This year they are only giving to Republicans. I think the passage of the Clean Election Act freed up some of our legislators to feel less vulnerable about voting for the plan. One reason the prescription drug plan passed in Maine and not at the federal level is that money is less of a factor here. If it weren't, then passing that bill might not have been possible. While ridding politics of money and keeping special interests at bay were important facets of the reform, organizers also hoped that clean elections would help candidate recruitment.
Clean elections are a way of getting people in.
Leaders in both parties agree that the choice of running clean has helped them recruit candidates for office. For a lot of people, that's the scariest part of running for office. Republicans have been particularly adept at using clean elections to recruit candidates. Jolene Lovejoy, a selectwoman from Rumford, is a good example. Lovejoy was already pondering a run for the state house of representatives when she received two packets in the mail.