Maine gubernatorial election, 2018

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2022
2014
Governor of Maine
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 15, 2018
Primary: June 12, 2018
General: November 6, 2018

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Paul LePage (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voting in Maine
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Tilt Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Maine
executive elections
Governor

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills (D) defeated businessman Shawn Moody (R) and State Treasurer Teresea Hayes (I) in the general election on November 6, 2018, for Maine's governorship.

Democrats won a trifecta in Maine by winning the governor's office and the Maine State Senate and holding the Maine House of Representatives. Heading into the election, Maine had been under divided government since 2012 when Democrats took control of the state House and the state Senate while Republican Paul LePage held the governorship. Republicans took control of the governorship in 2010 when LePage was first elected and took back control of the state Senate in 2014.

The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under Maine state law, the state legislature is responsible for drawing new maps for U.S. House and state legislative seats following the completion of the census. The governor has the power to veto these district map proposals.[1] Click here for more information on redistricting procedures.

LePage, who was term-limited, was first elected in 2010 with 37.6 percent of the vote. Former Carter administration aide Eliot R. Cutler (I) received 35.9 percent and state Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell (D) received 18.8 percent. In 2014, LePage was re-elected with 48.2 percent of the vote. U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D) received 43.4 percent and Cutler received 8.4 percent.

Of the 10 gubernatorial elections in Maine prior to 2018, five resulted in the seat changing hands. Prior to 2018, the last time a Maine gubernatorial election was won by a candidate who shared a party with the outgoing incumbent was in 1952 when Burton Cross (R) was elected to succeed Frederick Payne (R).[2]

Businessman Alan Caron (I) withdrew from the race on October 29.[3] Caron's name appeared on the ballot, but votes cast for him were counted as blank.[4][5]

Maine was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.

Democratic Party For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
Republican Party For more information about the Republican primary, click here.


Candidates and election results

See also: Statistics on gubernatorial candidates, 2018

Aaron Chadbourne ran as a write-in candidate.

Alan Caron's name appeared on the ballot, but votes cast for him were counted as blank.

General election

General election for Governor of Maine

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Janet T. Mills in round 1 .

   
Candidate
%
Total Votes
Transfer
Round eliminated
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Janet_Mills.jpg
Janet T. Mills
 
50.9
 
320,962 0 Won (1)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Shawn_Moody.jpg
Shawn Moody
 
43.2
 
272,311 0 1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Teresea_Hayes.jpg
Teresea Hayes
 
5.9
 
37,268 0 1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/38091003266_d1ce3d2266_k.jpg
Alan Caron
 
0.0
 
0 0 1
   
Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.
 
0.0
 
126 0  

Total votes: 630,667
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Governor of Maine

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Janet T. Mills in round 4 . The results of Round 4 are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

   
Candidate
%
Total Votes
Transfer
Round eliminated
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Janet_Mills.jpg
Janet T. Mills
 
54.1
 
63,384 13,439 Advanced (4)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Adam_Cote.jpg
Adam Cote
 
45.9
 
53,866 11,243 4
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/80182230_betsy_headshot_navyshirt_lighten.jpg
Betsy Sweet
 
0.0
 
0 -29,944 3
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark_Eves.jpg
Mark Eves
 
0.0
 
0 0 2
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/C7B4F207-6BB9-40E3-947E-B4CC0A1409FE.jpeg
Donna Dion
 
0.0
 
0 0 1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark_Dion.jpg
Mark Dion
 
0.0
 
0 0 1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Diane_Russell-Natera.jpg
Diane Russell
 
0.0
 
0 0 1

Total votes: 126,139
Total exhausted votes: 8,889
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for Governor of Maine

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Shawn Moody in round 1 .

   
Candidate
%
Total Votes
Transfer
Round eliminated
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Shawn_Moody.jpg
Shawn Moody
 
56.6
 
53,436 0 Advanced (1)
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Garrett_Mason.jpg
Garrett Mason
 
22.9
 
21,571 0 1
Mary Mayhew
 
14.9
 
14,034 0 1
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Kenneth_Fredette.jpg
Kenneth Fredette
 
5.7
 
5,341 0 1

Total votes: 94,382
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages


Janet Mills, attorney general of Maine
Janet Mills.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: Maine Attorney General (2009-2010; assumed office again in 2012), Maine House of Representatives (2002-2009), District Attorney (1980-1995)

Biography: Mills was born in Farmington, Maine. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and J.D. from the University of Maine. She was an assistant to the State Attorney General's Office from 1976 to 1980.[6]

Key messages
  • Mills said she would lead Maine in a new and better direction after eight years under Republican Gov. Paul LePage. She said this included expanding Medicaid, addressing the opioid epidemic, and improving the state's economic outlook.[7]
  • Mills said she protected Maine's residents as attorney general. She highlighted her lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and her personal delivery of opioid overdose medication to local clinics.[8]
  • Mills highlighted her connections to the state of Maine, including her lifelong residence in Farmington. She said she embodied the "doer, not talker" mentality of Maine communities.[8]



Shawn Moody, businessman
Shawn Moody.PNG

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Republican

Incumbent: No

Political office: None

Biography: Moody was raised in Gorham, Maine. Moody’s career experience included founding a business at age 17 that became Moody’s Collision Centers. He served on the boards of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System under Gov. Paul LePage (R).[9]

Key messages
  • Moody said he was not politician but instead a job creator with a unique life experience. He highlighted that he grew up in trailer park with a chronically ill mother and, at 17 years old, started a business that eventually become Moody's Collision Center.[10]
  • Moody said he was a commonsense conservative who would promote job growth over welfare benefits to bring people out of poverty, cut waste and fraud from the state budget, and protect the state's rainy day fund.[10]
  • Moody said he was an independent not beholden to what he calls the political class in Augusta and Washington, D.C.[10]



Teresea Hayes, treasurer of Maine
Teresea Hayes.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political office: Treasurer of Maine (assumed office: 2014), Maine House of Representatives (2006-2014)

Biography: Hayes received her B.A. from Bowdoin College and her M.B.A. from Thomas College. She worked as a teacher with Messalonskee School District, an adult education director and the owner of a real estate education company, and as a Guardian ad Litem with Maine's District and Probate Courts.[11]

Key messages
  • Hayes said she was an independent and a unifier who would work with both parties and put people over partisanship.[12][13]
  • Hayes emphasized that she was the first independent treasurer of Maine and said she kept the state fiscally stable during her tenure. She said she would focus on infrastructure, healthcare costs, the environment, and the economy as governor.[14][13]
  • Hayes said she was a different type of politician who would make the state better. She said she was opposed to money in politics and would not run negative ads against her opponents.[12][15]


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Maine Governor 2018
Poll Poll sponsor Janet Mills (D) Shawn Moody (R)Alan Caron (I)Teresea Hayes (I)Undecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
Slingshot Strategies (registered voters)
(Nov. 1, 2018)
N/A 55%38%0%7%0%+/-4.0518
Emerson College
(Oct. 27-29, 2018)
N/A 50%42%0%0%8%+/-3.5900
Pan Atlantic Research
(Oct. 1-7, 2018)
N/A 44%36%2%8%10%+/-4.4500
Change Research (head to head between Mills and Moody)
(Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2018)
N/A 52%44%0%0%4%+/-3.0801
Slingshot Strategies (Caron excluded)
(Sept. 26-30, 2018)
Hayes Campaign 41%33%0%10%16%+/-4.0600
Suffolk University
(August 2-6, 2018)
N/A 39%39%3%4%16%+/-4.4500
AVERAGES 46.83% 38.67% 0.83% 4.83% 9% +/-3.88 636.5
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.


PredictIt Prices

This section provides the PredictIt market prices for this race during the three months leading up to the election. PredictIt is a site where people make and trade predictions on political and financial events. Market prices reflect the probability, based on PredictIt users' predictions, that a candidate will win a race. For example, a market price of $0.60 for Candidate A is equivalent to a 60 percent probability that Candidate A will win.

Campaign finance

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[16][17][18]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • A Better Maine, backed by the Democratic Governors Association, supported Mills.
    • On September 17, A Better Maine revealed it had spent $343,805 in recent days supporting Janet Mills, bringing its total spending on her campaign to more than $1 million.[19]
    • The group reported spending $302,000 on ads supporting Janet Mills and $371,000 on ads opposing Shawn Moody on September 7.[20]
  • Maine Conservation Voters spent $570,000 opposing Moody on October 17.[21]
  • Maine Republican Party
    • The Maine GOP spent $50,000 on this ad, which opposed Mills and Hayes and supported Moody, on October 9.[22]
    • The Maine GOP reported spending $133,000 on ads opposing Janet Mills on September 22.[23]
    • The Maine GOP reported spending $360,000 on ads supporting Shawn Moody on September 7.[20]

Race ratings

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

  • Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
  • Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
  • Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[24]
  • Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[25][26][27]

Race ratings: Maine gubernatorial election, 2018
Race trackerRace ratings
November 5, 2018October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
The Cook Political ReportToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt DemocraticTilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallToss-upToss-upToss-upToss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.



Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement Mills (D) Moody (R)
Individuals
Hillary Clinton[3]
Alan Caron, former independent candidate for governor[3]
Organizations
The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine[28]
Maine Conservation Voters[21]
Newspapers
The Boston Globe[29]

Timeline

  • November 2, 2018: Janet Mills reported that she had raised $2.8 million and spent more than $2.9 million. Shawn Moody reported that he had raised $1.8 million and spent $1.7 million. Teresea Hayes reported that she had raised more than $1.4 million and spent more than $1.3 million.
  • October 31, 2018: An Emerson College poll showed Mills with 50 percent and Moody with 42 percent. Hayes was not included in the survey. The margin of error was 3.5 percentage points.
  • October 29, 2018: Businessman Alan Caron (I) withdrew from the race and endorsed Janet Mills (D).[3]
  • October 29, 2018: Hillary Clinton endorsed Janet Mills.
  • October 28, 2018: The candidates debated at Husson University in Bangor. Read more below.
  • October 22, 2018: A Pan Atlantic Research poll showed Mills with 44 percent, Moody with 36 percent, Hayes with 8 percent, and Caron with 2 percent. The margin of error was 4.4 percentage points.
  • October 17, 2018: Maine Conservation Voters spent $570,000 opposing Moody.[21]
  • October 9, 2018: The Maine GOP spent $50,000 on this ad which opposed Mills and Hayes and supported Moody.[22]
  • October 2, 2018: A Change Research poll showed Mills leading Moody 52-44 in a head to head matchup.
  • September 22, 2018: The Maine GOP reported spending $133,000 on television ads opposing Janet Mills.
  • September 17, 2018: A Better Maine revealed it had spent $343,805 in recent days supporting Janet Mills, bringing its total spending on her campaign to more than $1 million.[19]
  • September 10, 2018: The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine endorsed Shawn Moody.
  • August 31, 2018: Priorities USA launched a $400,000 digital ad campaign in support of Janet Mills.[30]
  • August 22, 2018: The Mills campaign released an ad titled First Day. The ad stated that as attorney general, Mills used funds obtained from fraud convictions to establish skills training programs in the state's public schools and that if elected as governor, she would increase funding for education.
  • August 8, 2018: Suffolk University released a poll of 500 likely voters that showed 39 percent of voters would vote for Janet Mills (D) and 39 percent would vote for Shawn Moody (R). Independent candidates Alan Caron and Teresea Hayes received 3 percent and 4 percent support, respectively. A further 16 percent of voters were undecided.

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Janet Mills

Support

"Straigh Talker" - Mills ad, released October 30, 2018
"Stan" - Mills ad, released September 24, 2018
"Above and Beyond" - Mills ad, released September 4, 2018
"All Children" - Priorities USA ad, released August 29, 2018
"First Day" - A Better Maine ad, released August 22, 2018

Oppose

"Janet Mills Has A Tax For Everyone" - Maine GOP ad, released November 2, 2018
"JANET MILLS : DOUBLE-DIPPER" - Maine GOP ad, released October 18, 2018

Republican Party Shawn Moody

Support

"Shawn Moody, Good for Maine, ALL of Maine" - Maine GOP ad, released October 30, 2018
"Shawn Moody, Made in Maine" - Maine GOP ad, released September 5, 2018
  • The Maine GOP released this ad which opposed Mills and Hayes and supported Moody.

