Mills defeats LePage to win second term as governor: York County Maine Election 2022 results

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has turned back a challenge by Paul LePage, the bombastic former two-term Republican governor, to win a second term in Maine.

The first woman to serve as governor of the state, Mills had touted pragmatic leadership during the pandemic, including executive orders that LePage decried as a “reign of terror.” LePage also faulted Mills’ spending during the pandemic as he sought a third four-year term, which would have made him the longest-serving governor in state history.

“Tonight, you sent a clear message – a message that says we will continue to move forward, and we will not go back. We will continue to fight problems, and not one another,” Mills told the election-night crowd in downtown Portland.

LePage didn’t concede but acknowledged the math wasn’t adding up. He took an angry jab at the sitting governor during emotional remarks to his supporters in Lewiston, questioning her honesty and calling her an “elitist.”

It was a hard-fought battle with tens of millions of dollars in advertising by the candidates and dark-money groups.

The contest pitted a former attorney general from a family prominent in public service against a former businessman who was homeless as a boy and once compared himself to former President Donald Trump.

LePage stormed to office in 2010, and later described himself as a prototype for Republican President Donald Trump, in effect “Trump before Trump.” Democrats urged Mainers to reject the man who told the Portland NAACP to “kiss my butt,” compared the IRS to the Gestapo and said he’d tell then-President Barack Obama “to go to hell.”

Mills campaigned on her financial stewardship. She created the state’s largest rainy day fund, fully funded state education and returned $850 relief checks to most Mainers.

She said she wanted to continue her efforts on health care after expanding the state’s Medicaid rolls, and on education after boosting funding. She vowed to work to grow the economy and to ensure women continue to have the legal right to an abortion.

She and LePage were no strangers.

They clashed when Mills’ tenure as attorney general overlapped with LePage’s time in the Blaine House, with Mills refusing to represent the governor’s office on some matters.

LePage’s penchant for controversy and for degrading opponents and the media overshadowed his conservative record of reducing welfare rolls, shrinking government, paying off hospital debt and reforming state pensions.

When LePage left office in 2019, prevented from seeking a third consecutive term by the Maine Constitution, he decamped for Florida, where he said he planned to take advantage of lower taxes. But he didn’t stay away for long, and soon returned to challenge Mills.

This time, LePage avoided public comparisons to Trump on the campaign trail, and tried to moderate his tone. He acknowledged that Democrat Joe Biden was legitimately elected, and surprised abortion opponents by saying he wanted to keep Maine’s law legalizing abortion on the books.

Mills extended an olive branch in victory, urging her supporters not to gloat.

“There are decent people of goodwill who are worried and who disagree about how to best solve the problems we are facing. We should not dismiss these concerns or the people who hold them. We must embrace them and work to find common ground,” she said.

— Associated Press

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Pingree wins reelection to U.S. House in Maine's 1st Congressional District

Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree defeated Republican Ed Thelander in Tuesday’s election in the race for the 1st Congressional District.

"I am so honored and grateful that Mainers have entrusted me to represent them again in Congress," Pingree said. “With control of Washington hanging in the balance, we have urgent work ahead of us to restore reproductive rights, help working families struggling with global inflation, push back on threats to democracy, and protect our planet from the climate crisis.”

Pingree, who will be serving her eighth term, said women in the “First District made clear that they do not want Republican politicians making their personal reproductive decisions.”

“I plan to work like hell to ensure every woman always has access to abortion care both in Maine and across this country,” she said.

Pingree said she will continue to be a “champion in Congress” for lobstermen and women.

“I will never stop fighting misguided federal regulations and greedy corporate interests,” Pingree said. “And when Republicans come for our seniors' Social Security and Medicare, they can be damned sure that I will do everything I can to protect — and expand — the benefits that they have earned through decades of hard work.”

Thelander, a former Navy SEAL, entered the race saying he was unhappy with the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Issues he ran on included border security, the economy and reining in government spending.

This was the only congressional race on the ballot for southern Maine voters.

— Associated Press

Official: U.S. House race in Maine heading to ranked runoff

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden will need to survive a ranked choice runoff to hold onto his seat, Maine’s secretary of state said Wednesday, setting up a replay of the 2018 race in which the moderate Democrat upset Republican Bruce Poliquin in a region with many conservative voters.

Golden, who touts guns rights and protection of rural jobs, leads Poliquin, who held the seat from 2014 to 2018. Golden used the ranked round to unseat Poliquin in 2018.

