Maine House of Representatives elections, 2020
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| 2020 Maine House Elections | |
|---|---|
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | July 14, 2020 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2020 Elections | |
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| Choose a chamber below: | |
Democrats lost seats in the 2020 House elections but kept their majority. All 151 Maine House seats were up in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats held an 87-55 majority with seven third party or independent legislators and two vacancies. Democrats lost a net seven seats and Republicans gained a net 12 seats, leaving the chamber's post-election partisan balance at an 80-67 Democratic majority with four third party or independent legislators.
All 151 seats were up for election. Eighty-seven were held by Democrats, 56 were held by Republicans, five were held by independents, one was held by a Common Sense Independent, and two were vacant. Ballotpedia identified 32 of the races as battlegrounds.
Democrats held 14 battleground districts, and the incumbent was seeking re-election in every district but Districts 47 and 88.
Republicans held 17 battleground districts, and the incumbent was seeking re-election in every district but Districts 76 and 106.
Heading into the election, Maine had been under a Democratic trifecta since the party took the governorship and state Senate in the 2018 elections. Republicans needed to flip four seats in the state Senate or 20 seats in the state House to return the state to divided government. Republicans cannot win a trifecta in 2020 because the governorship was not up for election in 2020. Heading into the 2020 elections, 15 states were Democratic trifectas, 21 states were Republican trifectas, and 14 were under divided government.
The Maine House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 151 seats in the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Maine's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Maine, the state legislature is responsible for both congressional and state legislative redistricting. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto. An advisory redistricting commission is also involved in the process.
Heading into the 2020 general election, Democrats controlled 39 out of 99 state legislative chambers in the U.S., while Republicans controlled 59 chambers. The Alaska House was the sole chamber in which there was a power-sharing agreement between the parties. Democrats also had trifectas in 15 states. A party has a trifecta when it controls the governorship and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Maine modified its voter registration procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Voter registration: The voter pre-registration deadline in the general election was extended to October 19, 2020.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| Maine House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 87 | 80 | |
| Republican Party | 56 | 67 | |
| Independent | 5 | 4 | |
| Common Sense Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Vacancy | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 151 | 151 | |
Districts
- See also: Maine state legislative districts
Use the interactive map below to find your district.
Candidates
General candidates
Maine House of Representatives general election |
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| District 7 |
Daniel Hobbs (i) |
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| District 10 |
Henry Ingwersen (i) |
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Michael Barden III (Green Party) |
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Timothy Goodwin (For the People Party) |
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| District 24 |
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| District 28 |
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| District 29 |
Shawn Babine (i) |
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Carolyn Silvius (Green Party) |
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| District 46 |
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| District 47 |
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| District 48 |
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| District 49 |
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Fred Horch (Green Party) |
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| District 50 |
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| District 58 |
James Handy (i) |
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| District 61 |
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| District 62 |
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John Michael (Independent) |
| District 63 |
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| District 64 |
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| District 65 |
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| District 67 |
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Mark Grover (Independent) |
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Patrick Scully (Independent) |
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| District 74 |
Christina Riley (i) |
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| District 76 |
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| District 82 |
Kent Ackley (i) (Common Sense Independent Party) |
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| District 107 |
Betty Austin (i) |
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| District 108 |
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Mark Andre (Unenrolled) |
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Norman Higgins (i) (Independent) |
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| District 135 |
Benjamin Meiklejohn (Green Party) |
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| District 144 |
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| District 146 |
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| District 149 |
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| District 151 |
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Candidate Matthew Digioia withdrew from the race for the District 97 on August 5, 2020. William C. Elliott, Jr. was appointed to replace Digioia on the general election ballot.[1]
Primary candidates
Maine House of Representatives primary election |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 5 |
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| District 10 |
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| District 11 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 22 |
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Green Party  Michael Barden III |
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| District 23 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 33 |
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| District 34 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 35 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 36 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 37 |
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| District 38 |
Michael Flaherty Did not make the ballot: |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 39 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 40 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 41 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 42 |
Green Party Carolyn Silvius |
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| District 43 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 44 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 45 |
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| District 46 |
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| District 47 |
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| District 48 |
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| District 49 |
Green Party Fred Horch |
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| District 50 |
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| District 51 |
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| District 52 |
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| District 53 |
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| District 68 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 69 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 82 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 84 |
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| District 89 |
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| District 91 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 94 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 95 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 97 |
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| District 102 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 104 |
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| District 108 |
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| District 109 |
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| District 110 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 111 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 112 |
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| District 113 |
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| District 115 |
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| District 118 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 128 |
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| District 129 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 131 |
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| District 132 |
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| District 133 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 134 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 135 |
Did not make the ballot: |
Green Party Benjamin Meiklejohn |
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| District 136 |
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| District 137 |
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| District 138 |
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2020 battleground chamber
The Maine House of Representatives was among 24 state legislative chambers Ballotpedia identified as battleground chambers for the 2020 cycle. Click here for more information on state legislative battlegrounds.
