2 Maine legislative races proceed to ranked-choice runoffs, 3 to be recounted

 After taking out a memory stick and paperwork, a staffer holds up an envelope to show it's empty during ranked-choice voting tabulation on Friday for Republican and Democratic gubernatorial and Democratic 2nd Congressional District primaries at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ Maine election officials have started calculating ranked-choice voting results in two legislative races and announced that three more primaries will be recounted. The Republican primary races in House District 58 and Senate District 4 have proceeded to ranked-choice tabulation, the Maine Department of the Secretary of State announced Tuesday. [House District 58](https://www.pressherald.com/voter-guide/races/maine-house-district-58/) includes communities in Kennebec County, while Senate District 4 includes all of Piscataquis County and parts of Penobscot County. Related [What to watch for as Maine races head to ranked-choice runoffs](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/10/what-to-watch-for-as-maine-races-head-to-ranked-choice-runoffs/) In the House race, Dexter Bridges Jr. and Lawrence Bessey were virtually tied with 37% support in the Republican primary, while Jeffrey Harris earned 25% of the vote. In the Senate race, Chad Perkins led three other Republican candidates — Joseph Guerin, Zachary Wood and Gregory Pierce — on election night but did not earn 50% of the vote. The [ranked-choice tabulation](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/10/what-to-watch-for-as-maine-races-head-to-ranked-choice-runoffs/) is expected to take days. Both of Maine’s gubernatorial primaries and the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District also have proceeded to runoffs, and state officials say they [expect final results](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/12/ranked-choice-tabulation-starts-in-key-maine-primary-races/) sometime this week. Advertisement Officials also announced Tuesday that three more legislative races — the Democratic primaries in [Senate District 30](https://www.pressherald.com/voter-guide/races/maine-state-senate-district-30/) and House District 135, as well as the Republican primary in [House District 49](https://www.pressherald.com/voter-guide/races/maine-house-district-49/) — will be recounted. Senate District 30, which includes Gorham and part of Scarborough, features two sitting House members: Ellie Sato, of Gorham, and Sophie Warren, of Scarborough. The initial count showed Warren ahead by 24 votes. The recount will start June 22 at 9 a.m., according to the secretary of state’s office. [House District 135](https://www.pressherald.com/voter-guide/races/maine-house-district-135/) includes part of Kennebunk in York County and features Rachel Phipps and Lisa Pratt, both of Kennebunk. Initial vote totals had Pratt leading by 22 votes. The recount for that race is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on June 25. House District 49 includes communities in Sagadahoc County. The two Republicans vying for that nomination are Suzanne Andresen and Nicolas Hamlin, both of West Bath. The initial results had Andresen ahead by 78 votes. That recount is scheduled for June 25 at 9 a.m. During recounts, representatives for each candidate and state employees will manually review each paper ballot to determine official tallies, the secretary of state’s office said. Copy the Story Link Tagged: [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [Maine Secretary of State](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/maine-secretary-of-state/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/morgan-womack) [Morgan WomackStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/morgan-womack) Morgan covers breaking news and public safety for the Portland Press Herald. Before moving to Maine in 2024, she reported for Michigan State University's student-run publication, as well as the Indianapolis. [More by Morgan Womack](https://www.pressherald.com/author/morgan-womack)