The national Republican Party focused heavily on flipping the district, where former President Donald Trump maintains strong support. Golden had to contend with both Poliquin and independent candidate Tiffany Bond in a race that both included ranked-choice voting and was a rematch of three candidates from 2018.

Golden did not clear 50% of the vote Tuesday, so the ranked round will take place, said Shenna Bellows, the secretary of state.

That means the second choices of those who voted for third-place finisher Bond will be redistributed. Results are expected by the end of the day next Tuesday.

The Associated Press has not yet called the race.

Golden trailed in the race before he defeated Poliquin via the ranked round in 2018. Poliquin adamantly opposed the ranked count, which he said was unconstitutional, and filed a lawsuit that he later withdrew.

During this year’s campaign, Golden made a pitch to independent-minded Maine voters during the campaign. He voiced confidence going into the ranked round on Wednesday.

"In the event there is an instant runoff scenario, I expect it to strengthen my margin of victory. The people of Maine’s 2nd District have turned out in strong numbers, and their collective voice should be heard," Golden said.

Poliquin attempted to portray Golden as too liberal for the district and focused his campaign on issues including immigration reform and curtailing government spending. He also noted his own cooperation with Trump when he served in Congress, and the need to curb inflation.

Poliquin told WGME-TV late Tuesday that his campaign was still awaiting results.

“It's up to the people of Maine. We've done the work, we've made our case,” Poliquin said. “They're in the process of counting the votes.”

The congressional district is one of two in Maine, and it includes the state’s second- and third-largest cities, Lewiston and Bangor. It is mostly made up of rural areas in northern and western Maine and the state’s Down East coastline, and it is home to Maine’s traditional industries such as lobster fishing, logging, and potato and blueberry farming. The district is politically mixed and geographically vast.

Maine state Senate election results

Several Southern Maine state Senate races will help determine whether Democrats retain their majority, which is currently 22-13. Results below will be updated as they come in.

District 32: Democratic incumbent Sen. Henry Ingwersen, of Arundel, defeated Republican David Corbett, of Lyman, for the Maine Senate District 32 seat, which comprises Arundel, Lyman, Dayton, Hollis and Biddeford.

District 33: Republican Matthew Harrington, of Sanford, defeated Democrat Kendra Williams, of Sanford, for the Senate District 33 seat, which is comprised of Sanford, Lebanon, Alfred and Waterboro.

District 34: Democratic incumbent Sen. Joseph Rafferty, of Kennebunk, and Republican Brad Ducharme, of Kennebunk, are the two competing in the race for Maine Senate District 34, which consists of Berwick, North Berwick, and parts of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Wells.

District 35: Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Lawrence, of Eliot, defeated Republican Julie Rakic, of Kittery, for the Maine Senate District 35 seat, which comprises South Berwick, Eliot, and parts of York, Kittery and Ogunquit.

Maine House election results

Several Southern Maine state House races will help determine whether Democrats retain their majority. Democrats currently hold a 76-63 majority in the House (with three independents and nine vacancies).

District 134: Democratic state Rep. Traci Gere defeated Republican Elizabeth Jordan for the House District 134 seat representing Kennebunkport and parts of Kennebunk and Biddeford.

District 135: Democrat Dan Sayre, of Kennebunk, defeated Republican Jared Hirshfield for the House District 135 seat, which represents Kennebunk.

District 140: Republican incumbent state Rep. Wayne Parry, of Arundel, was reelected to his House District 140 seat, which consists of Arundel and Dayton and part of Lyman. Democrat Kirstan Watson withdrew from the race but her name still appeared on the ballot.

District 141: Democrat Jack McAdam, of Springvale, will face Republican Lucas Lanigan, also of Springvale, for the House District 141 seat representing Shapleigh, Newfield and part of Sanford.

District 142: Democrat Anne-Marie Mastraccio, of Sanford, defeated Republican Pamela Buck, of Sanford, for the House District 142 seat, which is comprised of part of Sanford.

District 143: Republican Ann Marie Fredericks, of Sanford, defeated Democrat Wes Davie for the House District 143 seat, which represents part of Sanford.

District 145: Republican incumbent state Rep. Tim Roche and Democrat Dan Hobbs, both of Wells, are seeking the seat for House District 145, which is comprised of part of Wells.

District 146: Democrat Walter Runte, of York, is running against Republican Bradley Moulton, of York, for the House District 146 seat which represents Ogunquit and parts of Wells and York.

District 147: Democrat Holly Sargent, of York, defeated Republican David Koopman, of York, for the House District 147 seat, which consists of part of York.