What was at stake?
- Republicans needed to gain 20 seats to take control of the chamber in 2020.
- If Republicans had flipped the chamber, they would have broken the Democratic trifecta. If Democrats had maintained their majorities in the state House and Senate, they would have preserved their trifecta.
Why was it a battleground?
- Seats needed to flip: Republicans needed to flip 20 of the 151 seats up (14% of the chamber) in order to win a majority.
- Seats decided by 10% or less in 2018: In the 2018 elections, there were 39 races (26% of the chamber) decided by a margin of 10% or smaller.
- Seats flipped in 2018: In the 2018 elections, 22 of the 151 seats up (15% of the chamber) changed partisan control.
- More flips in 2018 than needed to change control in 2020: The number of seats that flipped in 2018 (22) was greater than the number that needed to flip in 2020 (20) to change control of the chamber.
- 2018 battleground chamber: The Maine House of Representatives was a battleground chamber in 2018. That year, Democrats gained control of 12 seats from Republicans, four from independents, and one from the Green Party. Republicans gained control of two seats from Democrats and independents gained control of three seats from Republicans. Read more about the 2018 elections here.
- More flips in 2018 than needed to change control in 2020: More seats flipped in the 2018 election (22) than needed to flip to change control of the chamber in 2020 (20).
- History of recent flips: Control of the Maine House of Representatives flipped twice between 2010 and 2020. Republicans gained a majority in 2010, while Democrats regained the majority in 2012.
- Race ratings: The Cook Political Report rated the Maine House of Representatives a likely Democratic chamber in 2020, meaning Republicans had a chance to flip the chamber but Democrats were favored to retain control.[2]
Battleground races
| Maine House of Representatives Battleground races |
|---|
| Republican seats |
| Democratic seats |
| Independent seats |
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia identified 32 battleground races in the Maine State Senate 2020 elections, 17 of which were Republican-held seats, 14 of which were Democratic-held seats, and one of which was held by an independent. Based on analysis of these districts' electoral histories, these races had the potential to be more competitive than other races and could possibly have led to shifts in a chamber's partisan balance.
To determine state legislative battleground races in 2020, Ballotpedia looked for races that fit one or more of the four factors listed below:
- In the last state legislative election, the winner received less than 55% of the vote.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the most recent state legislative election winner won by a margin of 10 percentage points or less.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and the incumbent is not on the ballot this year.
- The presidential candidate who won the district in 2016 is of a different party than the most recent state legislative election winner in the district, and that presidential candidate won the district by a margin of 20 percentage points or more.
