Maine State Senate

Elections in Maine, 2018

• 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.

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Maine State Senate
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	December 4, 2024
Session end:	March 21, 2025
Term length:	2 years
Term limits:	4 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Legislative control
Salary:	$16,245.12 for the first regular session. $11,668.32 for the second regular session. + per diem
Members
Total:	35
Democrats:	20
Republicans:	15
Other:	0
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
President:	TBD (D)
Maj. Leader:	TBD (D)
Min. Leader:	Harold Stewart (R)
Elections
Last election:	November 8, 2016
Next election:	November 6, 2018

The Maine State Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature. The Senate consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state. Unlike the Maine House of Representatives, the Senate does not set aside non-voting seats for Native tribes. Members of the Maine State Senate serve two-year terms with term limits. Each member represented an average of 37,953 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 36,426 residents.

The Senate meets at the Maine State House in Augusta.

Maine has a Democratic state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers. As of September 25, 2025, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 14 Democratic trifectas, and 13 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control.

In the 2020 election, Republicans had a net gain of two trifectas and two states under divided government became trifectas. Prior to that election, Maine had a Democratic trifecta. There were 21 Republican trifectas, 15 Democratic trifectas, and 14 divided governments.

See also: Maine State Legislature, Maine House of Representatives, Maine Governor

Sessions

Article IV, Part Third of the Maine Constitution establishes when the Maine State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of the Part states that, following a legislative election, the Legislature is to convene its first regular session on the first Wednesday of December. The second regular session of the legislature is to convene in the next even-numbered year. This second session is to convene on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. Section 1 also instructs the Legislature to enact statutory limits on the length of its regular sessions.

Section 1 also establishes the procedures for convening special sessions of the Legislature. A special session can be convened by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of legislators from each political party.

2025

See also: 2025 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 4, 2024, and adjourn on March 21, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024 See also: 2024 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on April 17, 2024. 2023 See also: 2023 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 7, 2022, and adjourn on March 30, 2023. 2022 See also: 2022 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 5, 2022, and adjourn on May 9, 2022. 2021 See also: 2021 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 2, 2020, and adjourn on March 30, 2021. 2020 See also: 2020 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on March 17, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Maine State Legislature adjourned its session early, effective March 17, 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 2019 See also: 2019 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from December 5, 2018, through June 19, 2019. 2018 See also: 2018 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2018, through May 2, 2018**. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017 See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from December 7, 2016, through July 4, 2017. The legislature reconvened on July 20, 2017, to override vetoes and other unfinished business. The legislature held a veto session on August 2, 2017. The Legislature held a special session on October 23 over a food sovereignty law and funding for the state mapping agency. The Legislature met in special session on November 6 over Gov. LePage's veto of a bill that would legalize the sale of recreational marijuana. The House did not have enough votes to override the veto. Click [show] to read about the 2017 partial government shutdown. A partial government shutdown ended in Maine on July 4, 2017, after Governor Paul LePage signed a $7.1 billion, two-year budget passed by the legislature. The final compromises were over the elimination of a proposed lodging tax increase and the allocation of additional money for public education. House Republicans were able to see the removal of an increase in the lodging tax from 9 percent to 10.5 percent. Democrats got additional funding to Head Start and Clean Election programs, as well as $162 million to go towards K-12 spending. Non-essential government services—such as state parks and Bureau of Motor Vehicle offices—were shut down after a budget had not been signed by July 1. The last time Maine’s government shutdown was a 16-day shutdown in 1991. The 2017 shutdown was resolved after three days. Maine’s legislative session was originally scheduled to end on June 21, but lawmakers voted to extend the 2017 legislative session by five days, not required to be concurrent. The cost of the five-day extension of the session was estimated to be $94,600. The key issue throughout much of Maine’s 2017 legislative session was a voter approved ballot measure called Question 2, which authorized an additional 3 percent tax on the portion of any household income exceeding $200,000 per year and earmarked the revenue to fund public education. The budget deal included the repeal of Question 2. Click [show] to read about the 2017 veto session. In a veto session on August 2, 2017, the Maine State Legislature voted to sustain 14 vetoes issued by Gov. Paul LePage (R) and to override 13 others. Included in the legislation that the Legislature voted in favor of was a bill increasing the legal age for buying tobacco products from 18 to 21, making Maine the fifth state to up its age limit for buying products such as cigarettes. Included in the legislation that Legislature voted against—i.e. to uphold the veto—was a bill prohibiting the use of handheld electronic devices such as cell phones while driving. Maine is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. LePage criticized both bills when they arrived on his desk, calling them social engineering. “I don’t believe that social engineering a society is going to create a good society,” LePage said in a radio interview in July. Supporters of these bills have said that raising the age to purchase tobacco products could make individuals less likely to start smoking and that prohibiting the use of handheld electronic devices while driving could decrease traffic accidents. As of June 2017, 15 states banned the use of handheld devices while driving. Other vetoes that the Legislature voted to override included legislation related to filling vacancies in the state’s public health nursing system and legislation related to opioid addiction services. Vetoes that the Legislature voted to sustain included legislation related solar energy and insurance coverage for individuals with mental health issues. 2016 See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 6 through April 20. A one-day veto session was held on April 29. 2015 See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from December 3, 2014, through July 16, 2015 (extended session). Major issues in 2015 Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included the state economy, government financial aid, and energy policy. 2014 See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 through May 2. Major issues in 2014 Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included Medicaid expansion vetoed by Gov. Paul LePage (R) during the last session and government financial aid. 2013 See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from December 5, 2012, to July 10, 2013. Major issues in 2013 Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included addressing education, energy, domestic violence, jobs, strengthening the state's economy, and a new two-year budget that was facing a $128 million deficit. Election of constitutional officers The Maine House of Representatives voted 79-59 on June 4 to reject a proposal to allow voters to select the state’s Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. LD 1279 called for a referendum to amend the Maine State Constitution to shift the selection of these officers from the Legislature to voters. The bill sponsored by Representative Andre Cushing (R) called for two-year terms for the Treasurer and Secretary of State and a four-year term for the Attorney General. At the time, legislators selected all three officers every two years. This legislation was blocked on June 3 by the Maine State Senate 18-16. The House and Senate votes largely followed party lines with Democratic majorities in both houses. Republican majorities in the House and Senate blocked similar legislation in 2011. 2012 See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 4 through May 31. Major issues in 2012 Lawmakers faced a $221 million budget deficit. They also looked to restructure the state Medicaid system, reduce energy costs, and improve charter schools. 2011 See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions In 2011, the legislature was in session from December 1, 2010, to June 28, 2011. Maine statutes required the legislature to adjourn by June 15, however, pursuant to Joint Order S.P. 520, the regular session was extended. On June 16, Governor Paul LePage ordered lawmakers home for 12 days, only to return to the statehouse for a special veto session to begin June 28. The GOP legislature and Republican Governor Paul LePage agreed on a fiscal year 2012 budget late in the session, with LePage signing the final bill on June 20. The final deal cut taxes by $150 million, lowering the top income tax rate from 8.5% to 7.95% and taking 70,000 low-income citizens off the income tax rolls entirely. Dirigo Health, an "experiment in near-universal health care," would be phased out entirely by the beginning of 2014. LePage's first budget also cut government financial aid programs including benefits for legal noncitizens and limited participation in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to five years. 2010 See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 6 to April 12.

