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Crowdfunding Campaign to Unseat Susan Collins in 2020 Surges Past $3 Million

Published: Oct 07, 2018 2 min read
Senate Holds Cloture Vote On Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination To Supreme Court
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) speaks to reporters after a floor speech to announce that she will vote for the nomination of Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, at the U.S. Capitol, October 5, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted 51-49 in a procedural vote to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Alex Wong - Getty Images

A crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $3 million to unseat Sen. Susan Collins in 2020 after she voted on Saturday to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Although the campaign began in mid-September, after Collins announced that she would support Kavanaugh Friday in a 45 minute-long speech, donations opposing her re-election poured in. So many people rushed to contribute to the CrowdPac campaign that donor activity crashed the fundraising website.

Almost $3.4 million has so far been raised by more than 115,000 people through the campaign "Either Sen. Collins VOTES NO on Kanvanaugh OR we fund her future opponent," which was started by the Maine People's Alliance, Mainers for Accountable Leadership and activist Ady Barkan.

"If you fail to stand up for the people of Maine and for Americans across the country, every dollar donated to this campaign will go to your eventual Democratic opponent in 2020," the campaign description reads. "We will get you out of office."

The CrowdPac fundraiser describes two scenarios for the millions raised, saying the money would be returned if she voted 'no' on Kavanaugh. Alternatively, if "Senator Collins votes YES on Kavanaugh and your pledge will go to her opponent's campaign, once that opponent has been identified," the campaign says. For her part, Collins bristled at the campaign and said it amounted to bribery.

The Republican senator from Maine was considered a swing vote throughout the contentious nomination process, during which Kavanaugh was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women.