District 5
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Beth O'Connor (R) was first elected in 2018, where she received 51.4 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 15.5 percentage points. District 5 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 5 by a margin of 12.72 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of .89 percentage points. |
District 7
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Daniel Hobbsr (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 52.47 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 5.4 percentage points. District 7 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 7 by a margin of 6.2 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 11.67 percentage points. |
District 10
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Henry Ingwersen (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 51.7 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 3.4 percentage points. District 10 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 10 by a margin of 9.22 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 10.89 percentage points. |
District 21
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Heidi Sampson (R) was first elected in 2016, where she received 52.6 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 13.7 percentage points. District 21 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 21 by a margin of 14.16 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of8.1 percentage points. |
District 22
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Mark Blier (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 53.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.8 percentage points. District 22 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 22 by a margin of 17.41 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of4.69 percentage points. |
District 29
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Shawn Babine (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 53.6 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 7.2 percentage points. District 29 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 29 by a margin of 15.06 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 10.03 percentage points. |
District 46
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Braden Sharpe (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 50.8 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 1.6 percentage points. District 46 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 46 by a margin of 8.54 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 10.43 percentage points. |
District 46
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Janice Cooper (D) was first elected in 2012. In 2018, she received 50.9 percent of the vote and defeated her independent challenger by a margin of 6 percentage points. District 47 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 47 by a margin of 40.6 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 23.95 percentage points. |
District 53
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Allison Hepler (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 51.2 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 2.4 percentage points. District 53 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 53 by a margin of 1.12 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 14.41 percentage points. |
District 58
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
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|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. James Handy (D) was first elected in 2016. In 2018, he received 50.5 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 1 percentage points. District 58 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 58 by a margin of 11.57 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 14.57 percentage points. |
District 65
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Amy Arata (R) was first elected in 2018, where she received 52.9 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 8.3 percentage points. District 65 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 65 by a margin of 10.74 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.58 percentage points. |
District 67
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Susan Austin (R) was first elected in 2014. In 2018, she received 53.1 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.2 percentage points. District 67 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 67 by a margin of 7.18 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.29 percentage points. |
District 70
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Nathan Wadsworth (R) was first elected in 2014. In 2018, he received 53.9 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 7.8 percentage points. District 70 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 70 by a margin of 7.17 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 10.64 percentage points. |
District 75
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Joshua Morris (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 52.9 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 5.8 percentage points. District 75 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 75 by a margin of 26.44 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of .12 percentage points. |
District 76
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Dennis Keschl (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 52.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 4.8 percentage points. He did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 76 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 76 by a margin of 3.35 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 12.15 percentage points. |
District 83
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Thomas Harnett (D) was first elected in 2018, where he received 54.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Republican challenger by a margin of 8.8 percentage points. District 83 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 83 by a margin of 2.36 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 16.61 percentage points. |
District 84
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Charlotte Warren (D) was first elected in 2014, where she received 51.1 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 2.2 percentage points. District 84 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 84 by a margin of 5.95 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 15.38 percentage points. |
District 86
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Justin Fecteau (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 51.1 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 2.2 percentage points. District 86 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 86 by a margin of 6.77 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 21.99 percentage points. |
District 87
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Jeffery Hanley (R) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 53.4 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.8 percentage points. District 87 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 86 by a margin of 11.53 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 6.92 percentage points. |
District 88
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Chloe Maxmin (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 52.5 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 5 percentage points. Maxmin did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 88 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 88 by a margin of 14.38 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 5.94 percentage points. |
District 89
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Holly Stover (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 51.6 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 3.2 percentage points. District 89 was one of 68 Maine House of Representatives districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Clinton carried District 89 by a margin of 9.43 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 10.84 percentage points. |
District 98
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Scott Cuddyy (D) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 54.8 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 9.6 percentage points. District 98 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 86 by a margin of 10.41 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 4.09 percentage points. |
District 99
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. MaryAnne Kinney (R) was first elected in 2014. She was re-elected in 2018, where he received 51.9 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 3.8 percentage points. District 99 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 99 by a margin of 12.86 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 2.8 percentage points. |
District 106
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Scott Strom (R) was first elected in 2016. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 52 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 4 percentage points. Strom did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 106 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 106 by a margin of 24.32 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of .92 percentage points. |
District 107
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Betty Austin (D) was first elected in 2016, where she received 54.3 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 8.6 percentage points. District 107 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 107 by a margin of 9.1 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 17.01 percentage points. |
District 114
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Randall Hall (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 54.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 18.5 percentage points and his People's Unenrolled Independent Party challenger by a margin of 44.1 percentage points. District 114 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 106 by a margin of 13.73 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 13.26 percentage points. |
District 115
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Josanne Dolloff (R) was first elected in 2018, where she received 53.3 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.6 percentage points. District 115 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 115 by a margin of 13.37 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 20.61 percentage points. |
District 115
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Frances Head (R) was first elected in 2014. She was re-elected in 2018, where she received 50.8 percent of the vote and defeated her Democratic challenger by a margin of 1.6 percentage points. District 117 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 117 by a margin of 4.38 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 13.6 percentage points. |
District 120
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Norman Higgins (I) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 54.5 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 9 percentage points. District 120 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 120 by a margin of 12.11 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.84 percentage points. |
District 120
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Norman Higgins (I) was first elected in 2014. He was re-elected in 2018, where he received 54.5 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 9 percentage points. District 120 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 120 by a margin of 12.11 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 3.84 percentage points. |
District 131
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Sherman Hutchins (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 53.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.4 percentage points. District 131 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 131 by a margin of 3.66 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 9.26 percentage points. |
District 131
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Sherman Hutchins (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 53.2 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 6.4 percentage points. District 131 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 131 by a margin of 3.66 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 9.26 percentage points. |
District 132
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Democratic Party |
Who were the candidates running?
