Mike Michaud

Mike Michaud

Democratic Party

Prior offices

Maine House of Representatives

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Maine State Senate

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U.S. House Maine District 2

Successor: Bruce Poliquin

Predecessor: John E. Baldacci

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Compensation

Net worth

(2012) $507,510.50

Education

High school

Schenck High School, East Millinocket, Maine

Personal

Religion

Christian: Catholic

Profession

Mill Worker

Michael Herman "Mike" Michaud (b. January 18, 1955, in Medway, ME) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Maine's 2nd Congressional District. Michaud was first elected to the House in 2002 and served until 2015.

Mike Michaud ran for Governor of Maine in the 2014 elections as a challenger to first-term Republican incumbent Gov. Paul LePage. LePage defeated Michaud in the general election.

Michaud disclosed in a column submitted to three of the state’s major news outlets on November 4, 2013, that he is gay.

Prior to serving in the House, Michaud was a member of the Maine State Senate, as well as the Maine House of Representatives.

Biography

Michaud was born on January 18, 1955, in Medway, ME, and graduated from Schneck High School in East Millnocket, ME. Prior to his political career, Michaud worked in a paper mill.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Michaud's political career:

• Maine State House of Representatives, 1980-1994
• Maine State Senate, 1994-2002 President, 2001
• U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District of Maine, 2003-2015

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2013-2014

Michaud served on the following committees:

• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Veterans' Affairs Committee, Ranking member

2011-2012

Michaud served on the following House committees:

• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
• Veterans' Affairs Committee
  • Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member
  • Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

Key votes

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session. For more information pertaining to Michaud's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.

National security

DHS Appropriations

Michaud voted against HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Michaud voted in favor of House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.

CISPA (2013)

Michaud voted against HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities. The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.

NDAA

Michaud voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.

Economy

Farm bill

On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill. The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop. However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states. Michaud voted with 88 other Democratic representatives in favor of the bill.

2014 Budget

On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014. The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill. The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations. It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the protection of the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Michaud joined with the majority of the Democratic party and voted in favor of the bill.

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201. At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference. Michaud voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.

The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies. The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Michaud voted for HR 2775.

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Michaud voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines.

Healthcare

Healthcare Reform Rules

Michaud voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.

Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act

Michaud voted against HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.

Social issues

Amash amendment

Michaud voted in favor of House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.

Previous congressional sessions

Specific votes

Rep. Michaud supported the auto bailout. As of September 13, 2010, 56 percent of Americans disapproved of the auto bailout, while 43 percent supported it.

In addition, Rep. Michaud voted for the stimulus bill. A total of 57 percent of U.S. voters believed that the stimulus had hurt the economy (36 percent) or had no impact (21 percent). Only 38 percent believed the stimulus helped the economy.

Michaud also voted in favor of the "Cash for Clunkers" bill. According to a June 2009 Rasmussen Reports poll, 54 percent of likely U.S. voters opposed Cash for Clunkers, while 35 percent supported it.

Michaud supported the "Cap and Trade" bill. Just after the bill’s passage, 42 percent of likely U.S. voters said that cap and trade would hurt the economy, while 19 percent believed that it would help. Another 15 percent said that the bill would have no impact.

Finally, Michaud voted in favor of the health care reform bill. About 57 percent of likely voters at least somewhat favored repeal of the health care reform bill, including 46 percent who strongly favored repeal. Only 35 percent of likely voters opposed repeal. A total of 51 percent of likely voters believed the health care reform bill would be bad for the country, while 36 percent believed it would be beneficial.

Fiscal Cliff

Michaud voted for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.

National security

American response in Syria

See also: United States involvement in Syria

On August 29, 2013, 53 House Democrats signed a letter written by California Rep. Barbara Lee that called for a congressional resolution on strikes and cautioned that the situation in Syria "should not draw us into an unwise war—especially without adhering to our constitutional requirements." The letter also called on the Obama administration to work with the U.N. Security Council “to build international consensus” condemning the alleged use of chemical weapons. Michaud was one of the 53 Democrats in the House to sign the letter.

Elections

2014

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2014

Michaud ran for Governor of Maine in 2014. He was uncontested in the Democratic primary election on June 10, 2014, and took on incumbent Paul LePage (R) and Eliot Cutler (I) in the general election. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Results

Governor of Maine, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Paul LePage Incumbent	48.2%	294,519
	Democratic	Mike Michaud	43.4%	265,114
	Independent	Eliot Cutler	8.4%	51,515
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0%	79
Total Votes				611,227
Election results via Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions

Campaign media

Michaud announces 2014 run for governor

Mike Michaud ad: Millworker

Mike Michaud ad: Made in Maine

Mike Michaud ad: Jump-Start

Endorsements

Michaud earned the endorsement of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare prior to the general election.

