Rick Bennett
Maine State Senator, District 18 since 1996. Ran in 9 elections between 1990 and 2024, winning 9. Lost the 2026 race for Maine Governor.
Maine State Senator, District 18Born 1963
- In office
- 30 yrs
- Since 1996
- Bills became law
- 14
- 60 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.0%
- Chamber median 3.9%
- With party
- 52%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- −46.3
- Lost 2026
- Elections
- 10
- 1990–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Government Oversight
- Housing and Economic Development
- Rules
- Rules
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION · Became law Apr 2026
CONSTRUCTION · Became law Jul 2025
ADMINISTRATION · Became law Jul 2025
COMMERCIAL LOGGING AND FISHING · Became law Jun 2025
AIRPORTS · Became law Jun 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Bennett sits in the Maine State Senate
Every member placed by roll-call votes.
Closest: Craig Hickman, Joe Baldacci, Marianne Moore
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Bennett’s party
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills78%
Black tick: the average of independents in the Maine State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Bennett’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most independents.
| Date | Bill | Bennett | Caucus majority | Other party | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2026 | LD 785: An Act To Enact The Remaining Recommendations Of The Task Force On Changes To The Maine… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 22–11 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | LD 2054: An Act To Clarify The Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits For Hunting Outfitters | No | No | Yes | Passed 19–16 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | LD 2155: An Act To Clarify Certain Laws Governing Licenses For The Sale Of Liquor By Manufacturers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 19–16 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | LD 1353: An Act Regarding Required Landings In The Menhaden Fishery | No | No | Yes | Failed 17–18 |
| Mar 18, 2026 | LD 1643: An Act To Establish The Maine Life Science Innovation Center | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 22–10 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Bennett was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Governor of Maine | Lost | −46.3 | — | — |
| 2024 | Maine State Senate, District 18 | Won | +29.7 | +9.4 | +20.3 |
| 2022 | Maine State Senate, District 18 | Won | +25.0 | +5.8 | +19.2 |
| 2020 | Maine State Senate, District 19 | Won | +19.2 | — | — |
| 2002 | Maine State Senate, District 25 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Maine State Senate, District 25 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Maine State Senate, District 25 | Won | +37.2 | — | — |
| 1996 | Maine State Senate, District 25 | Won | +28.3 | — | — |
| 1992 | Maine House of Representatives, District 50 | Won | — | — | — |
| 1990 | Maine House of Representatives, District 50 | Won | +21.3 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Bennett has held
- Maine State Senate, District 18 · since 2022
- Maine State Senate, District 19 · since 2020
- Maine State Senate, District 25 · since 1996
- Maine House of Representatives, District 50 · 1990–1994
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Bennett has run against
- Hannah Pingree (D) · 2026 election, lost
- Linda Kay Miller (D) · 2024 election, won
- Colin Delaney Oneill (D) · 2022 election, won
- Katherine S. Branch (D) · 2020 election, won
- David Q. Whittier (D) · 1998 election, won
- Brian W. Sessions (D) · 1996 election, won
- Michael B. Quinn (D) · 1990 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
In the polls
Included in 22 polls; Bennett’s best result was 11% (Maine Governor, 2026).
Bennett’s polls in the database →How we know Bennett
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/4276be86-7dfa-4817-9792-52622b93ff40
- Wikidata Q7323541
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET