People › State Senate
Joe Martin R
State Senator, District 19
On the November ballot: State Senate District 19 (Rumford)
June 9 primary for State Senate District 19 (Republican): won, 4,453 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 $13,465 for or against them, more than their campaign's $9,200
Independent expenditures: $172 supporting and $13,293 opposing. The largest: REBUILD MAINE $10,737 (against); MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE $1,345 (against); MAINE CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND $1,210 (against); NRA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND $172 (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
In the Legislature
Senate District 19 · 132nd Legislature (2025–26) · 703 recorded votes, 1% not voting
Bills they sponsored: 17 (2 became law) — LD 2181, LD 2243, LD 256, LD 371, LD 381, LD 382, LD 383, LD 469, LD 553, LD 687, LD 908, LD 955, LD 991, LD 1194 …
Named in lobbyists' reports
Events and spending on officials that lobbyists reported to the Ethics Commission since 2024 and whose list of officials names Joe Martin: 4 from 3 clients. The cost is the whole event's or item's, shared by everyone it names, not what was spent on them.
| Client (lobbyist) | What, when | Cost (all named) |
|---|
Maine Forest Products Council
Krysta West | Event: Lunch & Learn Panel Discussion · February 2026 · names 27 members | $499 |
| Event: Legislative Breakfast · February 2025 · names 25 members | $720.50 |
Unitil
James Cohen | Event: Lunch and Learn on Natural Gas · April 2025 · names 11 members | $407.28 |
Summit Utilities, Inc.
Mark Gallagher | Event: Lunch and Learn on Natrual Gas · April 2025 · names 12 members | $407.28 |
Matched by name and title (“Rep. Bell”, “Senator Brad Farrin”); a name that fits two members isn't counted. Check the reports on the lobbying system.
Campaign money: Senator · Traditionally financed
$13,299raised to date (the Commission's list, October 17, 2026); $1,222 spent
$9,200itemized in 2025 and 2026, 20 contributions
$100raised before 2026 (their 2025 reports)
$4,000from the candidate (incl. loans)
$12,077cash on hand on September 15, 2026 (42 Day Pre General Report)
$4,000debts and loans owed, as of that report
Where their contributions come from
55%12%27%
IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsTribal nationsPolitical partiesOther candidates and officeholders
Compare with all 2026 candidates →
How it was spent: $1,222
Palm cards, signs, stickers$1,222
Largest payees: Spectrum Marketing Companies $1,222 Palm cards, signs, stickers
Payments in 2026, by the Ethics Commission's expenditure codes.
| Top contributors | Type | Total |
|---|
Taking Care of Maine business pac
North Turner | PAC | $1,000 |
Paul Pappas
retired · Yarmouth | Person | $1,000 |
Laskoff Robert
retired · Santa Barbara | Person | $1,000 |
DIRIGO PAC
Alexandria | PAC | $1,000 |
Joseph Martin III
retired · Raymond | Person | $1,000 |
GEEELLATLY HOLDING LLC
Point Pleasant | Business | $500 |
Kevin Scott
retired · Andover | Person | $500 |
Thomas Hartranft
retired · Rumford | Person | $500 |
Maine Issues & Action PAC
Augusta | PAC | $500 |
Calvin Burgess
retired · Mexico | Person | $500 |
Tammy Schmersal-Burgess
retired · Mexico | Person | $500 |
M&H Construction
Rangeley | Business | $500 |
Oxford County Republican Committee
South Paris | Party committee | $500 |
Kest Enterprises
Los Angeles | Business | $100 |
Jeffrey Secrist
Retired · Rumford | Person | $100 |
Martin, Joseph Edward 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
$172spent supporting them
$13,293spent opposing them
| Spender | | Amount |
|---|
REBUILD MAINE
3 expenditures · the race | against | $10,737 |
MAINE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE
1 expenditure · the race | against | $1,345 |
MAINE CONSERVATION VOTERS ACTION FUND
1 expenditure · the race | against | $1,210 |
NRA POLITICAL VICTORY FUND
1 expenditure · the race | for | $172 |
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.