Russell J Black
Maine State Senator, District 5 since 2018. Ran in 11 elections between 1986 and 2024, winning 9. Ran for Maine House District 74 in 2026; the count goes on.
- In office
- 7 yrs
- Since 2018
- Bills became law
- 11
- 18 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 7.5%
- Chamber median 3.9%
- With party
- 96%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +32.2
- Won 2024
- Elections
- 12
- 1986–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
- Senatorial Vote
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
EXCISE TAX · Became law Apr 2026
ACCESS TO INFORMATION · Became law Apr 2026
DELIVERY · Became law Mar 2026
FISH · Became law Jun 2025
CRIMES · Became law Jun 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Black sits in the Maine State Senate
Black is closer to the center than 44% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Stacey Guerin, Jim Libby, Scott Cyrway
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Black’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans96%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills45%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Maine State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Black’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Black | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2026 | LD 785: An Act To Enact The Remaining Recommendations Of The Task Force On Changes To The Maine… | No | No | 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 | No | No | 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 | Not voting | No | Yes | Passed 22–10 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Black 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 | Maine House of Representatives, District 74 | Counting | R+27.5 | R+18.2 | +9.3 |
| 2024 | Maine State Senate, District 5 | Won | R+32.2 | R+18.8 | +13.4 |
| 2022 | Maine State Senate, District 5 | Won | R+22.3 | R+15.3 | +7.0 |
| 2020 | Maine State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+17.2 | — | — |
| 2018 | Maine State Senate, District 17 | Won | R+9.0 | — | — |
| 2016 | Maine House of Representatives, District 114 | Won | R+38.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Maine House of Representatives, District 114 | Won | R+37.5 | — | — |
| 2014 | Maine House of Representatives, District 114 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Maine House of Representatives, District 90 | Won | R+37.3 | — | — |
| 2010 | Maine House of Representatives, District 90 | Won | R+38.6 | — | — |
| 1990 | Maine House of Representatives, District 54 | Lost | D+15.7 | — | — |
| 1986 | Maine State Senate, District 8 | Lost | D+11.8 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $8.3K
- Spent
- $7.3K
Source: Maine Ethics Commission filings through Jun 10, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Black, Russell John State | Active |
Source: Maine Ethics Commission filings through Jun 10, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 10:42 PM ET
Seats Black has held
- Maine State Senate, District 5 · since 2022
- Maine State Senate, District 17 · since 2018
- Maine House of Representatives, District 114 · 2014–2018
- Maine House of Representatives, District 90 · 2010–2014
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Black has run against
- Marc Edwards (D) · 2026 election
- Kathleen B. O'Donnell (D) · 2024 election, won
- Stanley L. Weaver (I) · 2022 election, won
- Jan M. Collins (D) · 2020 election, won
- Guy A. Iverson (D) · 2016 election, won
- Richard M. Stovall (D) · 2012 election, won
- Irving B. Faunce (D) · 2010 election, won
- Conrad Heeschen (D) · 1990 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Black
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/fa3e8ae3-757e-44fb-9451-6bf381d748ce
- Wikidata Q105076298
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET