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Caleb Ness R

On the November ballot: State House District 82 (Fryeburg)

June 9 primary for State House District 82 (Republican): won, 1,034 votes (100%)

Findings

Prompts to look closer at the public records, each with the rule and the law it rests on. None is a finding of wrongdoing. All findings

Context Outside spending

Outside groups spent $35,077 for or against them, more than their campaign's $21,425

Independent expenditures: $23,533 supporting and $11,544 opposing. The largest: Lead Maine Action $21,059 (for); MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE $8,053 (against); REBUILD MAINE $2,730 (against); Renew the American Dream $2,369 (for).

What to check

Who funds the largest spenders (their own reports to the Commission)

Rule: Outside spending larger than the campaign

“"independent expenditure" means any expenditure made by a person, party committee or political action committee that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate”21-A MRSA §1019-B(1) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works

Financial disclosure, 2025

From the personal financial disclosure they filed with the Maine Ethics Commission on August 9, 2026. Maine's form lists sources and positions, not amounts: the law asks for each source of $2,000 or more in the year, and each state agency sold $10,000 or more (1 MRSA §1016-G). Family members aren't named.

Jobs

Fabricator, Harmac Rebar & Steel (Manufacturing) · Fryeburg, ME

Self-employment

Caleb Ness (Laborer, grounds maintenence) · Fryeburg, ME
Clients: Monique Kramer / Long Journey Animal Rescue (Animal Shelter and Care)

Positions

Vice Chairman, Oxford County Republican Committee
Assistant Treasurer, Center Conway Baptist Church · Center Conway, NH

Campaign money: Representative · Clean Election

$21,500raised to date (the Commission's list, October 17, 2026); $5,748 spent

$925itemized in 2026, 11 contributions

$20,500Clean Election funding paid this year

$0from the candidate (incl. loans)

$15,752cash on hand on September 15, 2026 (42 Day Pre General Mcea Report)

Where their contributions come from

100%

IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal nationsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders

Compare with all 2026 candidates →

How it was spent: $5,936

Palm cards, signs, stickers$2,538

Social media and online ads$2,500

Equipment$378

Apparel$187

Events$170

Office and utilities$138

Not coded$17

Postage$7

Bank and other fees$3

Largest payees: Spectrum Marketing Companies $5,038 Palm cards, signs, stickers · Staples $378 Equipment · KimCreates $187 Apparel · Walmart $170 Office and utilities · Amazon $132 Office and utilities · Harland Clarke $17 Not coded · United States Postal Service $10 Bank and other fees · Town of Brownfield $5 Events

Payments in 2026, by the Ethics Commission's expenditure codes.

Top contributors	Type	Total
Laurene Hill retired · Sebec	Person	$100
Joseph Chisari healthcare medical · Fryeburg Chiropractic Clinic · Naples	Person	$100
Roy Andrews retired · Fryeburg	Person	$100
Nathan Wadsworth agriculture · Wadsworth Woodlands · Hiram	Person	$100
Rhonda Swirk office and administrative occupations · Conway Scenic Railroad · Center Conway	Person	$100
James Meyers retired · Brownfield	Person	$100
Terry McCarthy retired · Conway	Person	$100
Frank McCarthy retired · Conway	Person	$100
Melanie Ness retail sales · L.L. Bean · Fryeburg	Person	$50
Erick Ness clergy faith based · Center Conway Baptist Church · Fryeburg	Person	$50
Susan Richardson retail sales · L.L. Bean · Denmark	Person	$25

NESS, Caleb Joshua on the Ethics Commission's campaign finance search. Itemized transactions: 2026 from the Commission's files as posted October 17, 2026, and 2025 from the campaign's own reports.

Outside spending for and against them

$23,533spent supporting them

$11,544spent opposing them

Spender		Amount
Lead Maine Action 4 expenditures · the race	for	$21,059
MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE 6 expenditures · the race	against	$8,053
REBUILD MAINE 3 expenditures · the race	against	$2,730
Renew the American Dream 1 expenditure · the race	for	$2,369
PLANNED PARENTHOOD MAINE ACTION FUND PAC 1 expenditure · the race	against	$761
People Over Politics PAC 1 expenditure · the race	for	$105

Independent expenditures reported to the Ethics Commission in 2026. The candidate doesn't control them.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2026 candidates.

Donor	To them	Candidates funded	By party
Roy Andrews retired, Information Requested · Fryeburg	$100	2