Race background

Paul LePage ran for a second term as governor in 2014. The Republican was widely considered one of the most vulnerable gubernatorial incumbents facing re-election that year. Sources ranging from Governing, Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball, The Washington Post, and Daily Kos rated the 2014 Maine governor's race as a toss-up. In June 2013, after Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud launched his bid for the office, LePage briefly indicated interest in running for Michaud's seat in the U.S. House in 2014. LePage ultimately sought and won re-election as governor.

Independent candidate Cutler's decision to remain in race

Polls published in October 2014 led supporters of Michaud to call for Cutler's withdrawal from the gubernatorial race. Cutler, who had lost to LePage by 1.7% in 2010, averaged about 13% in October polls gathered by Ballotpedia, while LePage and Michaud each approached 40%. He announced plans the same month to remain in the race and stated, "Anyone who has supported me but who now worries that I cannot win and is thereby compelled by their fears or by their conscience to vote instead for Mr. LePage or Mr. Michaud should do so."

Following Cutler's decision to remain in the race, U.S. Sen. Angus King (I), who had endorsed Cutler in August, switched his support to U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud because "the voters of Maine are not prepared to elect Eliot in 2014."

Campaign finance decision in district court

An August 22 decision by U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby regarding campaign finance limits in Maine led to a temporary shift in campaign finance regulations that impacted the 2014 race. Hornby ruled that a group of four donors to the campaign of independent candidate Eliot Cutler could go beyond a $1,500 per person limit on general election contributions for unaffiliated candidates. Democratic and Republican candidates in Maine have a higher contribution limit. Both major-party candidates did not face primary challenges in 2014, though the individual limit reset after the statewide primary on June 10.

Attorneys representing the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices defended the contribution limits, citing their ability to reduce corrupt practices. The state's attorneys also argued that supporters could use PACs to support their preferred candidates. Hornby dismissed these arguments, noting that the existing limitation treated contributors differently based on their political leanings. The decision left open the question of whether all donors to Cutler could contribute $3,000 ahead of the general election, or if the ruling focused on the four plaintiffs. The donors who brought the original lawsuit had promised to pursue further action to enshrine Hornby's decision into state law.

The Maine Ethics Commission voted unanimously on August 27, 2014, not to enforce the $1,500 limit for each election, opting instead for a $3,000 per individual limit for the 2014 election cycle. The board's decision only applied to the 2014 election, and the Maine State Legislature would need to act for similar changes in future elections. As of July 2017, no such changes were made.

Campaign finance complaints dismissed

The Maine Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint in early October against LePage, claiming that the governor used state property as part of his re-election campaign. The complaint argued that a campaign spokesperson used a state-funded vehicle in order to reach election-related events. The state Republican Party countered with a complaint against Michaud, accusing the U.S. House member of using federal campaign money for his gubernatorial campaign. The Maine Ethics Commission unanimously rejected further investigation of both claims on October 10, 2014.

Michaud campaigns as openly gay candidate

On November 4, 2013, after establishing himself as the race's front-runner, Michaud disclosed in an op-ed column submitted to three of the state’s major news outlets that he was gay. Michaud emphasized that his sexuality was irrelevant to his ability to perform in public office. He said he came out in response to "whisper campaigns, insinuations and push-polls some of the people opposed to my candidacy have been using to raise questions about my personal life." This put Michaud in the running to become the first openly gay man or woman to be elected governor in the nation's history, though he ultimately lost to Gov. LePage.

Debates

October 8 debate

Paul LePage (R), Mike Michaud (D), and Eliot Cutler (I) discussed the state's economy during a debate on October 8, 2014. LePage said that the state's budget and repayments to state hospitals were examples of his first-term successes. He also argued that Democratic legislators had not delivered on past promises.

Michaud countered that he was the only candidate on stage who had worked with Democrats and Republicans during his time in the United States House of Representatives. He also claimed that LePage was argumentative with state legislators and that this was a reason to replace him in the governor's office. Cutler argued that voters had an opportunity to reject what he called failed policies from Republican and Democratic governors by casting ballots for his independent candidacy.