Oppose

"Problem: Health Care" - Mills campaign ad, released October 30, 2018
"Same" - A Better Maine ad, released October 18, 2018
"Shawn Moody Has No Business Being Governor" - Maine Conservation Voters ad, released October 17, 2018
"Think Twice" - A Better Maine ad, released October 2, 2018
"Said It" - A Better Maine ad, released September 20, 2018
"Overfunded" - A Better Maine ad, released September 4, 2018

Grey.png Alan Caron

Support

"Independent for a Change" - Caron campaign ad, released June 16, 2018

Grey.png Terry Hayes

Support

"Are You There?" - Hayes campaign ad, released September 27, 2018
"Do Things Differently" - Hayes campaign ad, released September 10, 2018
"A Better Choice" - Hayes campaign ad, released September 10, 2018
"A Unifying Outsider" - Hayes campaign ad, released July 18, 2018

Noteworthy events

Hayes pursues funding through the Maine Clean Elections Act

State Treasurer Teresea Hayes (I) received funding via the Maine Clean Elections Act, an optional public financing program for political campaigns. Gubernatorial candidates participating in the program are allowed to solicit up to $200,000 in seed money contributions, which must be donated by individuals and cannot exceed more than $100 per donor. Participating candidates are also required to solicit at least 3,200 contributions of $5 or more to the MCEA's fund, known as qualifying contributions. Hayes qualified for public funding in April 2018.[31]

In order to receive financing from the MCEA fund, candidates were required to file the required paperwork with proof of 3,200 qualifying contributions before October 16, 2018. Once a candidate submitted their paperwork, they were no longer allowed to collect additional seed money contributions. Candidates were able to receive additional payouts from the fund by submitting proof of additional qualifying contributions. Each candidate could collect up to four payments of $150,000 each before May 22, 2018, in exchange for 800 qualifying contributions per payment, and an additional eight payments of $175,000 each could be collected before October 16, 2018, in exchange for 1,200 qualifying contributions per payment.[32]

MCEA funding issues, 2018

On May 22, 2018, the Portland Press-Herald reported that as a result of a clerical error in the most recent state budget, the Maine Clean Elections Fund would not be permitted to disburse funds to candidates after July 1. The Press-Herald reported that a special session of the legislature would need to be called in order to correct the clerical error.[33]

On June 26, 2018, Maine Ethics Commission Executive Director Jonathan Wayne sent a letter to legislators which stated that $1.3 million in funding that was in the commission's accounts could not be released to candidates as a result of the error. The letter stated that Gov. Paul LePage (R) had twice refused the commission permission to use $1.9 million in funding left over from 2016's clean elections fund to make up the shortfall.[34] Maine Citizens for Clean Elections filed a lawsuit against LePage calling on him to approve the release of the remaining funding from 2016.

On August 2, 2018, the judge ruled in favor of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections. LePage announced on August 7, 2018, that he had released the requested funding.[35]

On August 16, 2018, the Commission voted in favor of resuming disbursements to 2018 candidates on the basis that the August 2 ruling preventing Gov. LePage from blocking the release of the $1 million in left over funds also granted the commission authority to disburse funds to candidates despite the clerical error in the state budget.[36]

Debates and forums

Oct. 28 Maine Public’s Your Vote debate

The four candidates met in the Maine Public’s Your Vote debate at Husson University in Bangor.

If you have access to a video of this debate, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Read roundups of the debate here:

Oct. 25 local television sponsored debate

The four candidates met in a debate at the University of Maine in Augusta sponsored by WMTW, WABI, and WAGM.

Watch the debate on C-SPAN.

Oct. 10 Portland Press Herald and the University of New England debate

The four candidates met in a debate hosted by the Portland Press Herald and the University of New England.

Watch the debate on C-SPAN.

Sept. 10 Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce forum

The four candidates met in a public forum hosted by the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

If you have access to a video of this debate, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

  • See the Bangor Daily News roundup here.
  • See the Portland Press Herald roundup here.

Campaign themes

Democratic Party Janet Mills

Mills' campaign website stated the following:

TACKLING THE OPIOID CRISIS
In 2017, 952 drug-affected infants were born in Maine, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. In the last decade, 7,708 babies were born affected by drugs, 1,024 in 2016 alone, representing approximately 8 percent of all live births in Maine.

At least one person a day dies of a drug overdose, increasingly from heroin and fentanyl.

Two-thirds of the 368 drugged-driving traffic stops in 2016 tested positive for opioids, according to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Lab: Analysis Maine Rural Drug and Alcohol Research Program at the University of Maine.

In 2015 an estimated 15,000 people received treatment for substance-use disorder in Maine, while another 25,000 could not get treatment because of a lack of capacity or lack of insurance.

There is no silver bullet to this complex problem, which is not simply a public safety or law enforcement matter, but a full-blown public health crisis that leaves thousands of children without a parent, communities devastated, employers without a healthy workforce, and families torn apart.

Here are 10 things we can do:

Target the areas with a high number of overdoses, hospital admissions and drug-related crimes, and provide them with additional medical and economic resources — an opioid version of Pine Tree Zones. Rein in prescribing practices that encourage addiction and put opioids in the hands of people who misuse and divert them. A new law to monitor and limit opioid prescriptions, proposed by the governor and enacted in 2016, is a good beginning, but analyzing prescribing trends and providing better training for prescribers will further reduce overprescribing and diversion. Make naloxone, also known as Narcan, available to every family and agency that needs it. The Maine Board of Pharmacy drafted regulations for over-the-counter naloxone; these rules should be promulgated and adopted. Establish an opioid emergency line — a 2-1-1 line on steroids — to provide accurate information and emergency referrals 24 hours a day. Lift the state’s two-year limit on methadone treatment for Medicaid patients and raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for treatment, which are unrealistic and unsupported by research. Expand drug courts and provide medication-assisted treatment and supportive services to participants. Along with prosecuting those who poison our communities, we must also provide help to users in the most effective way. Provide treatment slots and supportive therapy across the state, along the lines of Vermont’s “hub and spokes” model, providing a “hub” of medication treatment to reduce chemical dependency and “spokes” of primary care, intensive outpatient services, and assistance with housing, employment, and so on. We cannot treat the physiological symptoms without knowing the cause and treating the whole person and his or her family. Make recovery coaches available on call at every emergency room and clinic, and medication-assisted treatment available for every person with substance-use disorder, reducing the revolving door of overdose, revival and addiction. Expand the number of detox slots, recovery residence beds and peer recovery centers, especially in underserved areas, making sure there is always a window of hope. Provide prevention programs in our schools and communities, focusing on self-esteem and decision-making skills, starting in early childhood, and identifying and addressing “adverse childhood experiences” that contribute to substance-use disorders later. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a registry of effective programs, and the National Institutes of Health has a summary of “life-skills trainings.” Look at what Iceland has done with its community programs for all ages, along the lines of L.L. Bean’s “Take it Outside” focus, markedly reducing their incidences of substance-use disorder. What we are doing now is not winning this war. We must do more than “just say no.” The solution requires compassion, community, a change in culture and our full commitment as a state.

One more overdose is one too many. One more family torn asunder is one too many. One more orphaned child is one too many.

Let’s make 2018 a new beginning.

GROWING THE MAINE ECONOMY
While some cities are booming, too much of Maine remains in a persistent economic downturn, especially in the rim counties and former mill towns. Instead of looking to a single economic driver to reverse that trend, I believe we must embrace an ‘all of the above’ strategy that highlights our key competitive advantages, develops new industries, and lays the groundwork for economic growth in all parts of Maine.

Some policies we should start with include:

Bringing our infrastructure up to modern standards, including high-speed internet. One step is to implement a ‘dig-once’ policy, which calls for road construction to also lay fiber-optic cable alongside. Another is to finally put in place a comprehensive statewide broadband strategy, to coordinate and connect the patchwork of private, local and state projects currently underway. Building a first-rate education system that will attract young families and train the next generation of Maine entrepreneurs and workers — including fully funding the state’s education obligations. In addition to computer science programs at the university level, we should offer similar courses at the middle- and high-school levels, as well as investing in vocational and technical programs that prepare students for good-paying jobs. And at the college level, we should partner with local businesses to match our programs to their needs, and then place graduates with Maine companies that are desperate for skilled workers. Taking stock of our competitive advantages, including beautiful and spacious abandoned mill buildings, a solid bedrock of granite, and cold temperatures. To take just one example, Maine is ideally situated to host the next wave of data storage facilities, a rapidly growing industry that spends spend colossal amounts on air-conditioning, and which requires areas without natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. With the right investments in broadband infrastructure, data warehousing could bring good-paying construction, maintenance, programming, and business development jobs to exactly those areas hit hardest by mill closings. Investing in research and development. Currently Maine ranks only 36th among states in R&D spending as a percent of GDP. Nevertheless, projects like the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at UMaine Orono create hundreds of jobs and dozens of spin-off companies, including groundbreaking research on offshore wind energy and new wood products. As Governor, I will work to make Maine a leader in cutting-edge research, especially in clean energy and material sciences.

ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER
Nationwide, the number of people without access to adequate food plunged following its peak during the 2008 recession. In Maine, however, that number has continued to grow — in fact, the USDA reported that the rate of hunger grew more rapidly in Maine then in any other state over the last decade. Today, Maine ranks third in the nation for ‘very low food security’ — that is, starvation.

Food insecurity is a complex phenomenon, but at least one factor is clear. The LePage administration has remained committed to an ideological crusade against people living in poverty, purging tens of thousands of Maine families from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, even as more and more Mainers go hungry each year — all based on the specious premise that the lure of $4 a day keeps able-bodied adults from seeking work.

If LePage’s theory was true, we would have expected to see poverty and hunger drop in the wake of his policies — instead, we saw precisely the opposite. Teachers, especially in rural areas, report that their classes are full of children too distracted by empty stomachs to focus. Food pantries can’t keep their shelves stocked.

There is no reason that Maine children should go hungry more often than those in Iowa or New Hampshire, and as Governor, I’m committed to reversing this trend. I’d start by:

Repealing the asset test that penalizes families for saving Taking advantage of the USDA policy allowing states to apply for broader aid in places that have experienced high unemployment, largely in western and northern Maine Growing the local food economy— small farms, processors and distributors — by supporting programs like Maine Harvest Bucks, which allow SNAP receipts to get double their monies worth of fresh, local produce at farmers’ markets, retail stores, co-ops, and farm stands Bringing advocates, public health experts, educators, and affected communities to the table to develop policies that ensure no Maine person is forced to go without food

EXPANDING MEDICAID
For far too long, Maine left billions of federal dollars on the table, while the governors of thirty-one other states (including seventeen Republicans and now-Vice President Mike Pence) have taken advantage of this opportunity. The evidence is overwhelming: the states that took advantage of the expansion have seen lower healthcare costs, healthier citizens, more stable hospital systems, and stronger economic growth:

Medicaid expansion will put Maine hospitals on more stable financial footing. This is particularly important in the rural parts of our state, where many hospitals struggle with the high number of patients without insurance, and are increasingly in danger of closure or consolidation. Medicaid expansion will create jobs and strengthen the Maine economy. The nearly $500 million a year in Federal dollars flowing into the state would create about six thousand new jobs — not to mention the economic benefits of a healthier, more secure workforce. Medicaid expansion will save lives. Approximately 70,000 Maine people will gain access to health insurance, and in turn be able to access regular doctor’s visits, vaccinations, and other forms of preventative care. In particular, increased access to addiction treatment and counseling are critical as we confront the opioid epidemic across our state. That’s why I was so thrilled that Maine voters passed Question 2 by a margin of nearly two to one.

Sadly, Governor LePage is already looking for ways to overrule the people of Maine, arguing that they voted ‘wrong.’ Even more blatantly, Republican candidate Mary Mayhew said that she didn’t believe that the state should expand Medicaid “all because you put a couple sentences on the ballot.”

This is a familiar tactic; as Attorney General, the very first battle I fought with Governor LePage was his attempt to kick thousands of low-income children off Medicaid. As Attorney General, I’m fully committed to ensuring Medicaid expansion is implemented now, in accordance with the will of the people. As Governor, I’ll continue to do everything in my power to ensure every Mainer has access to high-quality and affordable healthcare.

