Susan Collins

Independent Sen. Angus King has indicated that he supports the simple 3-year extension proposed by Democrats. But Republican Sen. Susan Collins is co-sponsoring a 2-year extension that would also impose income caps and require ACA users to pay at least $25 a month.

Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree have accused the Trump administration of targeting hungry people as it threatens to cut off some SNAP funding to about 20 left-leaning states. But the Trump administration says it needs personal data on all SNAP recipients nationwide to root out fraud and waste in the food stamps program.

The two members of Maine's delegations serve on the House and Senate committees that oversee the Defense Department and whose bipartisan leaders have already pledged to look into the incident in the Caribbean.

Trump accused six Democratic lawmakers of treason and sedition punishable by death after the group — all veterans and former intelligence officers — posted a video pointing out that the law requires military and intelligence personnel to refuse to follow illegal or unconstitutional orders.

The Auburn Republican has been a prolific fundraiser in conservative circles for several years. But she gained more attention this year by helping to spark the fight between the Mills administration and the Trump White House over transgender athletes.

U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, of Maine's 1st District, voted against the bill because it failed to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. But 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden has argued since September against his party's strategy of linking the government funding bill to the ACA tax credits.

King joined seven Democrats to give Republicans the 60 votes they needed to advance the bill. But most Democrats voted against the proposal because it does not guarantee Congress will extend the health care subsidies that have been at the center of the shutdown fight.

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she is negotiating with a bipartisan group on a potential compromise to end the government shutdown, although any deal would have to be endorsed by Democratic and Republican leaders.

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has largely blamed Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats, meanwhile, accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate on extending health care premium subsidies for millions of Americans.

While the two Democrats with the most robust campaigns said they planned to stay in the race, at least one candidate has already dropped out. Meanwhile, the reaction from the political parties in DC highlights the national spotlight on the race for Maine Sen. Susan Collins' seat.