|
|
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018 and was won by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. Nicole Grohoski (D) was first elected in 2018, where she received 54.3 percent of the vote and defeated her Republican challenger by a margin of 8.6 percentage points. District 132 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (D) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 132 by a margin of 5.58 percentage points. Barack Obama (D) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 4.38 percentage points. |
District 144
What party controlled the seat heading into the election?
| The Republican Party |
Who were the candidates running?
What made this a battleground race?
| This was a district where the winner received less than 55% of the vote in 2018. Gregory Swallow (R) was first elected in 2018, where he received 54.5 percent of the vote and defeated his Democratic challenger by a margin of 9 percentage points. Swallow did not file to run for re-election in 2020. District 144 was one of 83 Maine House of Representatives districts that Republican Donald Trump (R) won in the 2016 presidential election. Trump carried District 131 by a margin of 32.66 percentage points. Mitt Romney (R) won the district in the 2012 presidential election by a margin of 13.56 percentage points. |
Battleground races map
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
Nine incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
One incumbent lost in the July 14 primaries. That incumbent was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| John DeVeau | House District 149 |
Retiring incumbents
There were 31 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[3] Those incumbents were:
The 31 seats left open in 2020 represented a decrease from the 48 left open in 2018, but is higher than the decade-low 30 open seats in 2016. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Maine House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 151 | 31 (21 percent) | 120 (79 percent) |
| 2018 | 151 | 48 (32 percent) | 103 (68 percent) |
| 2016 | 151 | 30 (20 percent) | 121 (80 percent) |
| 2014 | 151 | 49 (32 percent) | 102 (68 percent) |
| 2012 | 151 | 52 (34 percent) | 99 (66 percent) |
| 2010 | 151 | 34 (23 percent) | 117 (77 percent) |
Redistricting in Maine
- See also: Redistricting in Maine
In Maine, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. An advisory commission is also involved in the process. A two-thirds majority is required to approve new district maps, which are subject to veto by the governor.[4]
The composition of the 15-member advisory redistricting commission is as follows:[4]
- The majority and minority leaders of the Maine State Senate each select two commissioners.
- The majority and minority leaders of the Maine House of Representatives each appoint three commissioners.
- The chairs of the state's two major political parties (i.e., the Republican and Democratic parties) each appoint one member.
- The aforementioned 12 commissioners appoint two more members from the public, "with each party's representatives coordinating to choose one commissioner."
- The two public commissioners appoint one additional member.
This commission may make recommendations to the state legislature regarding redistricting, but the legislature is not bound to abide by the commission's recommendations. If the state legislature is unable to pass a redistricting plan, the responsibility falls to the Maine Supreme Court.[4]
State statutes require that congressional districts be compact and contiguous, In addition, state laws require that congressional districts "cross political subdivision lines as few times as possible."[4]
The Maine Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be "compact and contiguous, and that they cross political subdivision lines as few times as possible."[4]
Process to become a candidate
For party candidates
See statutes: Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 1, Article 4 of the Maine Revised Statutes
Political party candidates must petition for placement on the primary election ballot. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought.[5][6]
| Signature requirements for party candidates | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Required signatures |
| Governor, United States Senator | At least 2,000 signatures, but no more than 2,500 |
| United States Representative | At least 1,000 signatures, but no more than 1,250 |
| State Senator | At least 100 signatures, but no more than 150 |
| State Representative | At least 25 signatures, but no more than 40 |
Before petitions can be submitted to the Maine Secretary of State, signatures must be verified by the registrar of voters or municipal clerk in the municipality where the signatures were collected. For more information regarding specific petition requirements, see below.[5][6]
A political party candidate must also submit a "Consent of Candidate" form. The form must contain a statement signed by the candidate indicating that he or she will accept the nomination of the primary election. The form must also include the candidate's address, party designation, and a statement indicating that the candidate meets the qualifications for the office being sought. The candidate must sign the form before a notary public. The "Consent of Candidate" form must be filed along with the candidate's petition paperwork.[7][6]
The filing deadline is set by state statutes as 5 p.m. on March 15 in the year of the election. If March 15 falls on a non-business day, the deadline is extended to the next business day.[5]
For independent candidates
See statutes: Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 2 of the Maine Revised Statutes
Independent candidates must petition for placement on the general election ballot. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought.[8]
| Signature requirements for independent candidates | |
|---|---|
| Office sought | Required signatures |
| Governor, United States Senator | At least 4,000 signatures, but no more than 5,000 |
| United States Representative | At least 2,000 signatures, but no more than 2,500 |
| State Senator | At least 200 signatures, but no more than 300 |
| State Representative | At least 50 signatures, but no more than 80 |
Before petitions can be submitted to the Maine Secretary of State, signatures must be verified by the registrar of voters or municipal clerk in the municipality where the signatures were collected. Petitions for independent candidates must be submitted for verification by 5 p.m. on May 25 (this date is set by state statutes; in the event that May 25 falls on a non-business day, the deadline is extended to the next business day). For more information regarding specific petition requirements, see below.[8][6]
