National Democrats are trying to flip these Maine legislative districts this year
Dry brown grass lines the roadway Tuesday at Capitol Park in Augusta. The Maine State House is seen the background. (Joe Phelan/Staff Photographer)
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A national network of Democrats announced Thursday that it’s targeting 19 legislative races in Maine this fall to strengthen the party’s control of state government.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is looking to flip 14 Republican-held seats in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives, including seven with Republican incumbents seeking reelection. One of those targets is Sen. Matthew Harrington, R-Sanford, who serves as the assistant minority leader.
All 186 seats are up for grabs this fall. But the list of six Senate and 13 House target races offers a hint at what Democrats view as the top battleground districts — ones that could decide control over each chamber and the legislative agenda for the next two years.
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“2026 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to grow Democratic power everywhere,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a written statement, noting Democratic achievement amid the “Trump administration’s chaos.”
Democrats currently hold five-seat majorities in each chamber, including three Democrat-leaning independents in the House. The DLCC is looking to pick up nine seats in the House and five seats in the Senate currently held by Republicans.
The Republican State Leadership Committee, the national Republican campaign arm for state legislative races, has not released a list of its target races and did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
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The state legislative races are being overshadowed by higher-profile national and state races. Most of the attention is focused on the U.S. Senate race between former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson and Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins — a priority race for national Democrats. And there’s a three-way race between Democrat Hannah Pingree, Republican Bobby Charles and independent Rick Bennett to succeed Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is term limited.
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Maine Democrats have held a governing trifecta throughout Mills’ eight years in office. They’ve used that control to expand access to healthcare, including abortion; increase funding for public education and municipal services; and increase funding for housing and childcare.
Strong state revenues have produced surpluses despite a roughly 60% increase in the state budget during Mills’ tenure. Plus, Democrats have increased taxes and fees, including passing a new millionaires tax and increasing taxes on tobacco products.
The DLCC said in a news release that it’s working with local leaders in each chamber to provide support and resources for data, research and direct voter contact.
The Senate target list includes Republican-held seats in Augusta, Waterville, Oxford, Auburn and Sanford. It includes one seat currently held by a Democrat in Lewiston, where longtime lawmaker Peggy Rotundo is not seeking reelection.
Harrington, the assistant Republican leader who won reelection by about 20 points in 2024, brushed off being targeted by national Democrats for his Sanford seat. He said eight years of Democratic control in Augusta has made life more expensive for Mainers.
“I am not concerned with what a bunch of socialists in Washington, D.C., think,” Harrington said. “The people in my district know where I stand, and they understand that I have been fighting to make costs lower for Maine families.”
The House map includes Republican-held seats in Winterport, Norway, Fryeburg, Raymond, Auburn (2), Windham, Sanford and Wells. It also includes Democrat-held seats in Thomaston, Hallowell, Farmington and Sanford.
Here is a list of the districts being targeted by Democrats and the candidates running:
Senate
- District 15 (Augusta): Democrat Amanda Heath vs. Republican Kari McCormick
- District 16 (Waterville): Democrat Patric Moore vs. Republican Scott Cyrway (incumbent)
- District 18 (Oxford): Democrat Elizabeth Bosworth vs. Republican John Andrews
- District 20 (Auburn): Democrat Michael Scott vs. Republican Bruce Bickford (incumbent)
- District 21 (Lewiston): Democrat Shanna Cox vs. unenrolled Eryn Soule
- District 33 (Sanford): Democrat Mark Vigliotta vs. Republican Matthew Harrington (incumbent)
House
- District 37 (Winterport): Democrat Alan Orcutt vs. Republican Reagan Paul (incumbent)
- District 43 (Thomaston): Democrat Rhiannon Hampson vs. Republican Christopher Austin
- District 55 (Hallowell): Democrat Maureen AuCoin vs. Republican Charles Hippler IV
- District 75 (Farmington): Democrat Scott Landry vs. Republican Randall Gauvin
- District 81 (Norway): Democrat Christopher Easton vs. Republican Peter Wood (incumbent)
- District 82 (Fryeburg): Democrat Christopher Lewey vs. Republican Caleb Ness
- District 86 (Raymond): Democrat Abigail Geer vs. Republican Rolf Olsen Jr. (incumbent)
- District 88 (Auburn): Democrat Dana Staples vs. Republican Quentin Chapman (incumbent)
- District 90 (Auburn): Democrat Pamela Hart vs. Republican James Sorcek
- District 106 (Windham): Democrat Bradley Youngs vs. Republican Barbara Bagshaw (incumbent)
- District 142 (Sanford): Democrat Ayn Hanselmann vs. Republican Domingo Torres
- District 143 (Sanford): Democrat John Henkelman vs. Republican Melissa Simpson
- District 145 (Wells): Democrat Kristin Davis vs. Republican Caleb Chase
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Tagged: election 2026, maine legislature
Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined. More by Randy Billings
