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Maine's 1st Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Republican primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 16, or Nov. 6 (in-person)
- Early voting: When ballots become available through Nov. 1
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: No
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Voter ID: No
- Poll times: 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
2020 →
← 2016
|
| Maine's 1st Congressional District |
|---|
 |
| Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
| Election details |
| Filing deadline: March 15, 2018 |
| Primary: June 12, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Chellie Pingree (Democrat) |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Maine |
| Race ratings |
Cook Political Report: Solid Democratic Inside Elections: Solid Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Democratic |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
| See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd Maine elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
A Republican Party primary election took place on June 12, 2018, in Maine's 1st District to determine which Republican would run in the district's November 6, 2018, general election.
This page focuses on the Republican primary. For an overview of the election in general, click here.
Candidates and election results
Mark Holbrook advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Maine District 1 on June 12, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Maine District 1
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Holbrook | 100.0 | 40,679 |
| Total votes: 40,679 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eric Stanton (R)
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+8, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Democratic than the national average. This made Maine's 1st Congressional District the 137th most Democratic nationally.[1]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.15. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.15 points toward that party.[2]
Campaign finance
The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly October 2017 reports. It includes only candidates who reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of September 30, 2017.[3]
Republicans
Ranked-choice voting
On November 8, 2016, Maine voters approved the Maine Ranked Choice Voting Initiative, which provided for the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in both primary and general elections for United States senators, United States representatives, the governor, state senators, and state representatives. On February 2, 2017, the Maine State Senate voted 24 to 10 to ask the Maine Supreme Judicial Court to review the initiative and issue an advisory opinion on its constitutionality. On May 23, 2017, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued a unanimous advisory opinion finding that the law's provisions applying to general elections for state legislators and the governor violated the state constitution.[4][5][6][7]
A repeal bill introduced in light of the advisory opinion failed to clear the legislature, as did a bill providing for partial implementation (for those offices not affected by the advisory opinion) and a bill providing for a constitutional amendment to allow for full implementation. During a special legislative session convened on October 23, 2017, the state legislature approved LD 1646, a bill delaying the implementation of RCV pending voter approval of a constitutional amendment to allow for the use of RCV. The bill set a deadline of December 1, 2021, and provided for the repeal of ranked-choice voting if an amendment was not passed by that date. RCV proponents initiated a veto referendum campaign to overturn the bill. On March 5, 2018, the secretary of state announced that a sufficient number of valid signatures had been submitted to place the referendum on the June 12, 2018, primary election ballot, meaning that LD 1646 would be suspended and ranked-choice voting would be used for federal and state offices in the June 2018 primary election. If LD 1646 is repealed as a result of the veto referendum, RCV will remain in place unless the legislature or the courts take actions to change the statute. If LD 1646 is upheld, the law's provisions as described above will take effect.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
On March 29, 2018, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap (D) announced that he had been notified by Assistant Attorney General Phyllis Gardiner of "legal concerns regarding the implementation of ranked-choice voting" that might prohibit its use in the June 2018 primary election. On April 3, 2018, Kennebec County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy issued an opinion in Committee for Ranked-Choice Voting v. Dunlap ordering state officials to proceed with the implementation of ranked-choice voting in June. Murphy wrote the following in her opinion: "The uncertainty that halting the ranked-choice voting implementation process at this late date causes is significant. Clarity, stability and public confidence are essential to ensure the legitimacy of Maine elections." In a separate lawsuit, Senate of Maine v. Dunlap, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled unanimously that "ranked-choice voting is the current statutory law of Maine for the primary elections to be held on June 12, 2018." The court noted that its ruling "focuses only on the June 2018 primary election; it does not address any other potential application of ranked-choice voting in Maine," allowing for the possibility of further substantive challenges to the law's validity in future elections.[14][15][16][17]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Maine heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, an independent held one U.S. Senate seat and a Republican held the other.
- A Democrat held one of Maine's two U.S. House seats, and a Republican held the other.
State executives
- As of September 2018, Democrats held two of 10 state executive positions, a Republican and an independent each held one, and the remaining positions were officially nonpartisan.
- The governor of Maine was Republican Paul LePage. The state held an election for governor on November 6, 2018. Maine does not have a lieutenant governor.
State legislature
- Democrats controlled the state House. They had a 73-70 majority in the state House. Republicans control the Maine State Senate. They had an 18-17 majority in the chamber.
Trifecta status
- Maine was under divided government, meaning that the two parties shared control of the state government. Paul LePage (R) served as governor and Republicans controlled the state Senate while Democrats controlled the state House.