District 148: Republican Thomas Lavigne defeated Democrat Margaret Wheeler for the House District 148 seat representing Berwick.

District 149: Democratic incumbent state Rep. Tiffany Roberts, of South Berwick, defeated Republican Mark Rouillard, of North Berwick, for the House District 149 seat, which is comprised of parts of South Berwick and North Berwick.

District 150: Democratic incumbent state Rep. Michele Meyer, of Eliot, defeated Republican David Rumery, of Eliot, for the House District 150 seat, which consists of Eliot and parts of South Berwick and Kittery.

District 151: Democratic incumbent state Rep. Kristi Mathieson was reelected to her seat in House District 151, which consists of most of Kittery.

Kennebunk approves public safety retirement change

Thanks to voters, eligible employees in the Kennebunk police and fire rescue departments will be able to retire, at half pay, after 20 years of service.

According to unofficial results at Tuesday's election released by Town Clerk Merton Brown, voters approved a proposed change in the departments’ retirement plan by a vote of 4,081 to 2,373 during the municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The result is a positive turnaround from the annual town meeting in June, when voters rejected the very same proposal. Police and fire administrators and union officials went back to the drawing board and determined that they had not done enough to educate the public about the change they were seeking. They launched a new campaign, meeting with town officials and local reporters to explain that the change in retirement plan was needed for both the police and fire departments to be more successful in recruiting and retaining new employees.

The effort paid off with a decisive win for the proposal on Tuesday. Currently, police and fire employees can retire, with half pay, after 25 years of service. The approving vote on Tuesday will bring Kennebunk’s police and fire departments in line with neighboring communities, whose plans allow first-responders to retire, with half pay, after 20 years.

— Shawn Sullivan

Kennebunkport approves all five ballot questions

Voters in Kennebunkport were in an approving mood during their special town meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, overwhelmingly saying “yes” to all five questions on the municipal ballot.

By a tally of 1,798 to 472, voters accepted an updated version of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, according to unofficial results announced by Town Clerk Tracey O’Roak on Tuesday night. The plan, first adopted in 1996, has been updated seven times over the years – the last approved update was in 2011. The town uses the plan to guide its efforts to manage growth in the community.

Voters also approved, 1,338 to 939, a change to the town’s administrative code that removes the qualification that a town moderator be a registered voter of Kennebunkport. As well, the change includes identifying RSU 21 School Board directors as elected officials whom voters may remove from office if they so choose.

By a vote of 1,884 to 372, voters approved a clarification of the definitions of “commercial fishing” and a “commercial vessel” in the town’s Kennebunk River Ordinance.

Voters also OK’d an amendment to the Shellfish Conservation Ordinance that will require those seeking a shellfish license to appear in person at the town clerk’s office – the tally came in at 2,045 to 280. The amendment also will clarify that diggers under the age of 12 can dig without their own license if accompanied by an adult who has one.

Lastly, by a vote of 1,489 to 771, voters approved revising the way residential rental accommodations – roomers – are reviewed, approved and denied.

— Shawn Sullivan

Ogunquit rejects funding for Police Department upgrade

Voters in Ogunquit rejected only one article of the 11 they addressed on their municipal ballot during the election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, according to unofficial results released by Town Clerk Chris Murphy.

By a “no” vote of 506-424, voters rejected approving $150,000 from the town’s unassigned fund balance for pre-construction costs associated with expanding and upgrading the Police Department headquarters in the lower level of the Dunaway Center on School Street.

Voters approved all the other articles on the local ballot. As a result, 724 Main Street will be rezoned to make way for 40 housing units for adults ages 55 and older.

As well, the following funds will be taken from the unassigned fund balance: $25,000 for the town’s Building Improvement Reserve Account; $50,000 for IT upgrades; $40,000 for the Perkins Cove Bridge Repairs Reserve Account; $10,000 for the Public Works Equipment Reserve Account; and $85,000 for the Perkins Cove Bridge Design Project.

Voters approved an article seeking to create a 2022 Police Equipment Reserve Account, with an appropriation of $85,000, and a 2022 PFAS Testing Project, with an appropriation of $50,000 to get it started.

Voters also agreed to reclassify the town’s 2021 Fire Truck Reserve Account as the 2021 Fire Truck and Equipment Reserve Account.

In all, 948 ballots were cast, according to Murphy.

— Shawn Sullivan

Arundel voters approve tweaks to town charter

By comfortable margins, voters in Arundel approved numerous tweaks to the town charter, including changing language to make it more gender-neutral, during the election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, according to unofficial results released by the town clerk’s office that evening.

