World War II. It calls for a fundamental restructuring of our nation's priorities.
- Enacting a 10-year plan that leads to the United States operating on 100% clean and renewable energy
- Ending the $20 billion American taxpayers give to the fossil fuel industry annually
- Providing training for fossil fuel-industry workers to transition to a clean-energy economy
- Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement
- Investing in our roads, bridges and transportation infrastructures

Getting money out of politics is the first and most ambitious step to reclaim our electoral system. We must end Citizens United. Betsy has also proposed enacting a small-dollar based clean elections system on the federal level. It is also time to implement a to a 12-week campaign cycle.

Education -
-Eliminate student debt.
-Universal pre-k and affordable childcare
-Debt-free higher education, including vocational schooling

-Paying teachers a livable wage

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

The following themes were found on Sweet's official campaign website.

“	Health Care Health Care is a Right. I Support universal coverage—Medicare for all or a New England compact for single payer as we move toward federal coverage. This is my #1 priority; here are some doable solutions: Fund the Expansion of Medicaid Immediately Support Universal In-Home Care which will dramatically increase the quality of life of those in need of care, and of the (mostly women) caregivers. Cut costs by promoting healthy living: sleep, exercise, nutritious food, three free prescriptions! Increase support to our Community Based Mental Health system to provide the most effective treatment and to avoid ineffective and expensive hospital and incarceration costs. Support alternative therapies for stress reduction, pain management and addiction such as acupuncture, massage, Reiki. The Economy Buy local, Buy Maine. State government must favor Maine small businesses in purchasing and promoting our business products to the state, country and world. Then state and university cafeterias will serve Maine food. We will support our local farmers with capital investment, joint processing facilities and coordinated marketing in and out of state. Grow our Economy from the Bottom Up. Create Regional Development Authorities that will develop plans and do the financing on a regional level. State government will decentralize decision-making and resources for entrepreneur help, business assistance, tourism, Main Street development, and innovative business ideas. Expand high-speed broadband. State government must use its financial resources and its regulatory authority to bring that high-speed broadband to every household in Maine. Legalize and promote industrial hemp, an industrial business with potential for retooling vacant mills to be productive again. Go green. Build green. Reduce, re-use, recycle. Make Maine a leader in green economics, increase tourism based on our policies. Incentivize Corporate/Business policies consistent with Maine values. Use business tax structure as a way to incentivize behaviors, investments and worker treatment that is consistent with Maine values. Working People Support a $15 Minimum Wage. No full-time worker in Maine should not be able to provide for their family. Support the unions’ right to thrive. Unions are an important safeguard for workers. As Governor, I will re-open the negotiations between workers and state government and not make employees have to choose between a strong union and a well-deserved raise. I also support responsible contracting for all state funds. Fair taxation, share the burden. In the last 8 years, the incomes of well-off Mainers grew at a rate 3 times that of low-income Mainers, and yet, low-income Mainers pay a higher proportion of their earnings for state and local taxes than does the top 20%. We will level the playing field. Civil Rights/Women's Rights Protect a woman’s right to choose and reproductive health services. Support Paid Family Medical Leave and Earned Sick Leave. Support Equal Pay for Equal Work for women and minorities. Establish a Commission on Racial Justice and Equality to lead state government in analyzing policies, practices and procedures that result in income, health care, aspirational disparities. then institute the changes necessary for correction. Support the Civil Rights Team Project in our schools by providing students with the skills and leadership to take on the issues of fairness, respect, bullying and harassment in their day-to-day lives. Immigrants Welcome Immigrants. State funding for communities to pay for transition costs of new Mainers—housing, English as a second language, social services—for a fixed period of time (5 years) until new residents have the ability to support themselves with new businesses and jobs. Environment, Energy, Climate Change Sign on to the United States Climate Alliance — I will add Maine to the 15 other states who have signed onto an alliance to achieve Paris Agreement climate goals by 2025. No state money or approvals for more fossil fuel use. No more pipelines, refineries, LNG facilities. Invest in solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and tidal sources so that Maine is energy independent by 2030. Create a statewide trails network. Maine is sprouting up local trails across the state. I will direct the Maine Department of Transportation to support local trails and develop connections between trails so that people can hike, run, and bike safely from Kittery to Madawaska. Support mass transit. Maine pays $4 per capita for mass transit; the national average is $45. Support systems of public transportation. Bolster the Land for Maine’s Future Program. A political football under LePage, it’s time to let them do what they do well. Promote electric cars by ensuring charging stations available throughout state; convert state government fleet over time to electric cars; consider rebates for electric car purchases. Make state government a model green organization using renewable energy, green cars, walkable state campuses, and best sustainable practices. Education Give kids a chance at affordable higher education. Provide two years of free tuition to young Mainers in exchange for a year of public service. This will teach young people the virtues of giving back, community engagement, and help them address the escalating costs of education. Bring Back programs for technical and skills-based education. Pay teachers better. We are losing skilled teachers to retirement and few are entering the field because of low pay and unfair retirement benefits. Cut back on standardized tests. Educate for collaboration, innovation, group work and civic responsibility. Our education system was born in the 1920’s and has become about numbers and standardized tests. Instead, let's emphasize teaching strategies that enhance today’s communities and economy. Make pre-k available to every 3 and 4-year old in Maine, where the most difference can be made in education, as well as affordable day care and developmental services. Let’s invest our money where we know it will work. Opioids Treat opioid addiction as a health issue not a criminal issue, and treat it accordingly. Move addicts from prison to community-based treatment. Over 65% of prison inmates have addiction and behavioral health problems, and only 11% receive treatment in jail. It costs over $50,000/year to house a prisoner in Maine; let's spend that money on treatment services that benefit both the recovering addicts, their families and communities. Expand Medicaid to cover 80,000 new people. This is the single biggest, fastest, and most effective step we can take to expand substance abuse treatment in Maine. Incentivize treatment for the whole person, not just the addiction. We need to look at the life circumstances and the emotional pain that feeds the addiction at its core and provide the services necessary to address those issues.	”
—Sweet for Governor

See also

2020 Elections

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Footnotes

[show]

Maine's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Susan Collins (R)

Angus King (I)

Representatives

District 1

Chellie Pingree (D)

District 2

Jared Golden (D)

Democratic Party (2)

Republican Party (1)

Independent (1)