# Rick Bennett

Rick Bennett is a Republican member of the Maine Senate for district 18.

- Party: Republican
- Seat: Maine Senate, district 18
- Serving since: 2022-12-07
- Current term: ME 2025–26 session
- Open States ID: ocd-person/4276be86-7dfa-4817-9792-52622b93ff40

Source: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/4276be86-7dfa-4817-9792-52622b93ff40 (America’s Political Pulse, Polarization Research Lab), data through 2026-10-27. Data under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: Westwood, Sean J., and Yphtach Lelkes. 2024. America's Political Pulse [data set].

## Headline

Bennett voted against the majority of Maine Senate Republicans 355 times; party unity 48%, the lowest of 35 in the Maine Senate (average 93.5%).

## Ideology (CSIP)

CSIP score −0.02 (standard error 0.01), from 74 donors and 877 roll calls. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it, on one scale for every official. 6.8% of State Senate Republicans score lower.

## Votes (ME 2025–26 session)

771 roll calls. Attendance 98.0% (Maine Senate 95.2%). Party unity 48% (93.5%). 355 votes against the party majority.

Key votes:

- 2026-04-29 · voted yea · RECEDE AND CONCUR · LD 127 An Act To Strengthen Legislative Oversight Of Government Agencies And Programs By Reaffirming The Legislature'S Access To Confidential Records · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD127/
- 2026-04-14 · voted not voting · ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (S-717) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT · LD 299 An Act To Support Investment In Agriculture · fail · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD299/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · ENACTMENT · LD 493 An Act To Expand Testing For Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances To Private Drinking Water Wells · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD493/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED · LD 299 An Act To Support Investment In Agriculture · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD299/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · RECEDE AND CONCUR · LD 2054 An Act To Clarify The Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits For Hunting Outfitters · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD2054/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · ENACTMENT · LD 1519 An Act To Create A Stewardship Program For Electronic Smoking Devices And Related Products · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1519/
- 2026-04-14 · voted nay · RECONSIDER · LD 2054 An Act To Clarify The Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits For Hunting Outfitters · fail · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD2054/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (S-709) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT · LD 299 An Act To Support Investment In Agriculture · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD299/
- 2026-04-14 · voted yea · ENACTMENT-BOND ISSUE · LD 299 An Act To Support Investment In Agriculture · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD299/
- 2026-04-13 · voted yea · ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED · LD 785 An Act To Enact The Remaining Recommendations Of The Task Force On Changes To The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act · pass · https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD785/

## Legislation (ME 2025–26 session)

Sponsored 58 bills: 56 reached committee, 25 passed one chamber, 15 passed both, 14 became law. Cosponsored 154. 43.1% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Maine Senate 69.2%; rank 30 of 33).

Recent sponsored bills:

- SP 923: Joint Order To Recall From The Joint Standing Committee On Appropriations And Financial Affairs To The Senate L.D. 1912, An Act To Authorize A General Fund… (introduced, 2026-04-14) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/SP923/
- LD 1865: Resolve, To Create A Tax Incentive Pilot Project To Encourage Businesses To Adopt A 4-Day Workweek (passed one chamber, 2026-04-07) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1865/
- LD 1772: An Act To Implement The Recommendations Of The Blue Ribbon Commission To Design A Plan For Sustained Investment In Preventing Disease And Improving The Health… (became law, 2026-04-06) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1772/
- LD 1419: An Act To Provide A Sales Tax Exemption For Housing Constructed Off-Site Similar To That For On-Site Construction (passed one chamber, 2026-04-29) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1419/
- SP 799: Joint Order, To Require The Joint Standing Committee On Appropriations And Financial Affairs To Report Out 2 Bills To The Senate (in committee, 2025-06-25) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/SP799/
- LD 549: An Act To Establish A Statewide Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Kit Tracking System And Update Certain Requirements Regarding Sexual Assault Forensic… (passed one chamber, 2026-04-29) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD549/
- LD 1715: Resolution, Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of Maine To Amend The Appointment And Confirmation Process For Certain Judicial, Civil And Military… (in committee, 2025-06-17) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1715/
- LD 1443: An Act To Ensure The Financial Stability Of Behavioral Health Service Providers And Housing Assistance Providers (passed one chamber, 2026-04-29) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1443/
- LD 1733: An Act To Provide Reduced Interest Rates For Logging And Fishing Operations (became law, 2025-06-22) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1733/
- LD 1529: An Act To Enhance The Protection Of High-Value Natural Resources Statewide (became law, 2025-07-01) https://openstates.org/me/bills/132/LD1529/

## Campaign money (2024 cycle)

Itemized receipts $3,000 (State Senate Republicans median $28.3K). 66% of itemized individual money came from in state. Aggregates only; no individual donors.

## Links

- Official site: https://legislature.maine.gov/district18
- Campaign site: https://www.rickbennett.org/
- X: https://x.com/rabmaine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senator-rick-bennett-105383080873129/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenRickBennett/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richardbennett1603
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-bennett-2148197/

Full profile, with every chart and the methods: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/4276be86-7dfa-4817-9792-52622b93ff40