The Maine state flag flies outside the State House in Augusta. (Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star)
Democrats are poised to maintain their trifecta of power between the governor’s office and both chambers in the 132nd Maine Legislature.
Every race has not yet been called by The Associated Press but enough to confirm Democratic control of the Maine Senate.
The Maine House Democratic Campaign Committee said Thursday morning it was still waiting on one race to be called to confirm a majority in the lower chamber. Results collected by the House committee as well as its counterpart in the Senate show at least a 76- to 72-seat majority in the House and a 20- to 13-seat majority in the Senate.
If these results bear out, even with some possible recounts, it means Democrats in Maine have successfully bucked a national trend this election cycle of Republicans gaining control of state legislatures.
“Mainers have spoken, they have voted to elect educators, healthcare workers, small business owners, and parents – and have built State House and Senate majorities that are truly representative of the people of our great state,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake in a statement Wednesday evening.
“I am proud to congratulate them on their success, and I know that in the Legislature they will fight to put Maine’s families, freedoms, and future first.”
Even though Democrats will retain the control they’ve held since 2018, Republicans were able to make headway by flipping districts in both chambers and even unseating a few incumbents.
In the House, for example, 76 seats is the minimum needed to hold a majority, so Democrats will have a razor-thin margin headed into the next session. However, depending on the outcome of House District 141, they could end up with 77 members. There will also be two independent members in that chamber.
Democrats maintain (potentially narrower) control of Senate
Every incumbent in the Maine Senate that ran — more than two-thirds of members — was reelected, which helped the Democrats maintain their majority. However, that could be narrower than last session because they lost some open seats. The final margin will be determined by the races waiting to be called.
Republican Susan Bernard won the open seat in District 1 in Aroostook County, which was held by outgoing Democratic Senate President Troy Jackson. And Republican Scott Cyrway flipped the open seat in District 16 red.
Republicans were also successful at defending a few open seats that Democrats targeted.
The seat vacated by Eric Brakey in Androscoggin County’s District 20 will stay red because Bruce Bickford prevailed against former state Rep. Bettyann Sheats. Though the AP hasn’t called it yet, Republican Dick Bradstreet, who is looking to move from the Maine House to the upper chamber, has an edge over Democratic state Rep. Raegan LaRochelle for District 15 in Kennebec County.
Controlling the House, by a razor’s edge
Maine House incumbents did not have the same perfect record seen in the Senate.
Of the six incumbents who lost their reelection bids, Republicans won four of those seats, turning Districts 13, 17, 24 and 107 red. Democrats were only successful at unseating Edward Polewarczyk, the Republican incumbent in District 47.
However, the one race still in question does include Republican incumbent Lucas Lanigan, who was charged with domestic violence aggravated assault days before the election. As of 12 p.m. on Thursday, Lanigan was trailing Democrat Patricia Kidder 49% to 51%, with more than 95% of the vote counted.
Republican Quentin Chapman also flipped an open seat in District 88.
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