Polls

General election match-ups (October 2014)

2014 Maine gubernatorial election- Three-way race
Poll	Mike Michaud (D)	Paul LePage* (R)	Eliot Cutler (I)	Undecided or refused	Margin of error	Sample size
Ipsos Poll (October 23-29, 2014)	42%	42%	13%	2%	+/-3.5	1,005
Magellan Strategies (October 23-24, 2014)	41.6%	42.3%	13.2%	2.9%	+/-3.32	869
New York Times/CBS News/YouGov (October 16-23, 2014)	37%	35%	7%	21%	+/-5	1,177
Public Policy Polling (October 22-23, 2014)	40%	40%	17%	3%	+/-3.6	660
Maine Sunday Telegram/Portland Press Herald (October 15-21, 2014)	35%	45%	16%	4%	+/-3.8	639
Bangor Daily News/Ipsos (October 6-12, 2014)	42%	36%	16%	6%	+/-3.5	1,004
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (October 5-7, 2014)	43%	39%	15%	3%	+/-4	605
New York Times/CBS News/YouGov {September 20-October 1, 2014}	39%	37%	10%	13%	+/-3	1,531
AVERAGES	39.95%	39.54%	13.4%	6.86%	+/-3.72	936.25
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

General election match-ups (August 2013-September 2014)

2014 Maine gubernatorial election - Three-way race
Poll	Mike Michaud (D)	Paul LePage* (R)	Eliot Cutler (I)	Undecided or refused	Margin of error	Sample size
Pan Atlantic SMS Group (September 23-29, 2014)	33.6%	39.3%	19.5%	7.8%	+/-4.9	400
Portland Press Herald (September 18-25, 2014)	40%	38%	12%	10%	+/-4.4	482
Public Policy Polling (September 9, 2014)	43%	42%	11%	4%	+/-3	1,059
Rasmussen Reports (September 3-4, 2014)	43%	39%	15%	4%	+/-4	750
Maine People's Resource Center (July 26-28, 2014)	42.6%	41.4%	12.6%	3.4%	+/-3.47	796
Public Policy Polling (May 5-6, 2014)	43%	39%	15%	3%	+/--	754
Rasmussen Reports (April 23-25, 2014)	40%	40%	14%	6%	+/-3.0	830
The Pan Atlantic SMS Group (March 31- April 5, 2014)	37.3%	38.6%	20.3%	3.7%	+/-4.9	400
Public Policy Polling (April 1-2, 2014)	44%	37%	14%	5%	+/--	583
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (January 13-23, 2014)	45%	32%	18%	5%	+/--	400
Public Policy Poll (November 8-11, 2013)	38%	36%	15%	10%	+/-3.2	964
Maine People's Resource Center (September 8-10, 2013)	40%	34%	16.8%	9.1%	+/-3.84	652
Public Policy Polling (August 23-25, 2013)	39%	35%	18%	8%	+/-3.2	953
AVERAGES	40.65%	37.79%	15.48%	6.08%	+/-2.38	694.08
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Note: An asterisk (*) is used to denote incumbent status
Hypothetical and other match-ups

2014 Maine gubernatorial election - Two-way race
Poll	Mike Michaud (D)	Paul LePage* (R)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Portland Press Herald (June 12-18, 2014)	51%	44%	4%	+/-3.9	625
Public Policy Poll (November 8-11, 2013)	53%	39%	8%	+/-3.2	964
Maine People's Resource Center (September 8-10, 2013)	55.9%	36.1%	7.9%	+/-3.84	652
Public Policy Polling (August 23-25, 2013)	54%	39%	7%	+/-3.2	953
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research/National Education Association (July 11-16, 2013)	61%	34%	5%	+/-4.9	400
AVERAGES	54.98%	38.42%	6.38%	+/-3.81	718.8
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Note: An asterisk (*) is used to denote incumbent status

Hypothetical Match-up Poll
Poll	Mike Michaud (D)	Paul LePage* (R)	Eliot Cutler (I)	Margin of error	Sample size
Portland Press Herald (June 12-18, 2014)	40%	36%	15%	+/-3.9	625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Note: An asterisk (*) is used to denote incumbent status

Hypothetical Match-up Poll
Poll	Eliot Cutler (I)	Paul LePage* (R)	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
Portland Press Herald (June 12-18, 2014)	50%	38%	9%	+/-3.9	625
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Note: An asterisk (*) is used to denote incumbent status

2012

See also: Maine's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2012

Michaud initially expressed interest in running for Senate after Olympia Snowe announced her decision not to run in 2012. However, shortly afterwards he made it clear that he would not run for Senate in 2012.

Michaud ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Maine's 2nd District. Michaud won re-election on the Democratic ticket. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Candidates Kevin Raye and Blaine Richardson ran in the Republican primary. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run was March 15, 2012. The primary elections were held on June 12, 2012.

