Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who had served in the position since 1997, won election to a fourth term in office with 68% of the vote.

After making it clear the two men are not related, Rick felt that this would be due to Erick's views as expressed on his Facebook page.

These included referring to U.S. Representative Mike Michaud as a "closet homo" and criticism of Nelson Mandela, comparing him to Stalin and Karl Marx.

[11] Furthermore, Erick Bennett was convicted in 2003 of assaulting his wife, which was upheld by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, though he maintains his innocence.

[11] Erick Bennett announced before the primary filing deadline on March 17 that he had left the Republican Party and would run as an independent.