Several unresolved questions after Maine elections, including state flag and trail bond

A Portland house displays the 1909 Pine Tree Flag, which is ubiquitous across the state. (Photo by AnnMarie Hilton/ Maine Morning Star)

There are many lingering questions about election results in the Pine Tree State including too-close-to-call races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, as well as all but one of the statewide ballot questions. 

Maine voters weighed in on five statewide ballot referendum questions as part of Tuesday’s election. Results for one of those came in during the wee hours of Wednesday, but the other four are yet to be called by the Associated Press with a majority of votes counted. 

Question 1, which asked about placing limits on donations to political action committees that independently spend money to try to support or defeat candidates, won in a landslide with the AP calling it with the support of almost three-quarters of Maine voters. 

Questions two through four were bond initiatives that asked about funding to support innovative research and development, restore historic buildings and develop a new statewide trail system. Between 70% and 71% of the vote was counted for each of those questions, as of Wednesday morning, but none of them had been called.

Just after 7 a.m., the AP reported that the research and development bond had 55% support, the historic building bond had 52% support and the trail system bond had 56% support.

Question 5 was in a similarly tight spot with 55% of voters opposed to bringing back the former state flag design with the pine tree and blue star.