WORKING WITH MAINE'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
As Governor, I will work to find new ways to partner with the indigenous nations of Maine, and to form stronger alliances on economic development, renewable energy sources, and health care. And I will work with everyone to respect and maintain the cultural identity and the right to self-governance of the thousands of Native Americans in this state.

As Attorney General, it has been my job to defend the state in litigation – that's the oath I took – and I don't always get to choose the cases that come in front of my office. But the role of Governor is very different from that of the Attorney General.

As such, my first priority will be to improve communication and trust between the four Tribes, the state, and local governments, so that together, we can improve the lives, opportunities and wellbeing of all our people.

What I’ve done as Attorney General As Attorney General and as a member of the Judiciary Committee in the past, I have worked on legislation that amended the Settlement Act to create a Maliseet Tribal Court, to expand the jurisdiction of existing Tribal Courts, to add parcels to Tribal lands and to dedicate highway fines to Tribal budgets.

I have stood with Tribes across the country, including in Maine, to oppose former EPA Director Scott Pruitt's attempt to end regulations on mercury and airborne toxins – which are the biggest threat to Maine's lakes and rivers.

I have strongly opposed proposals to drill for oil and gas off our shores, because of the devastation any oil spill would bring to our fisheries, to our tourism industry and to sacred Tribal lands at Pleasant Point.

I have read the Truth & Reconciliation report, and my Office has worked hard to make sure that caseworkers fulfill their obligations under the Indian Child Welfare Act. I have stood up for the Indian Child Welfare Act several times in cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.

I have expanded the Civil Rights Program in the Attorney General's Office, where we have partnered with nearly 200 schools and trained more than 1,500 students last year alone.

What I will do as Governor I want state government to be a partner with Tribal governments, not an enemy of them. There is so much we can accomplish together – economic development, expansion of broadband, ecotourism, better health care and educational opportunity for all – when we engage in communication, rather than litigation.

As Governor, I will meet regularly with the Tribal Chiefs and Tribal Councils.

I will appoint cabinet members who understand Tribal issues.

I will appoint people to the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission who will carry out its mission, which has too long been neglected. I will work to enhance the Commission's authority and responsibilities, making that body a forum for real communication and real problem solving and dispute resolution.

I will appoint judges to state courts who fully understand the Indian Child Welfare Act, and who are familiar with Tribal Courts and customs and with the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation report.

I will partner with the Tribal Nations to create jobs, bring broadband to the reservations; and work on expanding ecotourism and new industries

I will work to remove once and for all, offensive names for teams, schools and mascots that have no place in our modern-day society.

We have a lot to do together, whether it's fighting the opiate epidemic, preserving our clean air and water, or providing vital health care to all Mainers and to Tribal members dealing with health challenges at a much higher rate than the general population.

Together, I know we’re up to the task of meeting and overcoming these challenges.

[37]

—Janet Mills' campaign website (2018)[38]

Republican Party Shawn Moody

Moody's campaign website stated the following:

CREATING GOOD PAYING JOBS & GROWING OUR ECONOMY
Perform a comprehensive review of all government red tape with the goal of increasing speed of permitting, reducing fees, and eliminating duplication.

Create a jobs “customer service hotline” so that potential job creators and Maine businesses looking to expand can get immediate responses from state government, through a single point of contact.

Structure a Governor’s Initiative on Regulatory Reform with existing staff to address red tape.

Conduct entry and exit interviews with businesses both moving to Maine and those leaving so we can address what is working well with, and what is inhibiting, job and economic growth.

Focus on recruiting, and retaining, businesses which pay strong, competitive wages.

FIGHTING GOVERNMENT WASTE & LOWERING TAXES
Protect the rainy day savings fund Governor LePage worked so hard to build.

Force fiscal responsibility on Maine government by working on “Tight N’Up” spending proposal.

Impose budget quality controls to tie performance to a department’s spending authority.

Work for the reduction of the Maine income tax to protect families and make Maine competitive with other U.S. states.

Incentivize regionalization of local municipal services to provide property tax relief for Mainers, while increasing transparency so the Maine people really know where their dollars are being spent.

LOWERING HEALTHCARE COSTS AND PROTECTING CARE
Work to bring back successful Maine reforms, overridden by Washington, that increase competition, allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines and lower costs for Maine people.

Provide transparency so customers can compare prices between Maine hospitals for non-emergency services and treatments.

Ensure those who receive government funded health care, if physically able; contribute something toward their own care to ensure costs are not just shifted onto other payers or taxpayers.

Encourage best practices to reduce medical supply waste which drives up costs.

Work to reduce frivolous lawsuits which dramatically increase insurance and healthcare costs.

Advocate for Maine’s hospitals to ensure they receive the reimbursements promised by Washington bureaucracies when they agree to provide services for Veterans, our Seniors, and families.

CONTINUING WELFARE REFORM
Use state government to help promote the dignity that comes with a job, not just a government check, by connecting training and work availability with those who try entering the system, and performing a skills assessment when somebody applies for benefits.

Protect and encourage a strong fraud detection unit to improve enforcement against waste and fraud.

Support tougher penalties for those who commit fraud and work on programs to end the use of welfare EBT cards in the drug trade.

Support a stronger lifetime cap on “TANF” (ie Temporary Assistance) benefits.

Permanently limit and audit welfare dollars for those found to have large gambling winnings of $5,000 or more.

Support reforms that require random drug-testing for all welfare recipients.

Institute a tiered welfare system so individuals have a pathway to move from poverty to prosperity.

ADDRESSING MAINE’S FAILED REFERENDUM PROCESS
Reform the initiative signature gathering process and the wording of questions so Mainers can control the decisions affecting their lives, not out-of-state special interest groups.

PROTECTING OUR 2ND AMENDMENT WHILE IMPROVING SCHOOL & PUBLIC SAFETY
Fully uphold the Oath to protect and defend the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as well as Maine’s Constitution which states under Section 16: “Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.”

Veto unconstitutional measures which would limit law abiding citizen’s rights.

Place trained, armed school resource officers in every high school across the state.

Support a thorough review of Maine’s protocols and procedures to ensure that people – including our school kids – have the ability and systems to speak up and have their concerns heard over the actions, or potential actions, of others who might commit violence before it happens.

Support active shooter training for schools, large venues, and workplaces that need the training.

Review Maine’s mental health infrastructure to ensure those who need help can find it.

ENSURING A QUALITY EDUCATION, WITH BUDGET CONTROLS, AND A FOCUS ON MAINE CAREERS
Prioritize parental and local control in education curriculum decisions.

Provide improved performance evaluations for teachers and administrators with performance-based pay increases.

Permanently remove the failed 1-4 new Grading System in “Proficiency Based Education”

Evaluate high school, community college, and University system offerings with an eye on the careers in the region, long term trends, and coordination of programs to reduce costs and improve student outcomes, ensuring they align with Maine employers’ needs.

Provide taxpayers transparency on how education dollars are being spent at the local and state level with an eye on cost increases vs inflation, long term trends, and student outcomes.

Bring back a focus on CTE (Career Technical Education) which provides good-paying careers for some students and fills current, regional job openings. Require all CTE instructors to spend a minimum of two weeks per year in a “best in class” Maine business to ensure knowledge of modern job processes, and to create job placement opportunities for students.

FIGHTING THE OPIOID CRISIS AND VIOLENT CRIME
Ensure law enforcement has the resources they need to catch the criminals - including strengthening our criminal code for addictive opioid drug trafficking and tools to track the traffickers.

Work with our schools to bring a new focus on drug education, deadly impacts of opioid abuse, and long term effects of heavy drug use.

Work with the federal government to ensure strong borders, including our Northern Border, to stem the tide of illegal drug trafficking while keeping an eye on interstate drug trafficking routes.

Support peer-to-peer recovery efforts like the AA model, and other treatment options, where those in recovery can serve as real-life mentors for others battling addiction.

HELPING STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Work with federal government to comply with federal law and prohibit sanctuary cities in Maine.

Notify and cooperate with the federal immigration officials when illegal immigrants are found by Maine state law enforcement officers.

Push for an end to any welfare dollars being used for illegal aliens.

Crack down on employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants.

SUPPORTING A PRO-LIFE CULTURE IN MAINE
Oppose any state taxpayer money for abortions.

Support Maine Right to Life’s Legislative efforts including parental consent in cases of minors and those who are incapacitated and efforts to require waiting periods for abortions.

Oppose the rationing of medical care for those suffering from disabilities and other terminal illnesses.

Oppose euthanasia in Maine. STANDING BEHIND OUR VETERANS WHO PROTECTED OUR FREEDOMS Continue support for Veterans educational and employment programs and Veterans Service Offices.

PROTECTING MAINE'S ENVIRONMENT
As a job creator, and the founder of Moody's, I take my responsibility as a businessman seriously, which is why Moody's leads the industry on environmentally friendly practices.

Moody’s is also the first business, in our industry in Maine, to achieve Environmental Leader status for its voluntary certification in the Maine Environmental Results program. Moody's was one of the first in our industry, in Maine, to adopt eco-friendly practices - voluntarily - even before the EPA passed rules requiring these practices. I partnered with the Maine Audobon Society for a renewable energy project to finance the installation of solar panels. Moody's uses waterborne base coats, energy-efficient lighting, recycled sheet metal, and energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems to ensure we maximize energy efficiency and minimize our impact on the planet. Gorham Auto Parts, a junkyard, was ripe with DEP violations when we purchased it. We focused on cleaning up the site, and received the environmental excellence award from the Auto Recyclers Association. We can and must strike a balance between protecting Maine's pristine environment, and having a stable and predictable regulatory and permitting structure for Maine's job creators. We must have a strong economy while minimizing our impact on our environment. We cannot sacrifice one at the expense of another.

[37]

—Shawn Moody’s campaign website (2018)[39]

Independent Teresea Hayes

Hayes' campaign website stated the following:

Five Step Plan
We’re known for our work ethic, independence, and common sense. We roll up our sleeves and get to work. We don’t wait around for government to solve our problems, we innovate, collaborate, prioritize, and put a little elbow grease into getting the job done. We also lend a helping hand to our friends and neighbors when they need it -- whether that’s helping to stack that last cord of wood or keeping an eye on their place when they’re out of town.

That’s exactly what Maine’s businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofits have been doing for years to help solve our state’s demographic and workforce challenges. Growing Maine’s economy starts with supporting these efforts that are already underway.

From the moment that I am sworn in as Governor, Maine’s entrepreneurs, job creators, educators, and economic and community development professionals will have a partner in the Blaine House. I am a no-nonsense, non-partisan leader who will leverage my position as the state’s chief executive to celebrate their successes, champion their hard work, and collaborate with them to make Maine the best place in the country to work.

My Administration will unite Republicans and Democrats in the Maine Legislature around policy initiatives that include investing in young people who invest in Maine, promoting our institutions of higher learning, boosting worker participation in our economy, engaging Maine’s growing retiree population, and welcoming legal immigrants and skilled labor to our state.

We will also implement many of the data-driven policy recommendations found in the “Making Maine Work” report that was released earlier this year by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Development Foundation, and Educate Maine.

Maine can’t afford another partisan Governor who thinks that he or she knows the one right way to grow Maine’s economy. We also shouldn’t waste time reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch. We deserve better; we deserve a Governor who is beholden only to the Maine people.

As Maine’s only Independent, Clean Elections candidate for Governor, I don’t owe anything to anybody, except to the people of Maine. My administration will hire the best and brightest talent, regardless of their political party or who they voted for in the last election. When I’m Governor, partisan and special interests will no longer block compromise solutions, the trend lines will start to move in the right directions, and we’ll generate better outcomes for Mainers.

I put people over partisanship to solve problems and I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 6th.

-- Terry

Step One: Support What Is Already Working We shouldn’t waste time reinventing the wheel or starting from scratch. Growing Maine’s economy starts with supporting what is already working in Maine. Here are just three examples of collaborative efforts already demonstrating success at growing Maine’s economy.

FocusMaine.FocusMaine has identified three industries that show great promise for job growth in Maine: the new food economy in both agriculture and aquaculture, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The group is also working to strengthen the relationships between industry and education in these sectors, and continuing to build Maine's brand as the best place in the world to live and work. FocusMaine believes that their implementation plan will help create 20,000 new trade jobs across the state within 10 years.