A total of 2,310 ballots were cast in the election.

— Shawn Sullivan

When do election results come out?

When all ballots at a polling place have been counted, the election warden will announce the results and may contact campaigns and news outlets that have requested the results. The only results available on Tuesday night and the days following will be from municipalities. Municipalities have Wednesday and Thursday to submit official results to the secretary of state, which then begins post-election reviews to ensure accuracy before announcing certified results. The secretary of state will only announce certified results, and by law the department has 20 days to compile those results.

How long does counting usually take?

Maine is notoriously late with its vote count because of hand counting in most small towns and communities. Also, all of those absentee ballots may not be counted until polls close.

— Associated Press  

When do polls close?

Polls close at 8 p.m. (or when the last voters in line by 8 p.m. have cast their ballots, whichever is later). Counting ballots, whether by hand or with the use of tabulators, will commence at this time. No votes are counted in Maine before polls close.

How does ranked choice voting work?

The only races being conducted using ranked choice voting in the 2022 General Election are Maine’s two congressional districts. In either race, should no candidate receive a majority of votes on election night, ballots will be brought to Augusta for a ranked choice voting tabulation. Ranked choice tabulations are conducted under the oversight of the secretary of state as open, public processes with representatives of the involved campaigns present.

In observance of Veterans Day, which is Friday, November 11, no ranked choice tabulations will be run that day. While a firm date for tabulations has not yet been set, it is anticipated that tabulations would happen next week. A schedule for any necessary tabulations will be sent at a later date.

Mills vs. LePage race drive York voters to polls

Many voters in York said they came to cast their ballot, particularly in the governor’s race where Democrat Janet Mills sought to defend her seat from former Maine governor Paul LePage.

Bill Greenlaw, an independent voter, said he wanted to re-elect Mills because he believed she has done well so far.

“I don’t have any problem with LePage. His personality may be a little rough,” Greenlaw said. “I think (Mills” has done a good job.”

Glenn Calhoun said he voted not only for LePage but a completely red ballot down the ticket. He said he is a lifelong Republican but has been open to Democratic candidates in the past. Recently, he said, he believes Democrats have become too radical.

“I just personally believe that the Democratic Party isn’t the party that it used to be,” Calhoun said.

Somali Americans could make Maine history

Among legislative races, Maine has two Somali Americans running for seats. One of them, Mana Abdi, of Lewiston, is assured of winning and making history as the first Somali American in the Legislature because her opponent dropped out.

— Associated Press

Proponents of paid medical leave, ‘Right to Repair’ collect signatures

Polls in Maine saw groups of volunteers collecting signatures for petitions to go on next year’s statewide referendum like paid family medical leave and laws protecting what activists call the "Right to Repair.”

In York, Russell Greenberg traveled from Massachusetts for the Maine People’s Alliance to gather signatures for both at a booth outside the polls in the York High School gymnasium.

Under the paid family leave policy put forward for the ballot measure, Mainers could take up to 16 weeks of paid leave in a year and a maximum of 12 weeks for a single event. Greenberg said the proposal is similar to benefits that have become expected by members of the workforce today.

“The objections for this are the same objections that were for workers' comp and unemployment insurance,” Greenberg said. “They turned out to be good things, important things for people in the workplace, and so is this.”

At the polls at St. Ignatius Parish Hall in Sanford on Tuesday, Diego Gonzalez, of Maine People's Alliance, explained why the initiative was so important.

"It's basically to provide pay coverage for people who need to take medical leave for whatever reason, whether it's for themselves, doctor's appointments, diagnoses ... longer-term illness and injury, recovery from surgery, where Mainers still are not getting paid for that time they have to take," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the response to efforts to get the required number of signatures in order to put the initiative on a future state ballot has been strong today.

"If we don't get the number we need, we'll be very close," he said.

The Right to Repair campaign seeks to place a referendum on the ballot to mandate that automakers share repair information with independent car shops. Supporters were also collecting signatures on Election Day. A Right to Repair law was passed in Greenberg’s home state of Massachusetts, and he said he hoped to help a similar law pass in Maine as well.

Greenberg said car manufacturers have been blocking local mechanics from accessing codes in the car’s computer, forcing car owners to go to the dealership.

“That’s not fair. The codes belong to us,” Greenberg said. “It’s our car, and we should be able to take our car anywhere we want to have it repaired.”

