In 2023, Maine voters overwhelmingly approved a law with 86% support aimed at preventing foreign influence in elections by banning donations from foreign governments and companies with significant foreign ownership.

This legislation is part of a broader trend across the U.S. to limit foreign influence on elections, particularly in response to a significant lobbying effort by a Canadian-owned utility in Maine.

The introduction of this law reflects local concerns about election integrity following the foreign influence campaign related to the utility's project.

However, enforcement of the law is currently on hold due to a ruling by a federal appeals court, which deemed the law likely unconstitutional due to its impact on political donations.

Danna Hayes, spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, confirmed that while the law remains on the books, it cannot be enforced until ongoing legal challenges are resolved.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed that the law likely violates the First Amendment by being overly broad, potentially silencing U.S. corporations based on the mere possibility of foreign influence from passive investors.

Judge Lara Montecalvo highlighted that the law targets passive foreign shareholders who do not actively influence corporate political spending.

Despite the legal challenges, Rick Bennett, chair of Protect Maine Elections, emphasized the importance of the law in ensuring clean elections free from foreign corporate influence and stated that efforts to uphold it continue.