An independent candidate must also file a "Non-party Candidate's Consent" form. The form must include the candidate's address, a declaration that the candidate has not been enrolled in a qualified political party after March 1 of the election year, and a statement indicating that the candidate meets the qualifications for the office being sought. The candidate must sign the form before a notary public. The "Non-party Candidate's Consent" form must be filed along with the candidate's petition paperwork.[9][6]
The filing deadline is set by statute as 5 p.m. on June 1 of the election year. If June 1 falls on a non-business day, the deadline is extended to the next business day.[8]
For write-in candidates
See statutes: Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Subchapter 3, Article 1, Section 722-A of the Maine Revised Statutes
In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate for either the primary or general election must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Maine Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on the 70th day prior to the election.[10]
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Maine House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Maine House of Representatives | Qualified party | 25 | N/A | 3/16/2020 | Source |
| Maine House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | 50 | N/A | 6/1/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents."
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[11] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $16,245.12 for the first regular session. $11,668.32 for the second regular session. | $70/day for lodging (or round-trip mileage up to $0.55/mile in lieu of housing, plus tolls). $50/day for meals. |
When sworn in
Maine legislators assume office the day before the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[12][13]
Maine political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Maine Party Control: 1992-2025
Fifteen years of Democratic trifectas • Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | S | S | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
Presidential politics in Maine
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Maine, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine |
47.8% | 357,735 | 3 | |
| Republican | Donald Trump/Mike Pence | 44.9% | 335,593 | 1 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 5.1% | 38,105 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.9% | 14,251 | 0 | |
| - | Other/Write-in | 0.3% | 2,243 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 747,927 | 4 | |||
| Election results via: Federal Election Commission | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Maine utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which both registered party members and unaffiliated voters may participate. Unaffiliated voters may vote in one partisan primary of their choosing in each election.[14][15]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Maine, municipalities with a population of 500 or more open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., while municipalities with a population of less than 500 open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. All polls close at 8:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
To register to vote in Maine, one must be "a United States citizen, at least 16 years of age to pre-register to vote, and have established a fixed principal home in Maine. To vote in a Referendum or General Election, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age. A 17 year old may vote in a Primary Election, if that person will be 18 by the General Election."[17]
Voters can return completed registration cards in person or by mail to their town office or city hall, any Motor Vehicle branch office, most state & federal social service agencies, or a voter registration drive. There is no deadline for voter registration if completed in person. If registering by mail, the deadline is 21 days prior to the election.[17]
When registering for the first time in Maine, voters must provide documents verifying their identity and residence. The following documents are acceptable identification for the purpose of registering to vote:
- Government ID with a photo (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe)
- Government ID without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
- Other official document showing the name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
- Student photo ID from a state-approved public or private school or institute of higher education in Maine
- Maine driver’s license number or last four digits of Social Security Number[17]
Automatic registration
On June 19, 2019, Gov. Janet Mills signed an automatic voter registration bill into law that was scheduled for implementation in 2022. The law registers voters through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[18]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Maine has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Governor Janet T. Mills (D) signed L.D. 1126 into law on July 9, 2021, allowing online voter registration in Maine. This legislation went into effect on November 1, 2023.[19]
Same-day registration
Maine allows same-day voter registration.[17][20]
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Maine, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Maine does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.[21]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[22] As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Maine voter information lookup service allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Maine does not require voters to present identification while voting. If a voter registers to vote on Election Day, he or she must provide identification and proof of residence.[23]
Early voting
Maine permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Maine. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[24]
To vote absentee, an application must be received by election officials no earlier than three months prior to the election and no later than the third business day before the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be received by election officials by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.[24]
Ranked-choice voting
Ranked-choice voting in Maine
Maine uses ranked-choice voting for all federal and state-level (e.g., governor, state senator, and state representative) primary elections. Ranked-choice voting is used in general elections for federal offices only (i.e., U.S. Congress and the presidency).[25]
Click here for information on the history of ranked-choice voting in Maine.
