Maine Election Day is Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know.
Maine Voters Head to Polls Tuesday for Pivotal Primary Elections
Maine voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide a slate of competitive primary races that will shape the state's political landscape heading into November, including high-stakes contests for U.S. Senate, governor, and both congressional seats.
More than 56,000 Maine voters had already cast absentee ballots as of Thursday, the final day of in-person early voting, according to the Secretary of State's office.
Senate Race Takes Center Stage
The U.S. Senate race has captured the most attention. Democrat Graham Platner, a political newcomer who has built a following with an economic populist platform despite recent scandals, is expected to emerge from Tuesday's primary. He will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who is running for her sixth term without a primary challenger.
The Democratic Senate ballot includes some unusual entries. Former Governor Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign in late April after polling and fundraising fell behind Platner, remains listed because she has not filed formal withdrawal paperwork. Also on the ballot are David Costello, a former government official who served in Maine and Maryland, and Andrea LaFlamme, who is running a write-in campaign. Both have significantly trailed Mills and Platner in fundraising and polling.
Competitive Gubernatorial Contests
Both party primaries for governor feature crowded fields.
The Democratic side includes five candidates: Shenna Bellows, Maine's Secretary of State; Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate; Angus King III, a renewable energy entrepreneur and son of U.S. Senator Angus King; Hannah Pingree, daughter of U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree and former speaker of the Maine House; and Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seven Republicans are competing for their party's nomination: Jonathan Bush, a businessman and cousin of former President George W. Bush; Bobby Charles, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State; David Jones, a real estate broker; Garrett Mason, former Maine Senate Majority Leader; Owen McCarthy, a medical technology entrepreneur from Gorham; Ben Midgley, a former fitness franchise executive; and Robert Wessels, a retail manager from Paris. State Senator Jim Libby, who ended his campaign after failing to qualify for clean elections funding, also remains on the ballot without having formally withdrawn.
Congressional Races
In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree faces no primary opposition. Republicans Joshua Pietrowicz, a former Toyota sales consultant from New Gloucester, and Ron Russell, a retired Army veteran from Kennebunkport, will compete for their party's nomination.
The 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary features four candidates: State Senator Joe Baldacci of Bangor; Matt Dunlap, the state auditor and former Secretary of State; Jordan Wood, a former congressional staffer; and Paige Loud, a social worker and graduate student. Former Governor Paul LePage is the sole Republican in that race.
All 186 seats in the Maine Legislature are also on the ballot, along with local races, school budgets, and various referendums.
Ranked-Choice Runoffs Expected
State election officials anticipate that three races will require ranked-choice tabulations: both gubernatorial primaries and the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District. Voters in those contests will rank candidates in order of preference, with last-place finishers eliminated and their votes redistributed until a candidate receives a majority.
Because of the ranked-choice process, voters should not expect final results in those races immediately. The Secretary of State's office plans to begin counting ranked-choice ballots on June 12, with a goal of announcing results by June 19.
How to Vote
Polls will close at 8 p.m. Tuesday across Maine. Voters who still have absentee ballots must return them by that time. Absentee ballots can be dropped in secure boxes, returned to clerk's offices, or submitted at polling places, though rules vary by municipality. Portland voters, for example, must use designated drop boxes at City Hall on Myrtle Street or at 212 Canco Road, as absentee ballots cannot be returned at polling locations in that city.
Absentee ballots must be in their provided envelopes, signed and sealed. Voters who requested but did not return an absentee ballot may still vote in person at their regular polling location.
Maine allows same-day voter registration for citizens 16 and older, though those voting in this primary must be 18 by the November general election. First-time registrants need documents establishing Maine residency, such as a driver's license, passport, utility bill, or bank statement.
Party Participation Rules
Maine's semi-open primary system allows unenrolled voters to cast ballots in any single party primary without joining that party. However, voters already enrolled in a party may only participate in that party's contests. Those wishing to change or drop party affiliation should note that the deadline to do so before Tuesday's election was May 26.