FOR/Maine.Conveneved by the Maine Development Foundation, Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine (FOR/Maine) is a collaboration between industry, communities, government, education, and non-profits, which have come together to realize the next generation of Maine’s great forest economy. Their top line goal is to revitalize Maine’s forests products industry so that it will contribute $12B in economic activity annually by 2025.

MaineSpark.MaineSpark is a 10-year commitment from Maine’s most influential education and business leaders to work together to ensure that Maine’s workforce is productive and competitive. MaineSpark organizations connect people with the education, training, jobs, programs and resources needed to thrive in Maine’s robust and changing economy. The stated goal is to have 60% of Maine adults with a degree or certificate of value by 2025.

Step Two: An Economic Development Plan For Maine Maine needs a focused, clear, data-driven, statewide, long-range strategic plan for economic development. Prosperity will not happen by accident. Our state must become a reliable partner in pursuit of economic development opportunities for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and potential employees, including those already here in Maine, as well as across the country and around the world.

An important first step will be to embrace the recently released "Making Maine Work" report, which was developed through a collaboration between the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Development Foundation, and Educate Maine.

The Hayes Administration will also work with the Legislature to support the Maine Economic Growth Council and other key stakeholders to develop a non-partisan long-range economic development plan that has buy-in from business leaders, regional and local economic development professionals, and most importantly, from Maine people.

If Maine is to be both a great place to live and a great place to make a living, we need a strategy and a plan to make it so. The state’s long-range plan will:

Build on our assets and strengths and avoid fragmented and scattershot strategies that ignore the impact on our natural resources and rural character;

Take into account regional challenges and opportunities, recognizing that not all places in Maine will benefit from the same strategies;

Focus our university system’s research, innovation, and workforce and economic development efforts;

Align the state’s tax code with our twenty-first century economy so that individuals, families, and businesses contribute fairly and benefit proportionally;

Allow our towns, cities, schools, and local and regional development agencies to work within their communities knowing where they fit into the overall state strategy and to plan proactively and for the long term;

Complement and coordinate with the efforts of Maine businesses and entrepreneurs; and,

Be a cohesive and consistent vision, with measurable long-term goals and priorities, to optimize return on public investments, guide resource allocation, and ensure that our policy priorities move us toward the agreed upon goals. Step Three: Implement Maine’s Plan Implementing Maine’s economic development plan will be the responsibility of everyone in state government. Governor Hayes will make sure that everyone knows that they are a part of something bigger than themselves and that Maine’s success depends on all of our contributions.

Partisan fighting is petty, and it’s downright reckless when considering Maine’s demographic and economic challenges. Governor Hayes will not engage in partisan fighting or keeping score, and she will successfully break the cycle of partisan fighting and gridlock in Augusta that has held Maine back.

Step Four: Measure Projects, Make Adjustments In 1993, Maine lawmakers created the nonpartisan Maine Economic Growth Council to develop a long-term economic development plan for our state. The 19 members of the Council are jointly appointed by Maine’s Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate, and they represent a variety of economic sectors across our state.

This is the 24th year that the Council has produced its annual report entitled “Measures of Growth,” which is the state’s taxpayer-funded blueprint to grow Maine’s economy and improve the quality of life for all Maine people. Typically, this report has been printed and placed on shelves, left to collect dust.

In 2012, while serving in the Maine House, Terry started the Measures of Growth Caucus and brought together Republican, Democratic, and independent lawmakers to review data, discuss challenges and opportunities, and build consensus around focus areas and policy priorities.

Terry Hayes will be Maine’s “Measures of Growth” Governor, committed to bringing together Republicans, Democrats, and independents to use data to guide our policy work.

Maine’s economic development plan will include provisions in statute for evaluating progress against predetermined benchmarks and goals. This is critical, so that adjustments can be made as necessary to ensure that every public and private dollar expended to grow Maine’s economy has the greatest return on investment.

Step Five: Transition To The Next Administration Republicans and Democrats twice elected Terry Hayes to serve as Maine’s first independent State Treasurer. As State Treasurer, Terry has worked with a Republican administration and lawmakers in both parties to help put Maine’s fiscal house in order. She has consistently risen above the partisan fray to manage $14 billion in annual transactions on behalf of Maine’s taxpayers.

Governing, when done well, is a shared responsibility and a collaborative exercise. Collaboration is critical to the long-term success of public policy that generates better outcomes and survives future legislatures and administrations. How we do things matters.

Terry learned this truth through life experiences as State Treasurer, a State Representative, school board member, teacher, guardian, and the owner of two successful small businesses.

The focused, clear, data-driven, statewide, long-range strategic plan for economic development that is developed during the Hayes Administration and has buy-in from people across the state and the political spectrum will become Maine’s plan over time.

It won’t matter who gets the credit. What matters is generating better outcomes for Maine. Governor Hayes will gladly work with her successor to ensure a smooth transition.

This election is an opportunity for us to acknowledge that no one group of people in the state of Maine has all the right answers. Problems aren’t partisan, solutions shouldn’t be either.

I’m running for Governor to offer you a different choice – the better choice of an experienced, independent, and collaborative problem-solver who is beholden only to you, the Maine people, and not to party leaders, special interests, or wealthy campaign contributors.

If we can get it right when it comes to community, the environment, and the economy, then we’ll have a place where our children can stay, work, and raise their families. The path is lit for us, we just have to decide to walk it.

I’m Terry Hayes, and I ask for your vote for Governor on Nov. 6th. Together, we can do this better. Let’s get to it!

-- Terry

Five Big Ideas
1. Solve Maine's skilled labor shortage by marketing our state as a great place to live and work, as well as to play. Nearly 37 million people visited Maine last year. $8 million in dedicated funding is set aside each year to market our state as a tourist destination. The Hayes Administration will ask the Maine Legislature to match that investment with $8 million in dedicated annual revenue to develop a "pay-to-stay" program that invites tourists to live and work in Maine. We would only need to convince 0.05% of visitors to make Maine their home to solve our state's demographic and workforce challenges.

2. Lower the state income tax to 5% and export more of Maine's tax burden to tourists. Maine has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and it stifles economic growth. The top priority for the Hayes Administration will be to attract and retain skilled workers needed to fill existing jobs and grow Maine's economy. The focus, along with a shift in reliance on the sales tax generated from tourists, will allow for a reduction in the Maine state income tax rate from 7.15% to 5%.

3. Develop a wellness and prevention plan for Maine to lower health care costs. To lower health care costs, Maine should accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid, but we must at the same time close the gap in reimbursements to providers. However, Medicaid expansion alone isn't enough to drive down costs. That is why the Hayes Administration will work with private insurers and the largest employers in Maine to develop a statewide wellness and prevention plan that incentivizes healthier lives and preventative care, and less reliance on emergency room visits, thus driving down the cost of health care for all.

4. Expand broadband by asking lawmakers and voters to approve $100 million in annual bonding for four years to connect every business in Maine with high speed fiber Internet. Broadband is the superhighway of today's economy. Our businesses can compete globally with reliable, high-speed broadband. The Hayes Administration will propose a $100 million general obligation bond each year for a minimum of four years to be matched with federal dollars to build out the middle and last mile of fiber broadband access across Maine. The Hayes Administration will also prioritize fixing the funding formula for Maine's Highway Fund in order to maintain our roads and bridges on a 'pay as we go' basis instead of borrowing for these expenses as we have done for the past five years.

5. Replace the arbitrary 55% funding for education, which the state has never met in 14 years, with a statewide teacher contract paid by the state that compensates Maine's educators as professionals. The Hayes Administration will stop the politicization of education funding and focus schools on their core mission of teaching and learning to prepare students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Teachers are on the front lines and deserve to be compensated at a level that recognizes their importance. A starting teacher shouldn't quality for public assistance. The Hayes Administration will work with policymakers and advocates to make these changes.

This election is an opportunity for us to acknowledge that no one group of people in the state of Maine has all the right answers. Problems aren’t partisan, solutions shouldn’t be either.

I’m running for Governor to offer you a different choice – the better choice of an experienced, independent, and collaborative problem-solver who is beholden only to you, the Maine people, and not to party leaders, special interests, or wealthy campaign contributors.

If we can get it right when it comes to community, the environment, and the economy, then we’ll have a place where our children can stay, work, and raise their families. The path is lit for us, we just have to decide to walk it.

I’m Terry Hayes, and I ask for your vote for Governor on Nov. 6th. Together, we can unite Maine and lead our state in a bold new direction. Let’s get to it!

-- Terry

Economy
LET’S MAKE MAINE THE BEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO WORK Maine is blessed with scenic beauty and abundant assets upon which to build a robust economy: natural resources, fertile agricultural acreage, abundant supplies of freshwater, and bountiful coastal and offshore waters; a pristine environment and places of unrivalled natural beauty that invite visitors from around the world. And we have welcoming communities where hard-working, skilled, resilient, and innovative people want to live.

Our challenge is to marshal those resources – our competitive advantages – and leverage them into new jobs and a growing economy that can sustain Maine’s future. That requires leadership and vision from a Governor who will be Maine’s champion and chief ambassador, and who has the experience to manage state resources in partnership with the private sector to pursue new opportunities.

Making Maine the best place to work in America begins with innovative and collaborative leadership.

GROWING OUR ECONOMY STARTS WITH A LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLAN Maine needs a focused, clear, data-driven, statewide, long-range strategic plan for economic development. Prosperity will not happen by accident. Our state must become a reliable partner in pursuit of economic development opportunities for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and potential employees, including those already here in Maine, as well as across the country and around the world.

A good first step will be to embrace the recently released "Making Maine Work" report, which was developed through a collaboration between the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Development Foundation, and EducateMaine.

The Hayes Administration will also work with the Legislature to support the Maine Economic Growth Council and other key stakeholders to develop a non-partisan long-range economic development plan that has buy-in from business leaders, regional and local economic development professionals, and most importantly, from Maine people.

If Maine is to be both a great place to live and a great place to make a living, we need a strategy and a plan to make it so. The state’s long-range plan will:

Build on our assets and strengths and avoid fragmented and scattershot strategies that ignore the impact on our natural resources and rural character. Take into account regional challenges and opportunities, recognizing that not all places in Maine will benefit from the same strategies. Focus our university system’s research, innovation, and workforce and economic development efforts. Align the state’s tax code with our twenty first century economy so that individuals, families, and businesses contribute fairly and benefit proportionally. Allow our towns, cities, schools, and local and regional development agencies to work within their communities knowing where they fit into the overall state strategy and to plan proactively and for the long term. Complement and coordinate with the efforts of Maine businesses and entrepreneurs. Be a cohesive and consistent vision, with measurable long-term goals and priorities, to optimize return on public investments, guide resource allocation, and ensure that our policy priorities move us toward the agreed upon goals. GROWING A SKILLED AND PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE The lead constraint to economic growth in Maine is our demographics. More than any tax breaks, loan programs or other incentives, a plentiful supply of skilled and productive workers will keep businesses here and draw new businesses to Maine. It is in our shared interest for state government to play a leadership role in matching our education and lifelong training resources with the needs of our businesses.

The Hayes administration will work with the Legislature to establish an Office of Workforce Development, which will be charged with increasing industry and education partnerships, working collaboratively with Maine businesses to pursue the fastest, most effective path to align education with pressing workforce needs, and upgrading the skills of Maine’s workforce at a scale commensurate with the growing needs of a global, innovative and knowledge-based economy.

Under Terry’s leadership, Maine will also join the Skillful State Network, a group of twenty founding states committed to the transformation of workforce development by open sharing of best practices and sharing of ideas and results.

CLOSE THE SKILLS GAP WITH WORKFORCE TRAINING The need to invest in our human talent has never been more pressing. Just as the shuttered paper mill in Bucksport is being reimagined as a salmon farm, we must find new ways to prepare Mainers for multiple job and career changes throughout their lifetimes.

Many good jobs in Maine remain hard to fill because demand outstrips the specialized training required. While not requiring a four-year college degree, these hard-to-fill jobs often require certification. Such jobs range from healthcare record coders to bioinformatics specialists and project managers. They pay good salaries, but they require training that needs to be affordable and available to working adults.

A top priority of the Hayes Administration will be to elevate the skills of our existing workforce, to retrain displaced workers, and to take advantage of the skills of new legal immigrants. Maine needs a vehicle that connects stakeholders to close the skills gap by identifying workforce needs and engaging the future workforce to develop Maine’s talent.