How ranked-choice voting works
Broadly speaking, the ranked-choice voting process unfolds as follows for single-winner elections:
- Voters rank the candidates for a given office by preference on their ballots.
- If a candidate wins an outright majority of first-preference votes (i.e., 50 percent plus one), he or she will be declared the winner.
- If, on the other hand, no candidates win an outright majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated.
- All first-preference votes for the failed candidate are eliminated, lifting the second-preference choices indicated on those ballots.
- A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won an outright majority of the adjusted voters.
- The process is repeated until a candidate wins a majority of votes cast.
Example
Assume that there are four candidates for mayor in a hypothetical city. The table below presents the raw first-preference vote totals for each candidate.
| Raw first-preference vote tallies in a hypothetical mayoral race | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | First-preference votes | Percentage |
| Candidate A | 475 | 46.34% |
| Candidate B | 300 | 29.27% |
| Candidate C | 175 | 17.07% |
| Candidate D | 75 | 7.32% |
In the above scenario, no candidate won an outright majority of first-preference votes. As a result, the candidate (Candidate D) with the smallest number of first-preference votes is eliminated. The ballots that listed candidate D as the first preference are adjusted, raising their second-preference candidates. Assume that, of the 75 first-preference votes for Candidate D, 50 listed Candidate A as their second preference and 25 listed Candidate B. The adjusted vote totals would be as follows:
| Adjusted vote tallies in a hypothetical mayoral race | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Adjusted first-preference votes | Percentage |
| Candidate A | 525 | 51.22% |
| Candidate B | 325 | 31.71% |
| Candidate C | 175 | 17.07% |
On the second tally, Candidate A secured 51.22 percent of the vote, thereby winning the election.
Note: The above is a simplified example used for illustrative purposes. Specific procedures vary by jurisdiction and according to the nature of the election (i.e., whether it is a single-winner or multi-winner contest).
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Penobscot Bay Pilot, "Leparulo, Digioia withdraw as Maine Legislature candidates; Elliott steps forward," August 25, 2020
- ↑ The Cook Political Report, "July Update: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races," July 22, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 All About Redistricting, "Maine," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Article 4, Section 335," accessed March 14, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Maine Secretary of State, "State of Maine 2024 Candidate's Guide to Ballot Access," accessed March 14, 2025
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 1, Article 4, Section 336," accessed March 14, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 2, Section 354," accessed February 10, 2014
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 2, Section 355," accessed February 10, 2014
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Subchapter 3, Article 1, Section 722-A," accessed March 14, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part First., Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part Second., Section 5," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ NCSL, "State Primary Election Types," accessed June 12, 2024
- ↑ Main Legislature Revised Statutes, "§341. Unenrolled voter participation in primary elections allowed," accessed June 12, 2024
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Section 626," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, "State of Maine Voter Guide," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ WMTW 8, “Maine governor signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” June 21, 2019
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "H.P. 804 - L.D. 1126: An Act To Update the Voter Registration Process," accessed June 8, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same Day Voter Registration," accessed January 31, 2023
- ↑ Department of the Secretary of State, "Maine Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Your Right to Vote in Maine," accessed April 15, 2023
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Maine.gov, "Absentee Voting Guide," April 15, 2023
- ↑ Maine.gov, "Ranked-choice Voting (RCV)," accessed February 24, 2022
