Shenna Bellows was originally a candidate for governor on the June 9 ballot. Read her answers from our primary election survey here.
Personal/biographical information pertinent to the role
I’ve spent my career taking on tough fights and doing the right thing, from fighting for marriage equality at the ACLU to protecting Mainers’ voter data from Donald Trump as Secretary of State.
Top three priorities
Keep holding Donald Trump accountable for corruption. Work to lower the costs of housing, utilities and groceries by standing up to the corporate interests ripping you off. Protect democracy, abortion rights and our environment.
Why are you running?
I’m running to unify Maine Democrats, build on the grassroots momentum to fight for working people, stand up to a broken system that’s working against us and defeat Susan Collins. I’m running for the people fighting just to get by, who are sick and tired of getting screwed over while billionaires and massive corporations get special favors in D.C., and people who want a Senator who will do the right thing for Maine, even when it’s hard. I’m that candidate and I’m ready to beat Susan Collins.
Our recent poll showed that more than half of Maine’s likely voters want Democrats to control Congress, and electability has already been a major issue in this race. Why are you more electable in November than the other candidates?
I have real working class roots, a long record of fighting for progressive causes — and winning — and the ability to unite Democrats. I flipped a state Senate seat that Trump also carried, then decisively won reelection twice. In the Maine Governor’s race, I was in the top tier for first choice and had the most second -choice votes. Democrats win Maine with support from all over the state, including southern Maine and my home CD2. I’ll run a professional, well-funded campaign that beats Susan Collins.
What are the highlights of your plan to lower the cost of living for Mainers?
We need to hold corporations accountable for price gouging, junk fees and other predatory consumer practices. We need a federal millionaires tax for salaries over a million dollars a year. Then we need to invest in things like utility costs and housing to put money back in the pockets of everyday working class families. We also need Medicare for All which will lower healthcare costs and improve care for everyone.
Would you support term limits for members of Congress? Why or why not?
There should be congressional term limits because public service as an elected official should be a chapter — not a lifetime. Susan Collins and too many others in Washington are bought and paid for, corrupt and in it for themselves. We need congressional term and age limits, to End Citizens United, a ban on congressional stock trading, and so much more. The same is true of the Supreme Court, where lifetime appointments have eroded accountability. Our democracy is at stake.
Would you support Medicare for All — expanding the current social program to all Americans? Why or why not?
Yes. No one should be sick because they are poor, and no one should be poor because they are sick. I am the daughter of working class parents who went most of their adult lives without healthcare coverage. We need universal healthcare for all and I support universal single payer. It will bring down costs and improve quality of care and access for everyone.
Would you support eliminating the filibuster? Why or why not?
The filibuster has become a weapon of obstruction, not debate. It’s been used to block voting rights, abortion protections and bills that would lower costs for working families all while billionaires and corporations get what they want out of Washington. Yes, I’d vote to eliminate the filibuster. Mainers deserve a Senate that actually delivers, and I won’t hide behind procedure when it’s time to urgently deliver for hard working families.
Graham Platner ran on getting money out of politics. If you share this priority, what is your plan to do so?
One of my top goals will be to End Citizens United. I will be running a people powered campaign. There are too many politicians bought and paid for by billionaires and massive corporations, and that will never be me. I will answer only to the people of Maine.
Do you support an end to U.S. military aid in Israel? Is Israel committing a genocide in Gaza? Why or why not?
October 7th was a terrorist attack by Hamas, and we mourn the loss of innocent Israeli life. But the way that Israel has conducted the war in Gaza is horrific and it is genocide. I do not believe that any further US taxpayer dollars should go to supporting Israel’s efforts and would not vote for further military aid to Israel until they meet the necessary human rights conditions.
Should ICE exist in its current form? If so, explain your answer. If not, what should exist instead?
We need ICE out now. I’m the only candidate in this race who has taken on Trump and ICE by blocking them from getting undercover license plates as Secretary of State. As Senator, I will not fund ICE until it is completely overhauled, including getting agents off our streets, ending mass deportations and ensuring real accountability for wrongdoing. Immigration enforcement should focus on genuine public safety threats, not terrorizing communities and separating families.
Give Susan Collins a performance grade. What, if anything, has she done well?
I would give her an F. Susan Collins has put partisan politics over the needs of Mainers time and time again. We need a senator who will show courage not concern and take real decisive action to hold the Trump administration accountable to the harm they’ve done to Mainers. She was instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade, and has broken her promises again and again. Mainers deserve someone who will fight tooth and nail for their best interests, not billionaires and corporations.
Collins is running on her seniority in the Senate, including her position as chair of the appropriations committee. How do you plan to refute her argument that Maine benefits from her experience?
If Susan Collins is delivering for Maine, it’s not apparent to the working families who are struggling to pay the bills and save for retirement. Susan Collins has cozied up to Donald Trump, been a key architect in the loss of Roe v. Wade, and failed Mainers for years. She’s a rubber stamp for Trump and votes with him 95% of the time — it’s no surprise that her approval rating has sunk to historic lows. Mainers know she’s delivering for Donald Trump, not us.