Our challenge is to marshal Maine’s talented citizens, in partnership with our public schools, universities and community colleges and Maine’s employers, to sustain Maine’s future. We will match our education and training resources with the needs of Maine’s employers so they can grow and prosper and ensure that educational and training resources create opportunities for career advancement.

INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN MAINE With targeted incentives, our young people won’t feel the need to leave Maine to be successful. And, for those who need some encouragement to move here, once they’re here, have put down roots and experience life in Maine, they won’t want to leave. For example, by building on and simplifying the Education Opportunity Tax Credit, coordinating with the Maine State Housing Authority to take advantage of ample, low-cost, and high-quality housing stock in rural parts of the state, working with our preschool community and public schools to providing voluntary high-quality preschool for younger children, we can keep our children and grandchildren here, attract talent and reward investment in our communities.

PROMOTE OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION Our public and private institutions of higher learning are destinations for students from around the world. The University of Maine has seen continued growth in out-of-state enrollment (up 36 percent in the past five years to now nearly 6,000 students), Bowdoin College boasts nearly 10% of the student body either carries an international passport or hails from outside of the United States and 62% from outside of New England, and Thomas College hosts students from 21 states and 8 countries.

To encourage these students “from away” to stay in Maine after college, we can leverage the efforts of employers like Idexx and WEX and those in the hospitality sector through a “one-stop shopping system” to offer summer jobs and internship opportunities with possible incentives, in the form of tuition reimbursement or course credit.

BOOST WORKER PARTICIPATION We need to tap all Mainers to participate in the workforce, including those with disabilities, veterans, individuals who have been incarcerated or have experienced a substance abuse disorder and disengaged youths. We need to work with non-profit agencies, community-based programs, our jails, and employers to implement innovative training and support strategies.

LEVERAGE OUR GROWING RETIREE POPULATION We can take advantage of the skills that semi-retirees bring to the table. We could solve some of our most pressing needs in rural areas for physicians and nurses by encouraging those close to retirement to take advantage of the quality of life available in rural Maine.

To make this a reality, Terry will lead the effort to encourage physicians and other providers approaching retirement - especially those qualified to provide the types of patient services that are critical to the survival of community hospitals such as obstetrical and neonatal care - to resettle in our vibrant, low cost, low crime, rural communities with top flight healthcare that typify our Leapfrog Hospital communities (six Maine hospitals received "A" grades in the spring 2018 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades including Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth and The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle).

WELCOME LEGAL IMMIGRANTS We will welcome new Mainers and reduce the barriers to their entry into the workforce. There are over 1,000 unemployed foreign-born individuals living in Maine, many with college degrees and technical qualifications. We can make it easier to convert credentials from their country of origin and we can provide language assistance in the workplace to eliminate the challenges that compel talented workers to take a job below their capacity to contribute.

We owe it to ourselves to welcome newcomers and develop a comprehensive strategy to integrate them into our communities. We will work with our towns and cities to adopt a proactive strategy to build a community environment, learning from what’s already working to welcome and support both existing legal immigrant populations and those who choose to relocate to the area.

PROMOTE MAINE’S BRAND Terry will be the state's best salesperson and ambassador. Maine needs a governor who will champion Maine’s attributes as a beautiful, friendly and safe place to live, and Terry will be that governor.

Maine’s image as beautiful and safe is a marketer’s dream. Maine boasts some of the most stunning landscapes, coastline and natural wonders in the world - and we while we are committed to protecting it, we can also prosper from its many unique qualities. We should aggressively build and promote a single unified Maine brand and strategically seek markets for products that are authentically and indisputably Maine-made, grown or produced.

GROW DEMAND FOR MAINE PRODUCTS In a world where products that are sustainably grown with traceable origins are increasingly prized, the products of Maine’s farms, forests, and wood fiber producers and processors can command premium prices and retain value for the growers and the processors. As governor, Terry will work with businesses and farms to strategically seek markets – a worldwide audience including domestic consumers – for food, fiber and other products that are authentically and indisputably Maine-made, grown, or produced. Last year, Maine International Trade Center (MITC) reported that 2,262 Maine companies exported $2.7 billion in goods and services to 176 countries. Trade supports 180,500 (nearly one in four) Maine jobs. Let’s build on this effort.

BE STRATEGIC AND SMART ABOUT REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES Well-run businesses and other states have capital budgeting processes and have adopted consistent borrowing guidelines; so should the State of Maine. This will make it more likely that the decisions on infrastructure investments are less political and more strategic and it will ensure that selected projects are ones that will yield the most return over a period of time. It will also mean that general obligation bond authorizations sent out for voter approval will align with smart and affordable borrowing. Capital budgeting will allow us to rank our transportation and communications infrastructure projects in terms of financial reward, social benefits, and environmental impact.

BUILD A THRIVING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BASE We will invest in Maine people and communities in ways that enable businesses to compete nationally and internationally. Improving Maine’s relatively low level of productivity is critical to this effort. States across the nation are prioritizing research and development (R&D) and Maine lost ground by virtue of its episodic and weak commitment to R&D. To close this gap and reach 3 percent of GDP, our R&D investments need to outpace those of the national average. To improve our economy, a Hayes Administration will commit to a steady and sustainable stream of public and private investment.

SHOW APPRECIATION FOR MAINE BUSINESSES Communicate with existing Maine companies on a regular basis to stay current with what is working well and what might need adjustment. Our Maine businesses are the key to our collective success. Working collaboratively will protect our future.

Healthcare

HEALTHY & WELL All Mainers deserve healthcare that is accessible and affordable, yet healthcare costs here are among the highest in the nation and are rising faster than the national average. Maine’s percentage of uninsured at 11.6% is more than double the New England average of 5.3%. Without affordable access, a rising percentage of Mainers are missing or delaying essential medical and dental care until a crisis develops. Addressing crises in healthcare is taking a bigger bite out of family and state budgets.


Spending more on healthcare doesn’t mean Mainers are getting healthier – in fact, it often means the opposite. If we were healthier overall, Maine could spend less on healthcare. We can reduce what we each pay individually for our own care – and what we pay collectively – if we help people stay healthier and prioritize preventing chronic disease before it starts.

The Hayes Administration will work with stakeholders to devise a public health plan for Maine, drawing on successes from Maine’s business community to educate and motivate individuals to live healthier lives.

LOWER COSTS AND INCREASE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATES Right now, we face two significant challenges: health insurance is too expensive and too many people don’t have access to the care they need. With leadership from the Governor’s Office, we will get healthcare right, and that means providing universal access to quality and affordable healthcare. Our failure to get this done puts bigger and bigger barriers in the way of employers who often shoulder higher and higher insurance premiums and Mainers who want to enter the labor force or get a better job.

UNIVERSAL BASIC HEALTHCARE FOR MAINERS The path toward universal basic healthcare requires collaboration with Maine businesses, community leaders, healthcare providers, hospitals, nursing homes, patient advocates and policy experts to map out how we can get there from here. Whether it is through offering a public option to uninsured Mainers by opening up the health plans offered to state employees or MaineCare to those who wish to purchase coverage through the healthcare exchange or by pressing for a collaborative single payer solution with our New England neighbors, the goal is to increase coverage while lowering costs. The details of such programs are critical and require careful consideration, including how they will be funded.

The Hayes administration will implement the will of Maine voters and will accept the federal funds available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand MaineCare. This will provide insurance coverage to nearly 70,000 of our working poor, and in turn these Mainers will be able to access regular doctor’s visits, vaccinations, and other forms of preventive care as well as addiction treatment and counseling.

At the same time, the Hayes administration will take full advantage of the ACA’s opportunities to muscle down on costs through innovation, expanding access to more cost-effective home and community-based services, and focusing on wellness, prevention, and quality of life.

For example, Oregon improved the coordination of all types of healthcare providers (physical health care, addictions and mental health care) under Medicaid, and generated $2.2 billion in state and federal savings. Arkansas’s multi-payer model bundled most of the state’s insurance payers, including Medicaid, private insurers, and large employers, and saved $35 million after factoring in care coordination payments to providers and shared savings to providers.

MENTAL HEALTH As the daughter of a woman who spent more than seven years as an inpatient at the former Augusta Mental Health Institute, the wife of a clinical social worker, and the sister of the Westbrook Chief of Police, Terry understands the importance of effectively addressing the treatment needs of those who experience brain diseases and behavioral health disorders, and to do so in appropriate settings.

Currently, our mental health system is setting up children and families for failure. We spend over $100 million in state dollars each year towards this effort, but we aren’t meeting the needs of those suffering from behavioral issues and we don’t have a strategic plan. Some diseases affecting mental health are chronic and need to be detected early and managed over a lifetime. We need to shift Maine’s focus in mental health care away from crisis management and emergency care and in the direction of screening, prevention, recovery, access and ongoing availability of evidenced-based care.

ORAL HEALTH The integration of oral health with overall health is also critical to early intervention and prevention of disease. According to the Health Policy Institute, the number of emergency department (ED) visits for dental conditions in the United States continues to rise. In 2012, ED dental visits cost the U.S. healthcare system $1.6 billion, with an average cost of $749 per visit. In Maine, dental problems are a top reason for ED visits among poor residents.

Maine voters approved a $5.5M bond in 2010 to help create the dental school at University of New England in Portland. The first class of dentists graduated in 2017 and eleven of the graduates stayed in Maine. Each year we will benefit from this investment with additional dental professionals available to help Mainers.

The reimbursement rates for dental care within Mainecare are too low. Maine dentists can’t afford to treat Mainecare patients and cover operating costs. We must address this financial gap in order to solve the access to dental care issue for Mainers who do not have dental insurance.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Terry supports reproductive freedom for women. The Hayes Administration will oppose federal and state efforts to restrict or to cut funding for women’s health care and Terry is committed to preserving women’s ability to access contraception through providers like Planned Parenthood. Terry will also oppose attempts to directly or indirectly restrict access to safe and legal abortion, regardless of whether women are insured privately or are MaineCare clients.

OPIOID EPIDEMIC We must recognize the opioid epidemic as a public health emergency. Approximately one person per day is dying from a drug-related overdose, most of which are caused by opioid use. According to the American Enterprise Institute, the opioid epidemic is costing Maine the fifth-highest share of state GDP in the nation.

The opioid epidemic is an all-hands-on-deck crisis as there is a lot to unpack. Substance abuse disorders must be approached as a complex, multidimensional problem by funding prevention, effective treatment, and wraparound services including medical services, housing, employment, food, and basic household needs. Getting to the root of the problem requires bringing all stakeholders to the table as we carve our path forward.

Stemming the tide and consequences of dependence and abuse will be a top priority of the Hayes Administration. We will start with a campaign to eliminate the stigma attached to addiction and focus on making treatment available ‘upon demand’.

PAY FOR THINGS THAT WORK The State is a direct purchaser of more than one-third of all Maine healthcare services, delivered through the mechanisms of MaineCare and via insurance coverage of its employees. These public dollars represent an enormous opportunity to advance statewide delivery, measure outcomes and advance efficiencies to make sure we’re getting the best bang for our buck.

INCREASE TRANSPARENCY Maine’s healthcare system needs to be more transparent. Patients should understand how much their healthcare costs and why. We can make sure consumers have the information they need to make smart decisions about their own healthcare.

LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS People across Maine face prohibitive prescription drug expenses. Through smarter buying and evaluating whether certain drugs are worth the price, Maine can follow the lead of New York and Massachusetts by demanding fair pricing and discounts from drug makers. For example, New York identified 30 drugs just this year that were priced too high, and those drug manufacturers agreed to deep discounts, resulting in about 60 million dollars in annual savings.

STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR DOCTORS All Maine citizens deserve assurance that they will have a medical home so that together with their physicians they can better manage their chronic conditions at lower costs and with improvements in both quality and quantity of life. Recent studies show that strong relationships between patients and their primary care providers can decrease medical costs (even for the sickest patients) and increase patient health.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW INCENTIVES UNDER THE CHRONIC CARE ACT TO HELP SENIORS STAY IN THEIR HOMES By beefing up Maine’s internet connections to community anchor institutions such as hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and healthcare clinics and behavioral health providers, Maine will be better able to meet the routine challenges faced by our rural aging residents by providing state-of-the-art telemedicine and, more specifically, telepsychiatry, that can help to stretch our resources over our vast geography and keep seniors in their homes.

