Gun Safety Coalition Claims Maine Election Wins
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition says 70 candidates it endorsed won Tuesday's election, including a Senate race and a state House contest in the Augusta area.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Elections
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Should Maine keep its Red Flag gun law allowing judges to remove firearms?
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition declared victory in Tuesday's election, saying 70 of the candidates it endorsed won. The group backed Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate and celebrated Dana Staples's defeat of incumbent Quentin Chapman in an Augusta-area state House race.
Why it matters
The outcome shapes the political debate over Maine's Red Flag Law, which allows family members to ask a judge to remove firearms from a person deemed unstable. Chapman had sponsored a bill to repeal that law, and gun rights advocates have sought to challenge its constitutionality in court.
The Maine Gun Safety Coalition reports 70 endorsed candidates won Tuesday's election, a figure the coalition itself provided. The extraction does not give the total number of candidates endorsed, so the rate of success cannot be determined.
The players
Maine Gun Safety Coalition
An advocacy group that endorsed candidates in Maine's election and supports stricter firearm regulations.
Troy Jackson
A candidate the coalition backed for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
Dana Staples
A state House candidate who defeated incumbent Quentin Chapman in an Augusta-area race.
Quentin Chapman
A Maine state representative who sponsored a bill to repeal the Red Flag Law.
The details
The coalition backed candidates through endorsements and praised Hannah Pingree as a gun safety champion, while calling Susan Collins a corporate gun lobby puppet. Governor Janet Mills is outgoing, and the Red Flag Law's expansion remains a central point of contention in the state.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election day, when the Maine Gun Safety Coalition declared victory.
Political Context
Gun rights advocates, including the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, have pursued litigation challenging the constitutionality of Maine's Red Flag Law. Opponents argue the law expands the ability of family members to seek firearm removal from people deemed unstable, and Chapman's bill to repeal it reflects that pushback.
For Maine voters, the outcome affects which lawmakers will decide whether the Red Flag Law stays in place. The result may influence how firearm removal requests are handled by courts in the state.
The takeaway
Voters tracking firearm policy in Maine should watch how the newly elected officials approach the Red Flag Law. Following legislative votes and court rulings will show whether the law is repealed or upheld.
Further reading
Explore more Maine election coverage for context on the state's races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 98.9 WCLZ.
Live Poll
Should Maine keep its Red Flag gun law allowing judges to remove firearms?
