Voters fill voting booths at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by Michael G. Seamans/ Maine Morning Star)
Democrats in Maine have held a trifecta of power since 2018, with control of both chambers of the Legislature as well as the governor’s office. However, with all 35 seats in the Maine Senate and 151 seats in the House of Representatives on the ballot Tuesday, the party’s hold on Augusta could be toppled.
Most races were yet to be called by the Associated Press as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. However, the results that were available showed Democrats failed to flip an open district in the Maine Senate that both parties were after.
With more than 95% of the vote counted, the AP called District 20 in Androscoggin County for Republican Bruce Bickford. He defeated former state Rep. Bettyann Sheats, who was looking to make a comeback with support from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
The seat was open after former Republican state Rep. Eric Brakey decided to move to New Hampshire to direct a Libertarian group and not seek reelection.
Last session, Democrats had a 9-vote margin in the Senate, with 22 seats to Republicans’ 13. In the House, Democrats had 79 seats while 67 were held by Republicans, with two independents and three open seats.
Almost one in five seats in the Maine House were decided before a single vote was cast because they had only one candidate running. Of the 28 unchallenged races in the House, 16 candidates are Democrats and 12 are Republicans, giving Democrats a slight edge in their hope of retaining a majority, which requires a total of 76 members. And Democrats knew they would keep two seats in the Senate that did not see Republican candidates.
But there are 43 seats in the Maine Senate and House without an incumbent running, clearing a path for either party to add to its total.
As results trickle in, the make-up of the 132nd Legislature will take shape. These are the results, as called by the Associated Press. Official results will be known after individual towns report their results to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State.
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