Maine will take advantage of expanded reimbursement under the Chronic Care Act recently passed by Congress. The Act provides new financial incentives for the use of telehealth services and allows for homecare social services such as visits by a personal assistant to help with bathing and dressing; visits by a nurse or a pharmacist to make sure a Medicare beneficiary with a dozen prescriptions is taking the right medicines; and special supervised housing for a person with dementia who cannot be left alone.

BOOST MAINECARE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS The current level of MaineCare reimbursement rates and the inability of the Maine Legislature to fix this problem is creating a crisis for families and providers across Maine. Maine has set the MaineCare reimbursement rate for hospitals at a rate that covers about 72% of the actual cost of treating these patients in a Maine hospital. The resulting underpayments shift costs to commercial payers and contributes to almost half of Maine hospitals operating with negative operating margins and potential nursing home closures.

This system of persistent under-reimbursement is unsustainable. The Hayes administration will work with all providers and with the Legislature to devise solutions that lower the overall costs and increase the reimbursement rates.

Education
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY MAINER The Hayes Administration’s goal is to see that every Mainer has access to a quality education that will give them the skills and tools they need to reach their full potential. This is the surest path to individual success and a bright future for our state.

Terry taught junior high and high school social studies in the Messalonskee School District, she was the Director of Adult Education in Gardiner, she served on her local school board for thirteen years, and she was a Guardian Ad Litem throughout the state for nearly thirty years. Terry knows firsthand that there are sober challenges ahead of us.

Creating opportunity for every Mainer to succeed begins with the Hayes Administration’s commitment to these principles:

A Commitment to Educational Excellence A Level Playing Field for All Maine Children A Great Teacher in Every Classroom A Consistent Investment in Higher Education and Adult Learners A COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE Our children are Maine’s future workers, entrepreneurs, and business owners. Addressing learning gaps in early education will ensure that fewer students fall behind. Reading skills are critical for children to experience future academic success and lifelong financial stability, but only about one-third of Maine 4th grade students – 37 percent – scored at or above reading proficiency levels on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2017. We must ensure that young Mainers can read proficiently by supporting our teachers and improving the home-school partnership.

Terry will help lead improvement efforts for stronger student outcomes by embracing the efforts of the MaineSpark collaboration. MaineSpark is a 10-year commitment from Maine’s most influential education and business leaders to work together to ensure that Maine’s workforce is productive and competitive; to increase the overall educational attainment of Maine’s people; and to broaden the understanding that Maine is a state full of opportunities and a great place to live and work. MaineSpark organizations connect people with the education, training, jobs, and resources needed to thrive in Maine’s robust and changing economy.

MaineSpark is powered by a coalition of organizations—schools and universities, nonprofits and foundations, government agencies and businesses—with a common goal: by 2025, 60% of Mainers will hold education and workforce credentials that position Maine and its families for success.

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL MAINE CHILDREN EXPAND ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EARLY LEARNING FOR FOUR YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

Increased participation in high quality, early childhood programs help prepare Maine children for school success. Participants in these programs are less likely to repeat grades, less likely to need remedial services, and less likely to be diagnosed with a learning disability; they are more likely to be ready for kindergarten, more likely to graduate from high school, and more likely to attend college, and earn a higher income. The cost-benefit analysis is clear.

STOP THE SUMMER LEARNING SLIDE

We will work with school staff and parents to stop the “Summer Learning Slide” that often results in lost reading progress over the elementary and middle school years. The Hayes Administration will partner with school districts and community-based organizations to implement strategies to eliminate summer learning loss.

IMPROVING LITERACY AND MATH SKILLS FOR HIGH-NEED K-12 STUDENTS

We can combat the negative effects of poverty and economic disadvantage by targeting improvement in core academic subjects, particularly in school districts and schools where at least 50% of pupils are eligible for Free and/or Reduced-Price Lunch to ensure that every child receives a first-rate education. We can learn from and replicate the successes of initiatives sponsored by the Maine Department of Education, the MoMEntum K-3 Literacy and Numeracy4ME K-4 Pilot programs to strengthen core academic programs (including the blending of other content areas with literacy and mathematics) and replicate their successes.

PREPARE OUR STUDENTS TO BE INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS

Beyond competency in literacy and mathematics, part of preparing Maine students for the next economy is to make sure all students have access to updated K-12 curriculum in financial literacy, marketing, accounting, computer science, leadership and collaborative skills.

EXTENDING LEARNING TIME (ELT) OPPORTUNITIES.

Investments in ELT can close learning gaps. A recent study by Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) reviewed case studies in six Maine schools showing positive outcomes including growth in reading and math (Portland and Sanford), increased student participation in academic and social-emotional enrichment (Bangor) and financial literacy programs (Skowhegan), and improved student behavior (Sullivan and Ellsworth).

BUILDING STUDENT CHARACTER

Government has a role to play in working with local schools, nonprofit organizations, and religious institutions to support evidence-based interventions that influence positive child development. Developing soft skills, like overcoming adversity, exercising self-control, and persisting at tasks, are traits of successful individuals who take personal responsibility and contribute to society.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO ENGAGE IN THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION

The Hayes Administration will support local efforts to expand programs that involve families and support their engagement in our schools by:

Offering two and three generation learning opportunities for parents and grandparents through after-school classes, including ESL/Bilingual Programs, HiSet (GED), personal finance, and technology classes. Expanding district-wide family development programs that teach parents how to work with teachers, what the academic standards mean, and how to support their children in their school work. Redesigning community schools suffering from declining enrollments in cost-effective ways by helping these communities collaborate with local businesses, libraries and cultural organizations. A GREAT TEACHER FOR EVERY CLASSROOM Maine’s teacher shortages for the current year, reported by the U.S. Department of Education, include math, science, special education, world languages, English as a Second Language, gifted and talented, industrial arts, and school librarians (U.S. DOE, 2016). Maine needs great teachers and we need to be certain that we provide the time necessary to do their jobs.

RESTORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME

The core mission of our pre-K - 12 public schools is teaching and learning. Achieving this core mission requires time - instructional time and practice time. The school day has become over-scheduled with many other activities that crowd out the quality instructional time. This has a pretty simple fix - restore a minimum of five hours for teaching and learning to the school day - every day.

ENCOURAGE TEACHING AS A PROFESSION

We must recognize that during the school year, children likely spend more time with their teachers than with their parents. Our teachers are charged with teaching them, keeping them safe, feeding them, and modeling appropriate behavior. We must appreciate these professionals, and communicate our appreciation frequently. A great teacher can do miracles - and we want all of our teachers to be great.

SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

Many of Maine’s finest teachers are not paid enough – nowhere near what they can earn with comparable educational achievements and responsibilities in other professions. The lack of investment in our teachers is compromising public education in Maine. Every day we lose wonderful teachers, and with them go the aspirations of our children. We need to pay teachers a competitive, professional salary, provide opportunities and training for professional advancement and make sure teachers have the instructional time needed so that every child in Maine can succeed.

INVEST IN HIGHER EDUCATION & ADULT LEARNERS Maine needs a strategic and long-term plan to provide consistent and adequate state support for public higher education. Our community colleges and public universities will be responsible for delivering the majority of the credentials needed in skilled trades, tech industries, and other professional-service sectors. Finishing high school might once have provided enough education to find employment that pays well, but globalization and automation are decimating those jobs.

LOWER THE FINANCIAL BARRIER TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Changes in employment and the shifting of jobs among industries have led to a change in the skills demanded by Maine employers. The fastest rate of job growth is expected in occupations with the highest education requirements, and Maine currently has a post-secondary education attainment level below the requirements of these jobs of the future.

When it comes to higher education, affordability is vital. Low-income students used to be able to go college for close to free but now an estimated 240,000 Mainers hold a total of $6.6 billion in student loan debt (approximately $28,000 per loan-holder). Terry commends the University System for launching a promise program at four campuses to cover fees and tuition for low-income Maine students and, although she believes that students should have some “skin in the game,” her Administration will study the promise program and the feasibility of lowering other financial barriers to attending school beyond high school (whether at our public community colleges or universities) so that students are not left with crippling debt.

EXPAND THE REACH OF EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAMS

Like the innovative Bridge Year Program which gives high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn college credits while attending high school or their local career and technical center, other Maine early college programs enable Maine students to reduce college costs while increasing the likelihood that they will complete a two-year or four-year degree program.

USE OUR RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY.

Two systems of public higher education in Maine (our community college and state university system) with duplicative costs and programs severely limit Maine’s ability to make needed investments in our public higher education system. While progress has been made to achieve significant annual savings and keeping each campus into budget, we need to continue streamlining our structural costs. Maine should continue to lower the costs of public higher education by reducing duplication of programs, scattered resources, and enable students to migrate more easily between our six community colleges and seven universities. By committing to articulation agreements among our campuses, students will be able to maximize credits for courses in a student’s chosen major, particularly in sequenced, affordable programs in a variety of specialized fields.

FIX OVERDUE FACILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS

Just like roads and bridges and access to broadband, our university campuses are critical public infrastructure, essential to Maine’s economic success. Based on a recent comprehensive assessment, nearly half of the University’s 550 buildings have not been meaningfully renovated in at least 50 years. This makes our buildings and improvements more costly to maintain and renovate, and presents safety and accessibility concerns. A Hayes Administration will support bonding to fix our overdue facility needs so that we can build training capacity and better align our resources with workforce needs.

BREAK DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Maine has made progress in breaking down the barriers between academic and technical education at the secondary level, without lowering academic standards. We are seeing an increase in partnerships between private employers and colleges. The joint efforts of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Educate Maine to double student participation in vocational programs by 2020 appear promising. These combined efforts are aimed at the state’s fastest growing sectors and most sought-after employees (welders, electricians, HVAC installers, precision machinists, police officers, licensed practical nurses, carpenters and auto technicians). The Hayes Administration will look to support this work.

STRENGTHEN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND STUDENT

We will strengthen connections between our education pipeline and workforce sectors to better match jobs and workers and keep more Mainers engaged in the workforce. The number of adults in Maine with some college but no credential exceeds 200,000, representing a significant cost in terms of stranded financial investment and unmet aspirations. This also represents an enormous opportunity to develop a workforce responsive to the needs of Maine employers.

CONTINUE TO INVEST IN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS

We need to continue to build on the good work of Maine’s adult education programs which serve 75 locations across the state to increase the availability of classes to new Mainers in English language acquisition and workforce training and draw legal immigrants to areas where there are worker shortages. Maine’s adult education centers provide vital resources for adult learners, linking public schools and advanced training and education at Maine’s community colleges and university campuses, providing remedial math and literacy coursework that enable adult learners to succeed in college and teaching the skills required for higher-performing and higher-paid jobs. Programs such as the KV Academy, a Maine College Transition Program, help with prerequisite courses and make a specialized academic advisor available to all students.

Infrastructure
BUILDING MAINE’S CONNECTIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY A sound plan for strengthening Maine’s economy and spurring private sector investment must tackle the critical improvements required to bring Maine's transportation infrastructure and communication networks into the 21st century. Maintaining roads, bridges, and ports ranks high among the most important and traditional functions of state and local government, yet we have underfunded these crucial sectors and limited our ability to compete globally as a result.


The world is global, connected, and competitive. Goods can be sold throughout the world with the click of a button, and skilled employees who want the lifestyle Maine offers can increasingly have their jobs follow them, instead of the other way around.

Broadband is the superhighway of today’s economy. Our businesses can compete globally with reliable, high-speed broadband. If we build it, they will come. Maine people and businesses will be able to compete with anyone, anywhere in the world, and our state will become a magnet for highly skilled and educated workers.

UNLOCK PROSPERITY BY INVESTING IN BROADBAND Maine needs a governor who realizes that the demand for high-speed internet will only increase; and what constitutes broadband in terms of transmission speed and quality of service is a moving target. To meet Maine’s broadband access challenges, we need to rely on a variety of technologies. That being said, the Hayes Administration will prioritize modern fiber optic connectivity to locally identified anchor institutions (such as hospitals, health centers, business parks, schools and community centers) to meet the ever-increasing demand for faster upload and download speeds.