U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Mike Michaud Incumbent	55.7%	191,456
	Republican	Kevin Raye	40%	137,542
	N/A	Blank Votes	4.3%	14,910
Total Votes				343,908
Source: Maine Secretary of State "Tabulations for Elections held in 2012"

Mike Michaud, "Veterans VA," aired on September 18, 2012

Race Background for 2012

Incumbent Mike Michaud first defeated Kevin Raye in the 2002 election for Maine's 2nd Congressional District. He won by only four percent of the vote. Since then, Raye has served as a state senator for eight years, during which he was the senate president for two years. Michaud admits that this makes his opponent more competitive, but cites his own eight year incumbency in the 2nd District's house seat as giving him the edge.

Polls

Mike Michaud vs. Kevin Raye
Poll	Mike Michaud	Kevin Raye	Undecided	Margin of error	Sample size
(September 15-17, 2012)	55.9%	37.4%	6.7%	+/-3.35	410
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Mike Michaud, click [show] to expand the section.

2010 On November 2, 2010, Mike Michaud won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jason Levesque (R) in the general election. U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Mike Michaud incumbent 55.1% 147,042      Republican Jason J. Levesque 44.9% 119,669 Total Votes 266,711 2008 On November 4, 2008, Mike Michaud won re-election to the United States House. He defeated John Frary (R) in the general election. U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Mike Michaud 67.4% 226,274      Republican John Frary 32.6% 109,268 Total Votes 335,542 2006 On November 7, 2006, Mike Michaud won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Laurence D'Amboise (R) in the general election. U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Mike Michaud incumbent 70.5% 179,772      Republican Laurence D'Amboise 29.5% 75,156 Total Votes 254,928 2004 On November 2, 2004, Mike Michaud won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Brian Hammel (R) and Carl Cooley (Socialist Equality) in the general election. U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2004 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Mike Michaud incumbent 58% 199,303      Republican Brian Hammel 39.5% 135,547      Socialist Equality Carl Cooley 2.5% 8,586 Total Votes 343,436 2002 On November 5, 2002, Mike Michaud won election to the United States House. He defeated Kevin Raye (R) in the general election. U.S. House, Maine District 2 General Election, 2002 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Mike Michaud 52% 116,868      Republican Kevin Raye 48% 107,849 Total Votes 224,717

Campaign themes

2014

Michaud's campaign website listed the following themes for the 2014 election:

“	Economic Growth Having spent much of my career working in a paper mill—even as I was serving the people of Maine in the state legislature—I know the meaning of a hard day’s work. I also know that Mainers are some of the hardest-working men and women in the world. Education The single most important thing we can do to build a strong economy is ensure that Maine children have access to a quality public education that gives them the skills they need to succeed—whether they grow up to invent something new, run the family farm, work in a mill or become a world-class doctor. Environment I first ran for the Maine Legislature after witnessing the harmful effect pollution from the mill where I was working had on the nearby Penobscot River. I won that election, cleaned up the river, and to this day remain committed to protecting Maine’s natural resources—our rivers, mountains, forests and coasts—as well as the health and livelihood of Mainers and visitors who seek to enjoy them. Equality and Civil Rights We have a moral obligation to treat all people with dignity, fairness and respect, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. I was proud to support the 2012 marriage referendum that afforded all loving, committed couples in Maine the freedom to marry, and even prouder when Maine became the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. For more than a decade, I have fought to protect LGBT Americans from violence and discrimination while defending their right to serve their country proudly and openly in the armed services. And I’ve worked hard to ensure that critical violence prevention services for women are adequately funded. Farms & Fisheries Maine’s strong farming and fishing culture has always played an important role in our economy and our way of life. Our farms and fisheries are the backbone of the Maine brand, and it’s our role as community members, government leaders, and consumers to protect them for future generations. Health Care As I talk to voters throughout Maine, the high cost of health insurance is one of the most pressing issues they face today. Too many Mainers can’t afford the health care they need when they need it. This puts our economy, small businesses, and families at risk, which is why guaranteed access to affordable health care has been a priority for me as a Congressman and will be a priority for me as governor. Michaud's Plan to Close the Wage Gap Census data indicates that while Maine has made progress to close the gap between the earnings of men and women, women continue to earn about 21 percent less than their male counterparts. That pay gap could make a big difference in the lives of many women and families. It could mean the difference between their children having shoes and clothes that fit, having enough money to buy groceries and heat their homes and having more time to help their kids with their homework. Veterans Long before I first got elected to the state legislature, I’ve always felt a duty as a Mainer to honor those who’ve sacrificed for our freedom as Americans, as well the brave men and women who continue to serve in our armed services today. Women Through my years serving the people of Maine at the state and federal level, I’ve spoken to a lot of women, listened to their concerns and their stories, and watched as a small but vocal minority has attempted to wage an all out attack on women’s rights—from their right to earn a fair pay check to their right to make their own health care decisions.	”
—Mike Michaud's campaign website, (2014)

