Harpswell voters support school budget, back Shah and Charles in primaries
Harpswell residents flocked to the polls on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, to weigh in on a range of local and statewide contests. The town’s community school served as the voting site, where election workers Marge Webster Warren and Cynthia Powers checked in voters throughout the day.
School budget and borrowing measures approved
Voters gave strong backing to the Maine School Administrative District 75 budget for the 2026‑27 fiscal year. The measure passed 1,647 to 367, approving a $61.2 million spending plan that is 5.7 percent higher than the previous year’s budget. Harpswell’s share of the cost, funded through property taxes, will be about $12 million, reflecting a 6.2 percent increase.
Two borrowing proposals also cleared the ballot. Residents authorized $115,772 for safety upgrades at Region 10 Technical High School in Brunswick by a margin of 1,887 to 184. They also approved $102,100 for an Americans with Disabilities Act‑compliant restroom at Bowdoin Central School, voting 1,761 to 310 in favor. Both loans will be drawn from a state program that offers loan forgiveness and zero‑interest financing. Final adoption of the budget and borrowing plans awaits endorsement from the other municipalities that belong to the respective districts.
Animal control ordinance amended
On the town ballot, Harpswell voters adopted an amendment to the local Animal Control Ordinance. The change, which passed 1,531 to 511, authorizes town officials to issue fines to dog owners who violate leash rules on municipal properties. Supporters cited a growing problem with unleashed dogs in public spaces.
Democratic primary results
Democratic turnout outpaced Republican participation, with 1,434 ballots cast in the Democratic primary compared to 621 in the Republican contest. In the race for governor, former public health chief Nirav Shah led the first‑choice tally with 550 votes. Shenna Bellows followed with 304, Hannah Pingree with 298, Troy Jackson with 165, and Angus King III with 93.
For the U.S. Senate seat, Democratic voters favored military veteran and political newcomer Graham Platner, who received 978 first‑place votes. Incumbent Governor Janet Mills garnered 286 votes, David Costello 141, and Andrea LaFlamme 4. Platner’s strong showing mirrored his statewide performance, where he captured 72.5 percent of the vote versus Mills’ 19.5 percent and Costello’s 7.9 percent, according to the Bangor Daily News. Mills had suspended her campaign in April.
Other Democratic contests saw incumbent District Attorney Jackie Sartoris defeat challenger Valerie Adams 961 to 261, and Amy Leshure prevail over Joel Mahaffey for county commissioner with 968 votes to 122. Uncontested Democratic primaries secured nominations for U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree, State Senator Mattie Daughtry, State Representative Cheryl Golek, Cumberland County Judge of Probate Paul Aranson, and Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce.
Republican primary results
Among Republicans, Bobby Charles, a former official in the George W. Bush administration, topped the gubernatorial field with 180 first‑place votes. Benjamin Midgley earned 118, Jonathan Bush 113, Garrett Mason 60, David Jones 23, Owen McCarthy 19, Robert Wessels 8, and James Libby 4. Statewide, Charles finished with 37.1 percent of the vote, Bush 20.5 percent, Midgley 20.3 percent, and Mason 11 percent, per the Bangor Daily News. Because no candidate surpassed the 50 percent threshold, both parties’ gubernatorial nominations will be decided through Maine’s ranked‑choice runoff process.
In the race for Maine’s 1st Congressional District, Harpswell Republicans favored Joshua Pietrowicz over Ronald Russell by a count of 263 to 221. Russell, however, claimed the statewide primary with 55.2 percent of the vote, according to the same source.
Uncontested Republican primaries affirmed nominations for U.S. Senator Susan Collins and set up local challenges: Bernard “Ben” Porter of Harpswell will run against incumbent Senator Mattie Daughtry, while Braeden Webber, also of Harpswell, will seek to unseat Representative Cheryl Golek.
Turnout and voter perspectives
A total of 2,100 Harpswell residents cast ballots, representing 46.1 percent of the town’s 4,556 registered voters. Election warden Amy Watson Saxton described the participation as “pretty strong turnout for a primary election,” estimating roughly 100 voters per hour and noting that 800 ballots had already been processed by Saturday through early and absentee voting. She praised the quality of candidates on both sides and said voters were “really excited to order their picks under the ranked‑choice system.” Watson Saxton added that the school budget vote helped drive turnout, observing that Harpswell residents “care deeply about their school system” and that she is “always impressed by Harpswell. They vote. I grew up here and I’m always impressed by the amount of people that come out, no matter what we’re voting on. It seems like they just love coming out.” She concluded, “It’s a really, really great thing to witness and be a part of.”
Voter Suzanne Popejoy said she turned out because voting is a “civil duty,” hoping to elect candidates for U.S. Senate and Maine governor “who will back our defense against our current president.” She added, “That’s the key,” and noted she would not miss the election even while feeling unwell.
Thaddeus Danforth, a retired woodworker and boatbuilder, cited town taxes as his top concern, saying after a pause, “I’d say probably taxes — town taxes.” He also expressed a desire for change at the national level and was eager to vote in the governor’s race, remarking, “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.”
The day’s proceedings were captured in photographs by Hannah Miller, and local commentary was provided by J.W. Oliver, editor of the Harpswell Anchor and a former Lincoln County News reporter recognized as the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year for 2017‑18.