Terry applauds the accomplishments of communities that have taken steps to close the digital divide and strengthen Maine's economy and infrastructure. Sanford is building a municipal fiber-optic network to connect to 82 anchor institutions and estimates that some businesses will save $500 to $700 per month once the network is up and running. And the joint effort of Calais and Baileyville to connect 87.7 miles with broadband using a “first-mile” model, will not only meet the connectivity needs of existing businesses (including highly skilled employees of Woodland Pulp and St. Croix Tissue who sometimes need to tend to equipment during off hours from their homes), but also grow home businesses and farms and provide more residents with access to needed health care via telemedicine. This project will also jumpstart Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative’s deployment of a smart grid technology.

BE A LEADER AND A PARTNER Local governments and communities are leading the way to reach this goal by doing the hard, innovative work to bring internet services to their communities. Maine needs a leader in the Blaine House to extend reliable broadband to the entire state.

LEVERAGE PRIVATE-PUBLIC SOURCES The Hayes Administration will be an active facilitator for local communities to secure affordable broadband for their communities, and will work to optimize private sector investment and drive high speed reliable access. Terry will work with ConnectMe to identify federal grant sources, facilitate access to Federal grant money, and help local communities overcome the bureaucratic challenges involved in applying for and receiving Federal grants.

Terry will also pursue strategies to utilize Maine’s existing fiber infrastructure to help connect communities currently without reliable broadband. She will direct state agencies to explore how existing infrastructure and resources can be used to expand broadband access.

DIG-ONCE: MINIMIZE THE COST OF BUILDING NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE The Hayes Administration will make sure our regulatory regime minimizes the cost of building the needed infrastructure by simplifying the regulatory decision-making that delays connecting cable to utility poles and expanding the “dig once” policy to encourage co-location of broadband conduit whenever bridges are replaced to save money. Likewise, our networks should tie into the existing fiber network used as the backbone for many of public schools and libraries as well as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) already operating in Maine and Maine’s advanced fiber-optic network, called the Three-Ring Binder.

IMPROVE CELLULAR CONNECTIONS STATEWIDE Another priority of the Hayes Administration will be to boost cell coverage. Lack of reliable cell phone service impedes job growth. Topography and dispersed, rural population remain key obstacles slowing build-out. To overcome these obstacles, the ConnectME Authority will serve an important convening and coordinating role to help establish public/private partnerships with telecom providers.

MODERNIZE OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK FOR THE LONG TERM The delays we have created in maintaining our transportation infrastructure puts our public at risk and hurts our pocketbooks. Deficient roads cost Maine motorists a total of $1 billion annually in the form of additional vehicle operating costs, congestion-related delays, and automobile accidents. This is also a matter of safety: 361 (one out of every seven) bridges in Maine are structurally deficient and the percentage of priority 1 and 2 roads rated fair or better declined from 66% in 2014 to 64% in 2015.

FIX IT FIRST The first step is to fix the infrastructure we already have. Many of our roads and bridges are in need of repair, and we are seeing these problems impact our safety, pocketbook, and our quality of life. We need to work together to devise modern funding streams to provide the money required to make these necessary repairs.

INVEST IN TARGET SERVICE CENTER COMMUNITIES More than half of Maine people reside in service center communities located in all regions of the state, from Kittery to Fort Kent. Service centers should be priorities for modernization of Maine’s transportation infrastructure. Properly served by infrastructure improvements, these service center communities can be economic game changers for all the surrounding communities.

EXPAND OPTIONS We need an efficient transportation system that prioritizes choice, mobility, and sustainability. Combined with continued investments in roads, highways, and bridges, Maine also needs a comprehensive transportation strategy that includes cost-effective alternatives to traditional modes of moving people and goods, including infrastructure for electric vehicles, bus and rail service, coordinated regional transportation, bike routes, and sidewalks along existing roads. While local and regional communities will continue to lead local initiatives, the state must be a partner in supporting these projects and should ensure that all systems are well coordinated, connected, and efficient.

Energy & Environment

TERRY’S PLAN TO PROTECT MAINE’S ENVIRONMENT AND GROW RENEWABLE ENERGY We need to lead with our assets and chief among them is our natural environment. We have what people want right here in Maine. Protecting Maine’s environment and creating opportunities for renewable energy will be important components of a long-term, non-partisan, comprehensive, statewide economic development plan for Maine that is developed during the first year of the Hayes Administration.

As a lifelong Mainer who grew up camping, and canoeing, Terry is committed to environmental policies that keep our air and water clean, promote public health and move Maine towards energy independence. She believes that protecting Maine’s environment — our land, water and air — is a moral responsibility and that climate change is among our greatest challenges.

Today, Mainers are among the most vulnerable to spiking foreign energy costs, as we are among the most dependent in the country on oil for home heating and gasoline powered vehicles.

Our natural surroundings are the very soul of Maine, and Maine’s economy and Maine’s future are tied directly to a clean environment. Refocusing on the stewardship of our environment will be a key element of the Hayes Administration. Among Terry’s core principles are:

Acknowledge Climate Change. Climate change is real and it is the greatest environmental challenge of our time. Just ask our lobstermen and lobsterwomen (a half-billion dollar industry), those who harvest wildlife shellfish, and others whose livelihoods depend on the quality and temperature of our waters in the Gulf of Maine. Climate change and ocean acidification portend massive and adverse effects on our public health and our way of life. As the next governor of Maine, Terry will exercise informed leadership to limit and mitigate these negative impacts and to vigorously protect our natural assets. Promote Diversification of Maine’s Renewable Energy Portfolio. A Hayes Administration will work to increase renewable energy capacity, protect and develop export markets for Maine’s renewable energy production, and advance the development of solar, wind and tidal generation of electricity in ways that are cost effective and consistent with the protection of Maine’s environmental assets. Her intent is to do this without tipping the scales or creating shortcuts for one strategy over another, and especially focused on ways that benefit Maine ratepayers, public and private. We need more renewables - and they must be sited properly – so that Maine can reduce reliance on the use of foreign produced fossil fuels, lower energy prices, and address climate change and air pollution. Encourage Energy Efficiency. The cheapest kilowatt of power is the one that is not used. We need to redouble Maine’s efforts at improving energy efficiency and energy conservation. Energy is a significant cost for most manufacturing businesses and its high cost makes it harder for our businesses to compete in the global marketplace. Bring All Voices to the Table to Protect our Sustainable Natural Resources. Terry believes sustainable natural resources are critical to Maine’s future growth and prosperity. They represent a key competitive advantage we have over other states and the best hope for creating jobs and reviving our economy. That’s why we need to make sure all voices, in all parts of Maine, are heard when it comes to environmental and conservation policies, including the voices of those Mainers who work in the traditional industries of farming, fishing, and forestry, and those who have traditionally enjoyed access to Maine’s land for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and other forms of recreation. Tackle Climate Change Maine needs a statewide, coordinated plan to reduce the risks posed by climate change and to help prepare Maine residents, communities and businesses to manage those risks. The Legislature recently approved, with strong bipartisan support the establishment of a Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission, similar to New Hampshire, to specifically address the risks posed to coastal communities and state assets. The bill was vetoed by Governor LePage, putting Maine’s natural environment and some of our most vital industries — fishing, coastal tourism, and recreation at further risk. As member of the Maine House, Terry voted to implement a statewide plan on climate change; as Governor she will support the establishment of a Coastal Risks and Hazards Commission and work to mitigate the risks and prepare for the unavoidable effects of climate change.

As Governor, Terry will also call for Maine to join 14 other states and Puerto Rico to uphold the international climate accord signed in Paris by all but two of the world’s nations. Further, the Hayes Administration will join our Senators and Representatives to fight drilling off the coast of Maine.

In 2007, Terry supported the establishment of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a market-based effort among nine Northeast states to reduce climate-changing carbon pollution from power plants and to spur money-saving investments in energy efficiency and clean energy. The evidence is clear that RGGI’s existing framework is working to cut power sector carbon dioxide emissions and helping fund the efforts of Efficiency Maine.

Between 2012 and 2017, Efficiency Maine used $54 million in RGGI funds to leverage $88 million in private investment and achieve $277 million in energy savings for Maine homes and businesses. As governor, Terry will continue to look for regional and nonpartisan collaboration opportunities among our neighbors to curtail air pollution and protect our health.

Support Renewable Energy: Terry is a results-driven, collaborative leader that welcomes investment in clean energy businesses and seeks savings for ratepayers. She will work with Maine’s research, educational and community leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and advocacy groups to develop a state energy plan that will complement and support our long term economic development strategy by encouraging investment and job creation in the renewable energy sector – a sector with enormous potential to grow our economy and add value in the years ahead.

Terry will work to find the intersections of interest that can serve as starting points for moving forward collaboratively. In 2016, Governor LePage vetoed LD 1649, a bipartisan solution to leveraging Maine’s abundant supply of solar energy. While not perfect, it was lauded by the Public Advocate as an important step toward a “technology neutral platform” that will eventually allow “small scale distributed resources, like solar PV, energy storage, combined heat and power, to participate and compete - side by side in the region’s electricity markets.” LD 1649 was hammered out between diverse stakeholder groups including Maine solar businesses and the Public Advocate, and was supported by the Environmental Priorities Coalition, Central Maine Power, Emera Power, the Maine Municipal Association, and the Conservation Law Foundation. Governor Hayes will participate and promote similar opportunities during her administration.

Terry shares rational concerns about how and where generation and transmission facilities are sited, about their noise, wilderness and view-shed impacts, and about their effects on wildlife and habitat. We need to work together to strike the right balance between meeting our energy needs with renewables and protecting what is unique about Maine. By respecting all who are willing to share in this work, we can find and maintain that balance.

The Hayes Administration will also turn its attention to the transportation sector. It is now the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions nationally and in Maine. Terry will look for market-based incentives to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles in use, and adopt shared standards for a network of electric vehicle charging stations.

Reduce Mainers’ Energy Bills Through A Bridge to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Natural Gas as a Bridge Fuel: Maine needs to move as quickly as possible away from fuels that have unstable pricing and that damage Maine’s environment and move toward energy sources with more stable operating costs and much lower collateral costs. During that transition, Maine needs access to more natural gas as a bridge fuel, but in ways that don't leave us stuck on the bridge.

Natural gas is a lower-cost bridge fuel between higher carbon fossil fuels and cleaner renewable energy sources that will help more Maine communities attract and maintain businesses.

In 2013, as a member of the Maine House, Terry supported the Omnibus Energy Bill, a state initiative to lower energy costs and protect the environment by boosting the region’s natural gas supply and increasing funding for energy-efficiency efforts. The Energy Bill provided the PUC with the authority, until December 31, 2018, to enter into a contract for new interstate pipeline capacity, should they determine it was in the best interest of Maine ratepayers and gas users. Under Terry’s Administration, Maine will continue to work with other New England states to find a regional solution as part of the recently granted two-year extension of the PUC’s authority.

Alternatively, we must continue to look at tapping into Canada’s vast hydropower resources, to meet Maine’s demand without sacrificing our natural landscape.

Efficiency is the Cheapest Energy Source. Not only is the cheapest kilowatt of power is the one that is not used but about 8,850 Maine residents worked in energy efficiency related jobs in 2016, says E4 the Future. According to the American Council for and Energy-Efficient Economy, Maine ranks 16th nationally but we can do better by:

Redoubling Maine’s efforts at conservation and energy efficiency, starting with a comprehensive review of existing programs and incentives, including smart grid technologies, new rate structure designs and diversified energy sources for Maine homes and businesses. Expanding access to broadband to allow for the implementation of smart grid technology including the more efficient transmission of electricity, integration of smart meters, reduction of peak demand and more consumer choice. Increasing assistance to less affluent Mainers who can’t afford to respond to market signals by weatherizing their homes, switching their fuels or improving their heating technologies. Collaborating with Maine communities to combat sprawl through better coordination of state transportation policies and local smart growth policies. Supporting businesses and research institutions to develop technologies that will transform how we produce and save energy (including the integration of distributed generation and the development of energy storage) — not just here in Maine, but around the world. Over the 2006-16 period alone, the 10 largest emitters of greenhouse gases in Maine (all in energy and paper) cut their emissions by 46 percent thanks largely to new technologies. Conserve Maine’s Natural Places Appreciation of Maine’s natural places is central to Terry’s love for Maine and tourists’ desire to visit here. Sustainable natural resources are critical to Maine’s future growth and prosperity. They represent our key competitive advantages over other states and an important foundation for jobs and economic growth.

