Election Update: The Blue Wave Arrives in Maine
While there are still several unknowns both in Maine and nationally, it is clear that Democrats will remain in control of the Maine State House with increased majorities in both chambers and retained control of the Governor’s Office. Former Speaker Hannah Pingree easily won the Gubernatorial race with 55% support. Republican Bobby Charles received 37% of the vote, and moderate Independent Rick Bennett garnered only 8% of the vote. Her inauguration is expected to be January 6, 2027, and her transition team will be busy vetting key policy and cabinet positions between now and then.
U.S. Senate and Congress
At the Federal level, the biggest news is that former Senate President, Congressional candidate and Gubernatorial candidate, Troy Jackson, is the next U.S. Senator from Maine. With significant majorities won in both the U.S. Senate and Congress, Democrats will be able to slow down and/or stop much of the Trump agenda, although it is more likely that even more policy struggles will be tied up in the courts, as the Trump administration may likely ignore whatever actions the Democratic Majorities put forward to resist or repeal many of Trump’s contentious policies.
Shockingly, Democrats also won U.S. Senate seats and/or Governor’s races in Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas. Results in Alaska and Mississippi are still pending. Democrats also picked up many House seats in Congressional Districts that had been won by President Trump in 2024 by double digits.
In Maine’s First Congressional District, Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree retained her position easily defeating Republican challenger Ronald Russell with 66% of the votes.
In the Second Congressional District, at this time with 93% of the vote counted, former Governor Paul Lepage is leading former State Rep., 7-term Secretary of State, and current State Auditor Matt Dunlap by 3,668 votes. Neither candidate has the 50% support needed to avoid a ranked choice run off at this time, but there are only 167 write-in votes, and those voters may or may not have ranked either candidate as a second choice. The closeness of this race is surprising in a district Trump has won three times while the seat was held by conservative Democrat Jared Golden. LePage was expected to easily win the seat, which still could be one of the only pick-ups for Republicans nation-wide.
There will continue to be conversations about how Democrats can work to repeal and restore the previous status quo on infrastructure, the economy, and foreign relations. The more nuanced question is whether to open investigations regarding President Trump, members of his administration, and other Republicans. Some believe they can or should do both, and others believe the latter is too much of a distraction from the work their constituents expect them to do to make life more affordable and manageable.
Maine State Elections
The Maine State Senate Democrats will increase their seats to a super-majority of 24 seats with two Republican incumbents, Bruce Bickford (R-Auburn), and Scott Cyrway (R-Waterville) surprisingly losing to their respective Democratic challengers, Mike Scott and Patric Moore. Somewhat unexpectedly, Democrats also won the previously Republican held (Rick Bennett) Senate seat in Oxford County. These losses, plus the pick-up of the open Augusta Senate seat by Democrat Amanda Heath, the return of all Democratic incumbents, and the retention of all seats previously held by Democratic incumbents, was the best Democrats could have expected.
None of the several Republicans who became Unenrolled or “independent” candidates to run in more traditionally Democratic leaning districts prevailed. This included candidates in Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston, Knox County and Lincoln County. A Democratic leaning former Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative, Aaron Dana, also ran as an independent in the solidly Republican Washington County Senate District, which was won by former House Republican Leader, Billy Bob Faulkingham.
Only 4 incumbent Republican Senators are returning to the State Senate and will be joined by 7 newly elected Republicans, for a total of 11 Senate Republicans this upcoming session.
As of this writing, Democrats in the House of Representatives have also increased their majority by 12 seats. There will be 88 Democrats and 3 left leaning independents, and 60 Republicans. Also, Democrats have run Democratic leaning Unenrolled candidates for several election cycles. This year incumbent Sharon Frost, U-Belgrade, Shawn Saindon, U-Warren, and Clint Collamore, U-Waldoboro, are successful examples of this strategy.
Leadership and constitutional officer decisions (by the partisan caucuses) will be made before the end of the week. In the State Senate, the leadership of the Democratic Majority is expected to remain the same as the prior legislative session. Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) will remain Senate President for her fourth and final consecutive term in the State Senate. Both Senate Democratic Majority Leader Teresa Pierce (D-Falmouth) and Assistant Leader Jill Duson (D-Portland) will also return in their respective roles. They will both be serving their third term in the State Senate.
Republican Senate Leadership may remain the same, with both Republican Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) and Assistant Leader Matt Harrington (R-Sanford) both returning for their 4th and 3rd terms respectively. However, given the poor election results, Republicans may decide on new leadership. Former State Rep. Joel Stetkis, newly elected to the Senate in Somerset County, and current Republican House Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, winning the Washinton County Senate seat, may express an interest in leadership as well.
In the House, Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) and Democratic House Majority Leader Matt Moonen (D-Portland) will return in their current roles. The Assistant Majority Leader race is between Rep. Sue Salisbury (D-Westbrook) and Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor). Salisbury will be serving her 4th and final consecutive term in the House and has been more visible in her race for the whip position. Rana will be serving her 3rd term and is supported by the more progressive wing of the Democratic House caucus, but being from Bangor, has been less visible during the campaign season.
Rep. Ken Fredette (R-Newport), who has been the Republican leader in the past during the LePage administration, is starting his sixth term and running to be the Republican House Leader, as is 3rd term incumbent Rachel Henderson (R-Rumford). Current Assistant Republican Leader, Katrina Smith (R-Palermo), will be returning as a member of the House for her third term, and may also be interested in remaining in leadership. Current State Senator and now returning State Rep. Jeff Timberlake (R-Turner) is also considering a run for leadership.
In Maine, the constitutional officers are elected by majority vote of all legislators. Given the large Democratic majorities, those caucuses have effective control of the vote. It is expected that Shenna Bellows will return for her fourth and final consecutive term as Secretary of State. It is also expected that Joe Perry will return for his second term as State Treasurer. Current Attorney General Aaron Frey is term limited and it is expected that just re-elected Senator Anne Carney will be chosen as the next Attorney General. This will mean that a Special Election will take place in the reliably Democratic South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Senate District. It is expected that former State Representatives Chris Kessler and Deqa Dhalac will seek the nomination from the local Democratic caucus. It is unknown who the Republicans might choose as a candidate, but the Democratic candidate is very likely to prevail. This means that seat will not be filled until late February or March.
With current State Auditor, Matt Dunlap waiting to see the final result in his congressional contest with Paul LePage, the State Auditor position may also be open. Unlike the previous three offices, this position is a 4-year term with the ability to serve two consecutive terms. Dunlap is in the middle of his second term.
Preti will send a more definitive update later this week, with more concrete numbers at both the Federal and State levels and updates on the leadership and constitutional officer decisions. We will also let you know the Cloture date (deadline for new bills to be submitted) as soon as we know – likely in December.
There is a great deal of organizational decisions that need to be made by the caucus leaders in both chambers. There will be significant changes to committee chairs and membership that will play a part in decisions about sponsorship of bills and efforts to steer bills to particular committees. Many key committees will have at least one, if not two new chairs, and multiple new members.
Again, Preti will send updates as information is gathered. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with your questions and concerns.