Election Results Update
While results are still trickling in, the outcome in the Maine Legislative races is basically settled. Both the Maine Senate and Maine House will almost definitely remain in control of the Democrats, but with much smaller margins. We expect the House to be 77 Democrats, 2 Democratic leaning Unenrolled/Independents and 72 Republicans. It is assumed the two independents will support whomever the Democrats choose as their candidate for Speaker.
House Republicans unseated 3 Democratic incumbents (Jane Pringle, Windham; Ron Russell, Verona Island; and Mark Worth, Ellsworth) and picked up 5 open seats previously held by Democrats and an Independent. House Democrats unseated two Republican incumbents, (Ed Polewarczyk, Wiscasset and Lucas Lannigan, Sanford). In addition, the Democratic leaning independent, Sharon Frost, unseated Republican incumbent, Dan Newman, Belgrade. Also, Democrat Kilton Webb, Durham won an open seat previously held by Republicans. So ultimately it was a net gain of 4 seats by House Republicans. It is likely that there will be recounts.
The Senate is expected to be 20 Democrats and 15 Republicans. No incumbents in either party lost, but Republicans picked up the northern Aroostook seat with Sue Bernard (termed out President Jackson’s former district), and the Waterville seat with current Representative and previous Senator, Scott Cyrway. Most notably, Republicans successfully defended their open seats in the Rumford area of Oxford County, the Auburn seat, and the Augusta seat, with Joseph Martin, previous Rep. Bruce Bickford, and current Rep. Dick Bradstreet winning those seats in respective order.
Senate Democrats appear to have successfully defended two incumbents who were thought to be vulnerable with Senator Nangle, Windham, and Senator Tipping, Orono winning re-election.
Of course, there may be recounts in the Senate as well. There is no automatic recount in Maine, but if the difference is less than 1% the loser can request a recount and not have to pay for it. If anyone asks for a recount outside of a 1% margin, they must pay all costs of the recount.
Leadership races will be decided in partisan caucuses relatively quickly. In the House, current Majority Whip Kristen Cloutier, Rep. Ed Crockett, Rep. Jim Dill, and newly re-elected and past Speaker Ryan Fecteau are running for Speaker. Past Majority Leader Rep. Matt Moonen and Rep. Amy Roeder are running for Majority Leader, and current Reps. Lydia Crafts, Lori Gramlich and Nina Milliken are running for Majority Whip.
Current Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham is expected to return as Minority Leader and Minority Whip candidates are the current Whip Amy Arata, Jack Ducharme, and Katrina Smith.
In the Senate, current Majority Whip, Mattie Daughtry and Senator Anne Carney are running to be Senate President. Senators Stacey Brenner, Mike Tipping, and Teresa Pierce are running to be Majority Leader, and Senator Jill Duson and newly elected Senator and current Speaker Rachel Talbot-Ross are running for Majority Whip.
Republican Senator Trey Stewart is running to return as the Senate Minority Leader and Senator Matt Harrington Senate Minority Whip.
Preti will send another update when leadership positions are solidified by the caucuses and if there are any changes to the known results of the Legislative races. Leadership elections within the caucuses are this week and next.
Swearing-in day for the newly elected or re-elected legislators will be on Wednesday, December 4. The Preti Team will be there in-person to introduce, or otherwise re-connect with legislators on your behalf. If you wish to attend, please do so and let us know.
Also, any legislation being proposed by the Administration, other than Governor’s bills which can be submitted at any time, will be due by end of day on December 4th. Cloture for Legislators will be later in December or sometime in January. We will be in touch with you about any legislation you may wish to have introduced and will share the bill titles submitted by the Administration that may be of relevance to you.
The U.S. Senate race was won, as expected, by Independent Senator Angus King. Senator King may have had his most narrow victory for U.S. Senate to date, winning only 52 % of the vote while the Republican candidate received about 35% and the Democrat received almost 11%. This will be Senator King’s third 6-year term.
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree handily won her 9th term in Maine’s First Congressional District, beating her opponent by 23 points with an independent candidate taking 5% of the vote.
Finally, in Maine’s nationally significant and closely watched Second Congressional District, current Congressman Jared Golden has 50.4% to current State Rep. Austin Theriault’s 49.6% with 95% of results reported. The “UOCAVA” (Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act ) ballots are about to be released by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows giving Golden around 1000 additional votes, thus increasing his margin slightly.