2018 elections
- See also: Maine elections, 2018
Maine held elections for the following positions in 2018:
Demographics
| Demographic data for Maine | ||
|---|---|---|
| Maine | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 1,329,453 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 30,843 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 95% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.1% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.6% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 1.5% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 91.6% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 29% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $49,331 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 16.6% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Maine. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
As of July 2016, Maine's three largest cities were Portland (pop. est. 65,000), Lewiston (pop. est. 35,000), and Bangor (pop. est. 30,000).[18]
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Maine from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Maine Secretary of State and the Federal Election Commission.
Historical elections
Presidential elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Maine every year from 2000 to 2016.
| Election results (President of the United States), Maine 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2016 |  Hillary Clinton |
47.8% | Donald Trump |
44.9% | 2.9% |
| 2012 | Barack Obama |
56.3% | Mitt Romney |
41.0% | 15.3% |
| 2008 | Barack Obama |
57.7% | John McCain |
40.4% | 17.3% |
| 2004 | John Kerry |
53.6% | George W. Bush |
44.6% | 9.0% |
| 2000 | Al Gore |
49.1% | George W. Bush |
44.0% | 5.1% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Maine from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
| Election results (U.S. Senator), Maine 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Susan Collins |
67.0% | Shenna Bellows |
30.8% | 36.2% |
| 2012 |  Angus King |
51.1% | Charles Summers |
29.7% | 21.4% |
| 2008 | Susan Collins |
61.3% | Thomas H. Allen |
38.6% | 22.7% |
| 2006 | Olympia Snowe |
74.0% | Jean Hay Bright |
20.6% | 53.4% |
| 2002 | Susan Collins |
58.4% | Chellie Pingree |
41.6% | 16.8% |
| 2000 | Olympia Snowe |
68.9% | Mark Lawrence |
31.1% | 37.8% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Maine.
| Election results (Governor), Maine 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
| 2014 | Paul LePage |
48.2% | Mike Michaud |
43.4% | 4.8% |
| 2010 | Paul LePage |
37.6% | Eliot Cutler |
35.9% | 1.7% |
| 2006 | John E. Baldacci |
38.1% | Chandler E. Woodcock |
30.2% | 7.9% |
| 2002 | John E. Baldacci |
47.1% | Peter E. Cianchette |
41.5% | 5.6% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Maine in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
| Congressional delegation, Maine 2000-2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Republicans | Republicans (%) | Democrats | Democrats (%) | Balance of power |
| 2016 | 1 |
50.0% | 1 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2014 | 1 |
50.0% | 1 |
50.0% | Even |
| 2012 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2010 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2006 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2004 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2002 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
| 2000 | 0 |
0% | 2 |
100% | D+2 |
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Maine Party Control: 1992-2025
Fifteen years of Democratic trifectas • Two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | I | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | S | S | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2018
- United States House elections in Maine (June 12, 2018 Republican primaries)
- Maine's 1st Congressional District election (June 12, 2018 Democratic primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ FEC, "Federal Election Commission," accessed November 5, 2017
- ↑ League of Women Voters, "Citizen Referendum on Ranked Choice Voting," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "SO 12," accessed February 3, 2017
- ↑ Maine Public Radio, "Maine Supreme Court: Ranked Choice Voting Law Conflicts with State Constitution," May 23, 2017
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine Supreme Judicial Court rules ranked-choice voting unconstitutional," May 23, 2017
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "LD 1646 Overview," accessed October 24, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Ranked-choice voting supporters to begin 'people’s veto' campaign today," November 6, 2017
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Maine Referendum in Support of Ranked Choice Voting Gathers 33,000 Signatures on First Day," November 14, 2017
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Maine Referendum to Save Ranked-Choice Voting is Two-Thirds Finished," December 19, 2017
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Maine Ranked Choice Voting Supporters Submit Petition on Friday, February 2," February 1, 2018
- ↑ Bristol Herald Courier, "Maine races to implement election overhaul before June vote," March 25, 2018
- ↑ Department of the Secretary of State, State of Maine, "Secretary Dunlap seeking guidance on implementation of ranked-choice voting," March 29, 2018
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Doubt surrounds Maine’s plan to use ranked-choice voting in June 12 primaries," March 29, 2018
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Maine’s top court asked to make deciding call on ranked-choice voting," April 11, 2018
- ↑ Maine Supreme Judicial Court, "Maine Senate v. Secretary of State et al.: Per Curiam," April 17, 2018
- ↑ Maine Demographics, "Maine Cities by Population," accessed September 6, 2018