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Mike Michaud campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2014	Governor of Maine	Lost	$3,093,097	N/A**
2012	U.S. House (Maine, District 2)	Won	$1,222,006	N/A**
Grand total			$4,315,103	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

• Changes in Net Worth
• The Donation Concentration Metric

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Michaud's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $243,021 and $772,000. That averages to $507,510.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2012 of $5,700,168.36. Michaud ranked as the 266th most wealthy representative in 2012. Between 2004 and 2012, Michaud's calculated net worth increased by an average of 3 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.

Mike Michaud Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2004	$397,452
2012	$507,510
Growth from 2004 to 2012:	28%
Average annual growth:	3%
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). In the 113th Congress, Michaud is the ranking Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Michaud received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Transportation Unions industry.

From 2001-2014, 28.56 percent of Michaud's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.

Mike Michaud Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$6,485,197
Total Spent	$6,412,573
Ranking member of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Transportation Unions	$469,500
Public Sector Unions	$365,194
Health Professionals	$349,625
Industrial Unions	$341,030
Building Trade Unions	$327,000
% total in top industry	7.24%
% total in top two industries	12.87%
% total in top five industries	28.56%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Michaud was a rank-and-file Democrat as of August 4, 2014. This was the same rating Michaud received in June 2013.

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.

Michaud most often voted with:

• Suzanne Bonamici
• Chris Gibson

Michaud least often voted with:

• Jim Matheson
• Randy Weber

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Michaud missed 57 of 8,692 roll call votes from January 2003 to August 2014. This amounts to 0.7 percent, which is better than the median of 2.5 percent among current congressional representatives as of June 2013.

Congressional staff salaries

See also: Staff salaries of United States Senators and Representatives

The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Michaud paid his congressional staff a total of $1,091,794 in 2011. He ranked 56th on the list of the highest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranked 75th overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Maine ranked 3rd in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year.

2013

Michaud ranked 148th in the liberal rankings in 2013.

2012

Michaud ranked 122nd in the liberal rankings in 2012.

2011

Michaud ranked 130th in the liberal rankings in 2011.

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Michaud voted with the Democratic Party 92.4 percent of the time, which ranked 122nd among the 204 House Democratic members as of August 2014.

2013

Michaud voted with the Democratic Party 90.3 percent of the time, which ranked 157 among the 201 House Democratic members as of June 2013.

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Michaud lives in East Millnocket, ME, where he also attended high school.

Sexual preference

Michaud disclosed in a column submitted to three of the state’s major news outlets on November 4, 2013, that he is gay. He said he made the announcement in response to “the whisper campaigns, insinuations and push polls” that unidentified people have been using to raise questions about his personal life since he declared his candidacy for governor.

“They want people to question whether I am gay,” Michaud said. “Allow me to save them the trouble with a simple, honest answer: ‘Yes I am. But why should it matter?’”

Recent news

This section links to a Google news search for the term Mike + Michaud + Maine + House

Mike Michaud News Feed

See also

• Governor of Maine
• Maine gubernatorial election, 2014
• Maine
• United States House of Representatives
• United States congressional delegations from Maine
• Maine's 2nd Congressional District

External links

• Social media:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
• Biographies:
  • U.S. Congress
  • Wikipedia
• Political profiles:
  • GovTrack
  • CongressMerge
  • Project Vote Smart
  • Roll Call
• Financial (federal level):
  • FEC contributions
  • OpenSecrets.org
  • LegiStorm.com
• Interest group ratings:
  • Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions:
  • On The Issues
  • Project Vote Smart
• Public statements:
  • Project Vote Smart
• Voting record:
  • Project Vote Smart
  • Washington Post
• Media appearances:
  • C-SPAN
• Media coverage:
  • Washington Post

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by John Baldacci (D)	U.S. House of Representatives - Maine District 2 2003–present	Succeeded by Bruce Poliquin (R)
Preceded by '	Maine State Senate 1994–2002	Succeeded by '
Preceded by '	Maine House of Representatives 1980–1994	Succeeded by '

[show]

Maine's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Susan Collins (R)

Angus King (I)

Representatives

District 1

Chellie Pingree (D)

District 2

Jared Golden (D)

Democratic Party (2)

Republican Party (1)

Independent (1)