— Max Sullivan and Shawn Sullivan

Ogunquit uses polls to get feedback on library

Ballots were not the only things filled out when voters reported to the polls at the Dunaway Community Center in Ogunquit on Tuesday. A survey by the Ogunquit Memorial Library also gave people an opportunity to weigh in and help shape the direction of the community.

It was hard to miss Ed Peters on Tuesday. Peters, the treasurer of the library's board of trustees, was there on your right when you got your ballot from the election clerk at the door. He sat at a table where a large, stuffed owl sat, a children's book stood open, and bite-size Kit Kat bars were strewn about to help voters with their sweet tooth.

There was also a box on that table, and come midafternoon on Tuesday it was just about stuffed. Inside were the surveys, in which voters answered assorted questions.

How often did you visit the library in 2022?

What is your main reason for visiting the library?

If you don't visit the library on a regular basis, then why not?

And more: What day is best for you to visit the library? What time of day? Are you familiar with the library's programs? Its website? Its Facebook page?

And that was just one side of the survey.

The questionnaire was proving a popular draw, as midafternoon Tuesday was not the first time that box was just about filled. Behind Peters was a whole other box, filled with surveys completed earlier in the day.

The library on Shore Road is a small, quaint, stone building. People love to stand in front of it and take pictures, Peters said. The thing is, people do not actually go inside of it that much, he added. Figure in the fact that libraries everywhere are facing challenges in this age of e-readers and other technological leaps, and there you have the reason for the survey.

"We're setting the strategic direction of the library as a whole," Peters said. "To keep the library as an ongoing part of the community, we need to find out what people want."

What’s motivating voters to vote?

Kennebunk voter Tim Bath declined to share whom he voted for after casting his ballot at the town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but he spoke freely about what motivated him to report to the polls during this 2022 midterm election.

“I think it’s important to do your due diligence and do your civic duty to vote - especially in times like these type of days,” he said.

There’s so much political angst, Bath added.

“Everyone needs to do their part to show that their opinion matters,” he said.

Bath was the most game of a handful of voters who were asked for their thoughts and opinions as they exited the Kennebunk Town Hall after voting on Tuesday morning. Most others declined to speak and continued on their way to their vehicles.

One woman declined to give her name but said she voted for Republican Paul LePage in his quest to unseat Democratic incumbent Governor Janet Mills.

“I don’t like the direction where our country and our state is going,” she said.

Kennebunkport voter Sandra Morton is a bit of a rare find.

At the polls at the Kennebunkport Fire Station on Tuesday, Nov. 8, Morton said she voted for Democratic incumbent Janet Mills for Maine governor and expressed wishes that the United States would return more to the energy policies of former President Donald Trump.

Morton said she chose her over Republican candidate Paul LePage because Mills seems "more approachable" and kind.

But that's not to say LePage is not kind, she said.

"I'm sure that Governor LePage is kind too," Morton said. "I'm actually a former New Hampshire resident, so this is just my third year over in Maine. I really didn't get to see Governor LePage do his thing."

When asked what motivated her to report to the polls on Tuesday, Morton was quick with her reply.

"I would definitely say energy independence," she said. "Very much so. I have lived overseas and have seen how our politics affects other countries."

America's energy independence was stronger under the Trump Administration, Morton said.

"And I think that's important because then we're more settled on protecting ourselves, creating jobs, and creating a quality of life," she said. "We're supposed to be the richest nation in the country … Nobody, including children that go hungry, should have any issues."

Kennebunkport voter Rolfe Petschek voted for Janet Mills to serve a second term as the governor of Maine on Tuesday. When asked what appealed to him about the incumbent governor, Petschek did not mince words.

"The prior incumbent repulsed me," he said.

Asked his hopes for this election, Petschek said, "It's kind of complicated." Locally, he said he does not "think this is a terribly important election." He added that the results already feel "predetermined, in a way." Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is "likely to sail to re-election" in her bid against Republican challenger Ed Thelander.

"It's really only for the national election that things seem to be crucial," Petschek said.

Voter Tom Neufield needed just two words to explain what compelled him to report to the polls on Tuesday morning."Democracy," he said. "Abortion."

The political rhetoric in America has become too violent, Neufield added.

"I hope that civility returns to our party politics, and that we learn to respect each other and lower the vitriol in the public space," he said. "I have concerns about that. There are certain factions that want to deny people their rights. That's why I say abortion is important for me."

Kittery to elect Town Council, School Committee members

The two candidates running for Kittery Town Council in uncontested races were at the polls Tuesday.

Current first-term council member Mary Gibbons Stevens is seeking re-election while resident Celestyne Fisher-Bragg is running for the seat formally occupied by Jeffrey Pelletier, who opted not to run for another term.

