On August 5, a federal lawsuit was filed against the part of the Maine public funding program that provides extra public funding for publicly-funded candidates who have very well-financed privately-funded opponents.  Similar lawsuits are pending in Arizona, Connecticut, and Florida.  The 2nd and 11th circuits have tentatively ruled against extra public funding.  The 9th circuit upheld them (in an Arizona case), but then the U.S. Supreme Court took an interest in the 9th circuit case and temporarily barred such funds while the Supreme Court decides whether to hear the Arizona case.

The new Maine case was assigned to U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby, a Bush Sr. appointee who upheld the Maine public funding law many years ago.