Democrats appear to retain control of Maine Legislature
Nov. 6—Despite losing a handful of seats to Republicans, Maine Democrats appeared poised to keep control of state government, maintaining their majorities in the state Senate and House of Representatives for Gov. Janet Mills' final two years in office.
Several races in each chamber remained too close to call Wednesday afternoon, and Republicans said they believe enough races remain in play — including expected recounts — that they still have a chance to take control of the House of Representatives.
But Democrats appeared to have the edge and said their numbers show they will maintain majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Preliminary results reported by the Associated Press indicated they would maintain control, allowing the party to set the agenda for the next two years and once again choose the state's three constitutional officers: secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer.
As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, Republicans had flipped three seats in the House and one in the Senate, while the Democrats flipped at least one seat in the House.
Republican Sue Bernard, of Caribou, won the District 1 Senate state, which is currently held by Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash.
Republicans also picked up House seats in Bucksport, Auburn and Raymond. But Democrats flipped a House seat in the Wiscasset area, resulting in a net increase of three seats for Republicans, with results still pending in other races.
Senate Democrats said they maintained control of the upper chamber with at least 19 of the 35 seats.
"Despite the outright lies and onslaught of dark money, these candidates emerged triumphant, running on a message to build the Maine the people of this state deserve," Jackson said in a written statement. "With the Country heading in a concerning direction, it is the people who will make up the 132nd Senate Democrats that give me hope. I have no doubt they will fight tooth and nail to deliver on health care, reproductive freedom, property tax relief and pocketbook issues."
Control of the 35-seat Senate and 151-seat House of Representatives will lay the groundwork for policy debates over the next two years about the state budget and everything that comes with it, from public education funding, revenue-sharing with municipalities and taxation, to abortion services, gun rights and everything in between.
Democrats have held both chambers throughout Mills' six years in office. Mills has often acted as a moderating force on her own party, resisting pressure to spend money on additional programs while instead delivering one-time rebates to taxpayers and building up reserve accounts for existing priorities such as health care and education spending.
Minority Republicans, meanwhile, have consistently expressed concerns about the growth of the state budget under Mills — from $7.2 billion to nearly $10.5 billion — and called for structural tax reform to spend down historic surpluses.
Republicans needed to flip five seats to take control of the Senate and nine seats to take the House, where Democrats hold 23 seats and 67 seats, respectively.
Two Augusta-area battleground races for Senate seats currently held by Republicans remained close to call Wednesday afternoon.
Republican Dick Bradstreet had 51% of the votes over Democrat Raegan LaRochelle in District 15, but AP had not yet called the race late Wednesday.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sean Smith, House Democratic campaign director, sent a message to supporters expressing confidence that Democrats would walk away with 77 seats, while Republicans would have 72 and independents would hold two seats.
"This is a very close, very hard fought 77-72-2 seat majority in an extremely difficult political climate with many challenges over the last two years," Smith said. "Congratulations to everybody for working so hard. And an incredible and heartfelt shoutout to those who fell short last night. We had so many wonderful legislators/candidates run incredible races under extremely difficult circumstances and in difficult districts."
House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham said he believed Republicans were still in striking distance. He expected a handful of races to head for recounts.
"We are currently at the highest number of election night wins since 2010, and are a few recounts from securing the majority in the House," Faulkingham said.
Republicans picked up seats in Bucksport, Auburn and Raymond, according to the AP, which as of 4 p.m. had called 59 races for Republicans, 59 for Democrats and 1 for an independent.
Republican Steven Bishop of Bucksport won with 52% of the vote, or about 200 votes, over Rep. Ronald Russell, D-Verona Island, in District 17.
The AP called the District 88 race for Republican Quentin Chapman, who had 55% of the vote and a 500-vote lead over against Democrat Stefanie Damien, with two of three precincts reporting. Both candidates are from Auburn.
And the AP called the District 86 race for Republican Rolfe Olsen, who had 52% of the vote and a 245-vote lead over Democrat Craig Messinger, with three of four precincts reporting. Both candidates are from Raymond.
Democrat Wayne Farrin earned 51% of the vote in House District 47, defeating Rep. Edward Polewarczyk, R-Wiscasset, by about 160 votes.
House District 58, currently held by Republican Daniel Newman of Belgrade, remained neck-and-neck. Newman trails Sharon Frost, who is unenrolled and from Belgrade, by 22 votes. Although all six precincts have reported, the AP has not yet projected a winner.
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