Both spoke of how town voters have expressed a need for change in the current makeup of the seven-person council, particularly by adding more women to the body.

Fisher-Bragg, a reverend at the New Hope Baptist Church in Portsmouth, will become the third woman on the Town Council, joining Stevens and chairperson Judy Spiller.

“Mindful” development, climate change, and environmental concerns are at the top of voters’ minds, Stevens said, adding that she would like the town to continue making headway in addressing the housing crisis.

The way to do so, she said, is by partnering with local nonprofit groups, such as Fair Tide, and including more stakeholders in conversations on how to combat issues with housing affordability and supply.

“It’s just not just a problem that’s going to be solved by one entity,” she said. “It involves collaboration with everybody.”

In the four-way race for three School Committee seats, incumbents Julie Dow, Kim Bedard and Rhonda Pomerleau are seeking re-election, while resident Ben Briggs is looking to join the committee.

— Ian Lenahan

Kennebunkport town clerk: ‘It’s been a very busy morning’

When Kennebunkport Town Clerk Tracey O'Roak opened the doors to the polls at the fire station on North Street on Tuesday, Nov. 8, she found about 50 people lined up and ready to vote.

That was at 8 a.m. Approximately two-and-a-half hours later, there was not quite a line, per se, but a steady influx of voters showing up and casting their ballots.

"It's been a very busy morning, like we expected," O'Roak said.

The town clerk's office issued 1,004 absentee ballots to voters this election season, and all but 72 had been returned as of Monday, according to O'Roak.

"That was a lot for this type of election, but we usually have that many come back," she added.

O'Roak said people were being "quiet and polite," making for a "great morning."

Locally, voters are addressing a handful of questions on their municipal ballots - namely, about whether to accept the town's updated Comprehensive Plan and to approve amendments to the town's administrative code and its ordinances regarding shellfish, land use, and the Kennebunk River. None of these issues, however, have resulted in O'Roak's office fielding any questions about them at the polls.

"People have done their research beforehand," O'Roak said.

O'Roak said she hopes she and her clerks can finish and announce local election results tonight by about 8:30 p.m. Then, after a beat, she revised that timeline.

"Nine is probably more realistic," she said.

Maine expecting high voter turnout at polls

Early-bird voters were not the only ones already at the polls at the Kennebunk Town Hall at the crack of dawn on Tuesday. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was there too.

Bellows chose Kennebunk as her first stop on a long day of travels to polls all throughout Maine on Tuesday. Since Kennebunk Town Clerk Merton Brown is well known for opening his polls at 6 a.m. - two full hours before everyone else - Bellows was able to start her tour bright and early.

“We’re excited to start the day here in Kennebunk,” Bellows said. “Voter turnout seems very high, and clerks across the state are ready.”

Before most polls opened, as many as 212,000 voters had voted absentee, according to Bellows - a jump from the more than 185,000 voters who did so during the last gubernatorial election in 2018.

“There seems to be a lot of excitement about our head-to-head matchups,” Bellows said, referring to the race for governor between incumbent Democrat Janet Mills and Republican challenger Paul LePage. “We’re also just seeing a very engaged electorate. Maine should be really proud.”

Bellows touted Maine’s provision for same-day voter registration, noting that people with identification and proof of residency can report to the polls, register, and then cast their ballots.

“That makes a significant difference in voter participation,” she said. “We don’t have artificial barriers that keep people from participating.”

Bellows said it’s a “big day for democracy.”

“This is truly what democracy looks like,” she said. “It’s everyone having their voice heard. Some races could come down to a single vote. We have seen that, historically.”

— Shawn Sullivan

GOP claims it made contact with 3 million Mainers

The Republican National Committee, working hand-in-glove with the Maine Republican Party, announced Friday they have made over 3 million voter contacts this cycle through phone calling and door knocking.

In the 2018 midterm election, they made slightly more than 550,000 voter contacts total. In this cycle, they have knocked on more than 600,000 doors alone.

“The best way for volunteers to make a difference is through direct voter contact and making three million of those underscores just how fired up Republicans are to show up for our nominees up-and-down the ballot," said RNC Spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris. "Mainers are excited to send Governor LePage back to the Blaine House and bring Bruce back to Congress.”

Kennebunk voters to weigh in on charter, public safety retirement plan

Kennebunk Town Clerk Merton Brown said there were about 20 people in line, waiting to vote, for when he and his staff officially opened the polls in the town hall auditorium on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Around here, that makes those voters the earliest of the early birds, as the polls in Kennebunk opened at 6 a.m. That’s two hours earlier than just about everywhere else.

