Press Releases

End Citizens United Names Sen. Susan Collins to “Big Money 20”

Jul 10, 2019

Collins has taken nearly $3 million from corporate PACs over the course of her political career

The Big Money 20 campaign will focus on defeating incumbents who represent a rigged Washington establishment that puts corporate special interests ahead of voters’ needs

In 2018, 82% of “Big Money 20” targets were defeated

Washington, DC –– End Citizens United (ECU) today named Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to the Big Money 20, the group’s top targets to defeat in 2020. ECU’s Big Money 20 campaign is focused on defeating incumbents who benefit most from the corrupt establishment in Washington by showing voters how politicians like Sen. Collins put corporate special interest donors ahead of the people they’re supposed to represent.

“Susan Collins votes in favor of corporate special interests and dark money groups that support her,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “Collins fiercely supported the Republican tax bill that put millions back in the pockets of corporations while threatening Medicare and Social Security for hard working Mainers. Collins even voted to let Internet Service Providers sell customer’s personal data without their permission, a nod to the telecom industry that has given her campaign more than one hundred thousand dollars. Susan Collins says she’s an independent voice for Maine, but she’s become a reliable vote for Mitch McConnell and his corporate friends. End Citizens United will work to ensure that she is voted out in 2020 so Mainers can have a senator who works for them, not special interests.”

The Big Money 20 aims to educate voters about incumbents who represent the worst of Washington and rally support for reforming the political system. The members of the Big Money 20 are incumbents who take money from corporate special interests, mega-donors, and industries like Big Pharma and Big Oil and then put those interests ahead of their constituents.

Susan Collins has accepted significant support from special interests throughout her entire career. While receiving a million dollars from the financial industry, Collins cosponsored a bill that would give Big Banks more power by crippling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which protects Maine families from fraud and abuse by Big Banks. Susan Collins has worked to maintain the influence of corporations and big money in politics by voting to block a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United and voting against much needed anti-corruption bills, like the DISCLOSE Act which would increase transparency in political advertising.

In the 2018 cycle, End Citizens United helped defeat 82% of the Big Money 20 targets. ECU will connect its more than 550,000 members to endorsed candidates who are challenging Big Money 20 targets.

ECU has conducted extensive polling and research showing that voters across the political spectrum support getting big money out of politics. ECU is a traditional political action committee (PAC) with more than four million members, including 21,700 in Maine. ECU raised $44 million in the 2018 last cycle and helped elect over 150 members to the 116th Congress, including two new U.S. Senators and 58 new U.S. Representatives. The reform group is entirely grassroots-funded with an average donation of just $14.

For a full list and additional background on the Big Money 20, click here

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