We must invest in those resources and find ways to add value to them. As we have done so many times in the past, Terry believes we can find and strike a balance between protecting our most special wilderness areas, encouraging sustainable wood harvesting, and supporting recreation and other traditional uses throughout our vast forest lands. To preserve Maine’s legacy and conserve our natural resources, the Hayes Administration will focus on the following three priorities:

Bolster State Level Resources: If our environmental assets are to continue to be one of our competitive advantages from wildlife watching and hunting and fishing to logging and lobstering, we must rebuild, restore and reinvigorate:

the integrity of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection so that it once again will have the staffing levels, competence, expertise leadership it needs to help Maine residents and businesses protect our environmental quality and public health; and Maine’s conservation programs so that we can continue to protect Maine’s forests, marine and critical habitats from development while some remain sustainably managed working forests, farms and waterfronts. Appoint Strong Leaders: As an Independent and a Clean Elections candidate, Terry will not be obligated to make her choices to lead the DEP, the DIFW or other agencies based on party affiliation or returning political favors to special interest groups. She will reach out to a variety of stakeholders with expertise and will make decisions based on how well the person will do the job for all Mainers. This includes appointing strong commissioners, deputies and bureau directors to work to ensure Maine’s conservation ethic is consistent throughout state government.

[37]

—Teresea Hayes’ campaign website (2018)[40]

Social media

Twitter accounts

Facebook accounts

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Democratic Party Janet Mills Facebook

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Other 2018 statewide elections

See also: States with both gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections in 2018

This race took place in one of twenty-two states that held elections for both governor and U.S. Senate in 2018.

A table of where these elections occurred, the names of incumbents prior to the 2018 elections, and links to our coverage of these races can be viewed by clicking "[show]" on the banner below:

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Eight of 16 Maine counties—50 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Androscoggin County, Maine 9.38% 12.78% 15.22%
Aroostook County, Maine 17.19% 7.62% 9.58%
Franklin County, Maine 5.47% 18.41% 20.29%
Kennebec County, Maine 3.58% 13.46% 14.78%
Oxford County, Maine 12.94% 14.73% 16.04%
Penobscot County, Maine 10.91% 2.93% 5.12%
Somerset County, Maine 22.67% 1.68% 5.70%
Washington County, Maine 18.44% 1.60% 1.01%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Maine with 47.8 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 44.9 percent. In 2016, Maine had four electoral votes. Maine's share of electoral votes represented 0.7 percent of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs in the general election and 1.5 percent of the 270 votes needed to be elected president. Maine awards its electoral votes by congressional district and the popular vote. It has two electoral votes for the statewide vote and one for each of its two congressional districts. In presidential elections between 1820 and 2016, Maine voted Republican 67.3 percent of the time and Democratic 32.6 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Maine voted Democratic all five times.[41]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Maine. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[42][43]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 129 out of 151 state House districts in Maine with an average margin of victory of 19.2 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 69 out of 151 state House districts in Maine with an average margin of victory of 23.7 points. Clinton won nine districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 22 out of 151 state House districts in Maine with an average margin of victory of 8.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 82 out of 151 state House districts in Maine with an average margin of victory of 16 points. Trump won 17 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

Election history

2014

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2014
Governor of Maine, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul LePage Incumbent 48.2% 294,519
     Democratic Mike Michaud 43.4% 265,114
     Independent Eliot Cutler 8.4% 51,515
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0% 79
Total Votes 611,227
Election results via Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions

2010

See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2010
Governor of Maine, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPaul LePage 37.6% 218,065
     Democratic Elizabeth Mitchell 18.8% 109,387
     Independent Eliot R. Cutler 35.9% 208,270
     Independent Shawn H. Moody 5% 28,756
     Independent Kevin L. Scott 1% 5,664
     Others Various 0.5% 2,624
     Blanks - 1.3% 7,772
Total Votes 580,538
Election results via Maine Secretary of State

Wave election analysis

See also: Wave elections (1918-2016)

The term wave election is frequently used to describe an election cycle in which one party makes significant electoral gains. How many seats would Republicans have had to lose for the 2018 midterm election to be considered a wave election?

Ballotpedia examined the results of the 50 election cycles that occurred between 1918 and 2016—spanning from President Woodrow Wilson's (D) second midterm in 1918 to Donald Trump's (R) first presidential election in 2016. We define wave elections as the 20 percent of elections in that period resulting in the greatest seat swings against the president's party.

Applying this definition to gubernatorial elections, we found that Republicans needed to lose seven seats for 2018 to qualify as a wave election.

The chart below shows the number of seats the president's party lost in the 11 gubernatorial waves from 1918 to 2016. Click here to read the full report.

Gubernatorial wave elections
Year President Party Election type Gubernatorial seats change Elections analyzed[44]
1970 Nixon R First midterm -12 35
1922 Harding R First midterm -11 33
1932 Hoover R Presidential -10 35
1920 Wilson D Presidential -10 36
1994 Clinton D First midterm -10 36
1930 Hoover R First midterm -9 33
1938 Roosevelt D Second midterm -9 33
1966 Johnson D First midterm[45] -9 35
1954 Eisenhower R First midterm -8 33
1982 Reagan R First midterm -7 36
2010 Obama D First midterm -7 33

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Maine heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

  • Following the 2016 elections, an independent held one U.S. Senate seat and a Republican held the other.
  • A Democrat held one of Maine's two U.S. House seats, and a Republican held the other.

State executives

  • As of September 2018, Democrats held two of 10 state executive positions, a Republican and an independent each held one, and the remaining positions were officially nonpartisan.
  • The governor of Maine was Republican Paul LePage. The state held an election for governor on November 6, 2018. Maine does not have a lieutenant governor.

State legislature

  • Democrats controlled the state House. They had a 73-70 majority in the state House. Republicans control the Maine State Senate. They had an 18-17 majority in the chamber.

Trifecta status

  • Maine was under divided government, meaning that the two parties shared control of the state government. Paul LePage (R) served as governor and Republicans controlled the state Senate while Democrats controlled the state House.

2018 elections

See also: Maine elections, 2018

Maine held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Maine
 MaineU.S.
Total population:1,329,453316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):30,8433,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:95%73.6%
Black/African American:1.1%12.6%
Asian:1.1%5.1%
Native American:0.6%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2%3%
Hispanic/Latino:1.5%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:91.6%86.7%
College graduation rate:29%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$49,331$53,889
Persons below poverty level:16.6%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Maine.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2016, Maine's three largest cities were Portland (pop. est. 65,000), Lewiston (pop. est. 35,000), and Bangor (pop. est. 30,000).[46]

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Maine from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Maine Secretary of State and the Federal Election Commission.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Maine every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Maine 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2016 Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 47.8% Republican Party Donald Trump 44.9% 2.9%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 56.3% Republican Party Mitt Romney 41.0% 15.3%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 57.7% Republican Party John McCain 40.4% 17.3%
2004 Democratic Party John Kerry 53.6% Republican Party George W. Bush 44.6% 9.0%
2000 Democratic Party Al Gore 49.1% Republican Party George W. Bush 44.0% 5.1%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Maine from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Maine 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Susan Collins 67.0% Democratic Party Shenna Bellows 30.8% 36.2%
2012 Grey.png Angus King 51.1% Republican Party Charles Summers 29.7% 21.4%
2008 Republican Party Susan Collins 61.3% Democratic Party Thomas H. Allen 38.6% 22.7%
2006 Republican Party Olympia Snowe 74.0% Democratic Party Jean Hay Bright 20.6% 53.4%
2002 Republican Party Susan Collins 58.4% Democratic Party Chellie Pingree 41.6% 16.8%
2000 Republican Party Olympia Snowe 68.9% Democratic Party Mark Lawrence 31.1% 37.8%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Maine.

Election results (Governor), Maine 2000-2016
Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
2014 Republican Party Paul LePage 48.2% Democratic Party Mike Michaud 43.4% 4.8%
2010 Republican Party Paul LePage 37.6% Grey.png Eliot Cutler 35.9% 1.7%
2006 Democratic Party John E. Baldacci 38.1% Republican Party Chandler E. Woodcock 30.2% 7.9%
2002 Democratic Party John E. Baldacci 47.1% Republican Party Peter E. Cianchette 41.5% 5.6%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Maine in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Maine 2000-2016
Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
2016 Republican Party 1 50.0% Democratic Party 1 50.0% Even
2014 Republican Party 1 50.0% Democratic Party 1 50.0% Even
2012 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2010 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2008 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2006 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2004 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2002 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2
2000 Republican Party 0 0% Democratic Party 2 100% D+2

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

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


Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Maine governor election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also

Maine government:

Elections:

Ballotpedia exclusives:

External links

Footnotes

  1. All about Redistricting, "Who draws the lines?" accessed January 24, 2018
  2. Maine Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed October 5, 2018
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Portland Press Herald, "Independent candidate for governor Alan Caron ends campaign, endorses Janet Mills," October 29, 2018
  4. Bangor Daily News, "Independent Alan Caron quits Maine governor’s race," October 29, 2018
  5. Ballotpedia staff communication with Maine Secretary of State, October 29, 2018
  6. Janet Mills for Governor, "About," accessed September 13, 2018
  7. Janet Mills for Governor, "Home," accessed September 13, 2018
  8. 8.0 8.1 YouTube, "Above and Beyond," accessed September 4, 2018
  9. Shawn Moody for Governor, "About," accessed September 5, 2018
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Shawn Moody for Governor, "Home," accessed September 13, 2018
  11. LinkedIn, "Terry Hayes," accessed December 4, 2014
  12. 12.0 12.1 YouTube, "A Unifying Outsider," July 18, 2018
  13. 13.0 13.1 YouTube, "Are You There?," September 27, 2018
  14. YouTube, "A Better Choice," September 10, 2018
  15. YouTube, "Do Things Differently," September 10, 2018
  16. OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  17. OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  18. National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  19. 19.0 19.1 Portland Press Herald, "Democratic PAC tops $1 million in spending in Maine governor’s race," September 17, 2018
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Portland Press Herald, "Democratic super PAC spends almost $500,000 to back Janet Mills for governor," September 7, 2018
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Twitter, "Daily Kos Elections on October 18, 2018"
  22. 22.0 22.1 Bangor Daily News, "Maine Republicans give unenrolled Terry Hayes airtime in new attack ad," October 9, 2018
  23. Portland Press Herald, "Maine Republican Party reports $133,000 ad buy to target Democrat Mills," September 24, 2018
  24. Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  25. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  26. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  27. Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  28. The County, "Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine endorses Moody," September 13, 2018
  29. The Boston Globe, "Janet Mills for Maine Governor," October 30, 2018
  30. Priorities USA, "Priorities USA Action Launches $400,000 Digital Ad Campaign Highlighting Janet Mills’ Record as a Champion for Education," August 31, 2018
  31. Teresea Hayes for Governor, "State Treasurer Terry Hayes Qualifies for Clean Elections with 4,000 Unique Contributors," April 2, 2018
  32. Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, "The Maine Clean Election Act," accessed January 22, 2018
  33. Portland Press-Herald, "Budget typo holding up millions in Maine ‘clean election’ funds," May 22, 2018
  34. Portland Press-Herald, "Clean elections fund running dry amid partisan wrangling," June 26, 2018
  35. Maine Public, "After Court Battle, Maine's Clean Elections Candidates To Get $1 Million In Campaign Funds," August 7, 2018
  36. Maine Public, "Maine Ethics Commission Votes To Release Money Previously Frozen By Budget Error," August 16, 2018
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  38. Janet Mills for Governor, “Issues,” accessed September 13, 2018
  39. Shawn Moody for Governor, “Issues,” accessed September 13, 2018
  40. Terry Hayes for Governor, “New Direction,” accessed October 31, 2018
  41. 270towin.com, "Maine," accessed June 1, 2017
  42. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  43. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  44. The number of gubernatorial seats up for election varies, with as many as 36 seats and as few as 12 seats being up in a single even-numbered year.
  45. Lyndon Johnson's (D) first term began in November 1963 after the death of President John F. Kennedy (D), who was first elected in 1960. Before Johnson had his first midterm in 1966, he was re-elected president in 1964.
  46. Maine Demographics, "Maine Cities by Population," accessed September 6, 2018