“It has been kind of steady since then,” Brown said, as the clock ticked toward 7 a.m.

Brown had a special visitor to help him kick off what is sure to be a long day at the polls. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows made Kennebunk Town Hall her first stop of many as she spends today touring polling locations all up and down Maine.

“To me, that was very humbling,” Brown said. “I felt very honored.”

Bellows said as many as 212,000 voters had voted absentee ahead of this Election Day - a notable jump from the last time Maine had a gubernatorial race in 2018 and about 185,000 people voted absentee.

Statistics in Kennebunk mirror those of the state, according to Brown. A total of 3,750 Kennebunk voters cast their ballots absentee this time around - that’s 1,200 more than did so in 2018, Brown said.

Brown attributed the local spike in absentee voting to the COVID-19 pandemic, when that method of casting ballots was preferred as a safety precaution. People are finding absentee voting easy, Brown said.

But the “head of the ticket,” the race for governor between incumbent Democrat Janet Mills and Republican challenger Paul LePage, also is likely driving voter participation, Brown suggested.

Brown said he was not sure if any of the issues on Kennebunk’s municipal ballot was prompting voters to turn out.

Voters are deciding whether to establish a charter commission and, if so, which six of seven candidates will be chosen to serve on it. Interestingly, though, as many as 50 absentee voters did not return their ballots on that issue.

“I don’t know what that means,” said Brown.

Voters also are deciding whether to change the town’s retirement plan for local first responders, allowing them to call it a career, with half pay, after 20 years of service. Currently, they may do so after 25 years, making Kennebunk only one of two towns in the area to make its police and fire employees put in those five additional years. Allowing retirement at 20 years would help the local police and fire departments recruit and retain employees and provide relief to current first responders, according to police and fire administrators and union leaders.

But even that topic has not generated a lot of buzz among voters - at least at the town clerk’s office.

“I didn’t have a single question,” Brown said.

Brown said he hopes to finish processing the votes and announce the results by 11 p.m. tonight.

“That’s my goal,” he said.

— Shawn Sullivan

Student mock election results released

The results of the Student Mock Election were released Friday with student voters selecting Governor Janet Mills and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree as winners, and Congressman Jared Golden as the leading candidate in students’ first choice rankings.

116 schools had submitted results to the Secretary of State’s office.

“Getting to participate in a mock election is a great way for Maine students to learn about our electoral system in a truly hands-on way,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “These are our next generation of voters, and their voices matter. Now when they’re old enough to volunteer as a poll worker, or to participate as a voter in state and local elections, they’ll have this practice from their mock elections.”

Sandford voters to decide City Council, School Committee races

Voters will settle contested races for seats on Sanford’s City Council and School Committee during the municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Incumbents Bob Stackpole and Michael Termath are facing challenges from political newcomers Oliver Jones III and Peter Tranchemontagne in the race for two three-year seats on the Sanford City Council.

With incumbents Jonathan Mapes and John Roux opting not to seek reelection, the Sanford School Committee is certain to have two new members after all the ballots are counted next month. Thomas Miscio, who served on the committee in previous years, and newcomers Melissa Simpson and Kelly Termath are running for the two three-year seats.

Elsewhere on the ballot, Becky Brink, a current city councilor, is certain to succeed Mayor Anne-Marie Mastraccio as the next leader of Sanford. Brink is unchallenged in her mayoral bid. Mastraccio, who decided not to seek a second term as mayor, is instead the Democratic candidate who is facing Republican Pamela Buck for the District 142 seat in the Maine House.

How to report election day concerns in Maine

U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced Monday that Assistant U.S. Attorney John Osborn will lead the efforts of her office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8 general election.

Osborn has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for Maine, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

Anyone with election day concerns can contact Osborn at 207-771-3214 or Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew McCormack in our Bangor office at 207-262-4615.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

In the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, dial 911 immediately before contacting federal authorities

Do I need to wear a mask at the polls?

The secretary of state has encouraged towns to follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines. Many towns are using similar spacing and masking protocols that they used in 2020, but voters are not required to wear a mask to vote. Maine towns may seek permission to use drop boxes for absentee ballots.

