Maine in August 2026: Senate race heats up, MaineHealth votes to close a birthing unit
Maine's Senate race dominated headlines in August as MaineHealth voted to close a Lincoln County birthing unit and Governor Mills wrote publicly about the Trump administration's trade war with Canada.
August in Maine was shaped by the widening Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson, MaineHealth's vote to close a rural birthing unit, and continued scrutiny of MaineCare providers. Governor Janet Mills also wrote about the Trump administration's trade war with Canada in a Toronto Star op-ed.
The Senate race
Maine's secretary of state declined to rule on Troy Jackson's ballot eligibility, leaving the question likely headed to court, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Maine Senate Democrats formally nominated Troy Jackson to challenge Senator Susan Collins, according to eciks.org. (eciks.org)
Troy Jackson's son was charged nearly $200,000 to lobby the Maine Senate during Jackson's final year as its president, freebeacon.com reported. (freebeacon.com)
Bobby Charles vowed to cut Maine's spending as part of his campaign for governor, Spectrum News reported. (Spectrum News)
Republican gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles said he wants ICE agents posted at Maine polling places, WABI reported. (WABI)
Maine Democrats claimed gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles' policies would threaten senior health care, according to newscentermaine.com. (newscentermaine.com)
The 2nd District race
The National Rifle Association endorsed former Maine Governor Paul LePage's run for Congress, according to newscentermaine.com. (newscentermaine.com)
A Maine gun control group declined to endorse Matt Dunlap in the 2nd District race, Centralmaine.com reported. (Centralmaine.com)
House Speaker Mike Johnson endorsed Paul LePage in Maine's 2nd Congressional District race, WGME reported. (WGME)
Planned Parenthood endorsed Matt Dunlap in the Maine 2nd Congressional District race, Spectrum News reported. (Spectrum News)
Washington and the Canada trade fight
Senator Susan Collins struck a bipartisan Senate deal to avert a government shutdown by stripping out a White House-favored provision, the New York Post reported. (New York Post)
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general in an early-morning vote, with Susan Collins joining Democrats in opposition, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Susan Collins asked the White House to weigh the negative impact of its trade war with Canada, according to The Hill. (The Hill)
Maine's governor wrote about what she wants Canadians to know regarding Donald Trump's trade war, the Toronto Star reported. (Toronto Star)
MaineCare, Medicaid and MaineHealth
MaineHealth's board voted to close the only labor and delivery unit in Lincoln County, WGME reported. (WGME)
Maine legislators urged MaineHealth to reassess its decision to close Lincoln Hospital's maternity unit, according to newscentermaine.com. (newscentermaine.com)
Maine suspended payments to five health care providers amid Medicaid scrutiny from the Trump administration, The Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
A MaineCare provider that had drawn more than $47 million in payments had those payments suspended, months after The Maine Wire visited its office, the outlet reported. (The Maine Wire)
Maine's health department will review Medicaid oversight following a Republican push, according to Prime Publishers, Inc. (Prime Publishers, Inc.)
Growing scrutiny of MaineCare fraud is raising questions for Maine tied to California's Stop Nick Shirley Act, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Penobscot Community Health Care said it needs $3 million within weeks to avoid a crisis, WABI reported. (WABI)
Immigration and ICE
ICE's Maine staff grew 44% over the past year, according to Central Maine. (Central Maine)
Lawmakers demanded answers from ICE as they investigate a fatal shooting in Maine, WCPO 9 News reported. (WCPO 9 News)
A Portland Public Schools van driver was taken into ICE custody after the Department of Homeland Security said he tried to enter Canada, Maine Public reported. (Maine Public)
A Scarborough family said ICE detained the father for the second time, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
State government and infrastructure
Thirteen train cars derailed on a CSX line between Veazie and Orono, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
Employees at a Maine paper mill had asked for safety monitors for decades before two deaths led the company to add them, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
Three people were injured when a bridge collapsed in Old Town, WGME reported. (WGME)
A right-to-repair bill for electronics was reintroduced to the Maine Legislature, WMTW reported. (WMTW)
A Maine fire department became the first in the state to switch to PFAS-free turnout gear, FireRescue1 reported. (FireRescue1)
A Maine contractor faces more than $1 million in civil judgments from homeowners, WGME reported. (WGME)
An underwater AI data center proposal is drawing concern from Peskotomuhkati leaders in Canada and the U.S., CBC reported. (CBC)
Controversial $300 affordability checks began arriving in Maine mailboxes, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
Maine's $500 million supplemental budget took effect, The Maine Wire reported. (The Maine Wire)
The state employees union reached a tentative contract agreement with the Mills administration, WABI reported. (WABI)
Sports
Orono's Ruth White won her third Maine title at the Beach to Beacon race, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
Hearts of Pine fans are confident a new stadium will elevate the women's team, The Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.
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