YouTube video of May 6 2026 Commission Meeting part 1 & part 2
1. Ratification of the Minutes of the February 25, 2026 Meeting
Motion: To ratify the February 25, 2026 minutes as presented
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
2. Request for Waiver of Late-Filing Penalty – Grow Maine
Grow Maine PAC was six days late in filing the April Quarterly campaign finance report due April 10, 2026. The PAC requests a waiver of the $1,847.52 preliminary penalty due to the PAC’s history of filing campaign finance reports on time, the lack of automated email reminders from the Commission’s new eFiling system, and the reduced harm to the public resulting from the late report. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends a full or substantial waiver.
Motion: To find the April Quarterly campaign finance report was filed late and reduce the penalty to $100
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
3. Reclaim Maine – Late PAC Registration and Initial Campaign Finance Report
Reclaim Maine received a $20,000 contribution on July 9, 2025 to support a candidate for Governor in the 2026 elections. It did not register with the Commission as a PAC and file an initial campaign finance report until eight months later in March 2026. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends assessing penalties totaling $3,500 against the PAC for its late registration and initial campaign finance report. Please note the PAC is operating independently of the candidate whom the PAC is supporting. The late filings should not be attributed to the candidate or his campaign committee.
Additional Material - Reclaim Maine Letter from Counsel
Reclaim Maine withdrew their waiver request, the Commission asked the matter to be handled on the staff level.
4. Request for Investigation – Maine Democratic Party
In 2025, the Maine Democratic Party spent around $170,000 to oppose Question 1 on the November 4, 2025 ballot, which was a citizen initiative to restrict absentee voting. The party disclosed its financial transactions opposing Question 1 in its four quarterly campaign finance reports but did not file additional reports that were required because of the party’s activities against the initiative. Staff recommendation: the staff recommends assessing penalties totaling $9,000 for not filing the 11-day pre-election, 42-day post-election, and three 24-Hour Reports on time.
Motion: To find the five campaign finance reports were filed late and impose a penalty of $9,000
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
5. Criteria for Accepting Qualifying Contributions
Every two years, the Commission staff updates its written procedures for accepting qualifying contributions from candidates seeking Maine Clean Election Act funding and distributes them to the Commission for informational purposes. No action is required by the Commission.
6. Complaints about Red boxing by Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates
The Commission received complaints about three Democratic candidates for Governor concerning red box messages on their campaign websites.
Additional Material - Comments by Maine Citizens for Clean Elections
Additional Material - Response from Nirav Shah
Motion: To request Mr. Bolton provide a legal opinion advising candidates and campaigns on the matter.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
Other Business
Executive Session – Legislative Ethics Complaint
The Commission will meet in executive session as required by 1 M.R.S. § 1013(3-A) to consider whether to take action on a complaint alleging that a Legislator engaged in a violation of legislative ethics as defined in 1 M.R.S. § 1014(1).
Motion: To take no further action on the matter
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
ADJOURNMENT 10:35 a.m.