Maine Secretary of State Bellows to visit polls

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows will visit polling places, municipal clerks, poll workers and voters around Maine on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

6 to 6:45 a.m. – Kennebunk Town Hall Auditorium (1 Summer Street, Kennebunk)

7:45 to 8:30 a.m. – Scarborough High School (11 Municipal Drive, Scarborough)

9 to 10:30 a.m. – Italian Heritage Center (40 Westland Avenue, Portland)

2 to 2:45 p.m. – Waterville Junior High School (100 West River Road, Waterville)

4 to 4:45 p.m. – Joseph L. Ferris Community Center (318 Wilson Street, Brewer)

What’s on my ballot?

Former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage is seeking to unseat Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, Maine's first woman to serve as governor.

If LePage is elected, he will become the longest-serving governor in Maine history.

Mills has touted her handling of the state budget and pandemic for allowing the state to recover — and to return the bulk of a $1.2 billion surplus to taxpayers in the form of $850 inflationary relief checks.

LePage, who’s seeking a third term, has criticized what he described as Mills’ heavy-handed executive decrees during the COVID-19 pandemic and one-time budget “gimmicks.”

It’s viewed as a tight race with a third candidate who’s making his first bid for elected office. Down East physician Sam Hunkler is an independent who has a self-imposed spending cap of $5,000.

The U.S. House race in the 1st Congressional District features seven-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and her opponent, Republican Ed Thelander, a former Navy SEAL who has never held political office. This is the congressional race on the ballot for southern Maine voters.

York County voters have no say in the Maine's U.S. House race in the 2nd Congressional District, but it will be closely watched by residents across the state and the nation with the balance of power in Congress at stake. Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and former GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who made history in their previous faceoff in 2018, are meeting again. That race marked the first time Maine’s ranked-choice voting system came into play.

Voters will also be electing state senators, state representatives and county officials as well as deciding town ballot issues.  If you would like to see a sample ballot for your town, you can find it at maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php.

When do polls open?  

Voting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, in southern Maine and around the nation. Here are local polling times and places.

Arundel, Maine 

Municipal complex at 257 Limerick Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Berwick, Maine

Town Hall auditorium at 11 Sullivan St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Eliot, Maine 

Marshwood Middle School Gymnasium, 626 Harold L. Dow Highway, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Kennebunk, Maine 

Edward C. Winston Town Hall Auditorium, 1 Summer St., 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kennebunkport, Maine 

Village Fire Station, 32 North St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Kittery, Maine 

Kittery Community Center Gymnasium, 120 Rogers, Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

North Berwick, Maine 

North Berwick Elementary School, 25 Varney Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ogunquit, Maine

Dunaway Community Center, 23 School St., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sanford, Maine 

Ward 1: Nasson Community Center Gymnasium, 457 Main St., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ward 2: St. Ignatius Parish Hall/Gymnasium, 25 Riverside Ave., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ward 3: Sanford High School and Technical Center-Voting entrance door #41, 100 Alumni Blvd., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

South Berwick, Maine 

South Berwick Town Hall, 180 Main St., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wells, Maine 

Wells Junior High School, Gymnasium, 1470 Post Road, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

York, Maine 

York High School Gymnasium, 1 Robert Stevens Drive, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Can you register to vote on Election Day?

Maine has same day voter registration, meaning that Mainers may register to vote and cast their ballot on the same day, even Election Day. To register to vote in Maine, voters must be Maine residents, U.S. citizens, and at least 16 years old, though only Mainers who are 18 years old on or before Nov. 8 may vote in the General Election. When registering for the first time, voters must provide proof of residency and identity. Current or former incarceration status does not disqualify any Mainer from registering to vote or casting their ballot. Incarcerated persons at a correctional facility or county jail may register to vote in the Maine municipality where they established residency prior to incarceration. Information on how to register to vote on Election Day can be found at your town office or city hall and via the Maine secretary of state at maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/voter-info/voterguide.html.

When is my mail-in ballot due? Or what can I do if I didn’t mail in my absentee ballot?

Already, 205,251 Maine voters have had their absentee ballots received and accepted by their municipal clerks, as of Friday afternoon. 249,865 Mainers have requested absentee ballots which surpassed the 196,710 submitted in 2018, the last mid-term election.

Thursday, Nov. 3 was the last day of no-excuse absentee voting. After Nov. 3, when certain special circumstances exist, for example, an unexpected hospitalization, a voter may still vote absentee. Absentee ballots must be received by a municipality by 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8 to be counted. That means voters who have not yet returned their absentee ballot should do so utilizing an absentee ballot drop box in their municipality or in person to their municipal clerk by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters can track the progress of their absentee ballot at https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/ballot_status.pl.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: York County Maine election 2022 live updates