Role in state budget

See also: Maine state budget and finances

Maine on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests by September 1.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in January. This deadline is extended to February for a newly elected governor.
4. The legislature adopts a budget by 30 days prior to its adjournment. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins on July 1.

Maine is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.

Cost-benefit analyses

See also: Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative Cost-Benefit Study

Map showing results of the Pew-MacArthur cost-benefit study

The Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative is a joint project of the Pew Charitable Trusts and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that works to partner with states in implementing cost-benefit analysis models.. The initiative released a report in July 2013 concluding that cost-benefit analysis in policymaking led to more effective uses of public funds. Looking at data from 2008 through 2011, the study's authors found that some states were more likely to use cost-benefit analysis, while others were facing challenges and lagging behind the rest of the nation. The challenges states faced included a lack of time, money, and technical skills needed to conduct comprehensive cost-benefit analyses. Maine was one of 29 states with mixed results regarding the frequency and effectiveness of its use of cost-benefit analysis.

Ethics and transparency

Following the Money report

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2014

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in April 2014. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured the transparency and accountability of state websites with regard to state government spending. According to the report, Maine received a grade of C+ and a numerical score of 76, indicating that Maine was middling in terms of transparency regarding state spending.

Open States Transparency

See also: Open States' Legislative Data Report Card

The Sunlight Foundation released an "Open Legislative Data Report Card" in March 2013. Maine was given a grade of D in the report. The report card evaluated how adequate, complete, and accessible legislative data was to the general public. A total of 10 states received an A: Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Elections

2018

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Maine State Senate took place in 2018. The closed primary election took place on June 12, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The major party candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2018, and the third-party and independent candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.

2016

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Maine State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2016.

All 35 seats in the Maine State Senate were up for election in 2016. Democrats gained two seats in the November 2016 general election.

2014

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Maine State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 17, 2014. The deadline for write-in candidates to run in the primary election was April 28, 2014, and the deadline for non-party candidates to run in the general election was June 2, 2014.

2012

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate were held on November 6, 2012. A total of 35 seats were up for election. The signature filing deadline was March 15, 2012.

Maine state senators are subject to term limits and may serve no more than four two-year terms. In 2012, 10 state senators were termed-out.

The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election.

2012 Margin of Victory, Maine State Senate
District	Winner	Margin of Victory	Total Votes	Top Opponent
District 17	Garrett Mason	0.1%	19,608	Colleen Quint
District 20,	Chris Johnson	0.8%	217,156,271	Leslie Fossel
District 21	Patrick Flood	1.4%	20,340	David Bustin
District 28	Brian Langley	2.1%	21,453	David White
District 32	Geoffrey Gratwick	2.9%	17,088	Nichi Farnham
District 35	Troy Dale Jackson	3.1%	16,537	Peter Edgecomb
District 29	David Burns	5.4%	16,602	Anne Perry
District 25	Colleen Lachowicz	5.7%	16,485	Thomas Martin, Jr.
District 11	Richard Woodbury	5.8%	24,804	Christopher Tyll
District 4	David Dutremble	7%	18,811	James Booth

2010

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate were held in Maine on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 15 at 5 p.m. for partisan candidates and June 1 at 5 p.m. for independent and unenrolled candidates. The primary election was held on June 8, 2010.

Maine's state senators are elected to four-year terms. They are subject to term limits of no more than two consecutive four-year terms.

In 2010, the candidates running for state Senate raised a total of $1,988,888 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were:

2010 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$1,809,803
Nadeau, James A	$8,386
Schweitzer, Daniel J	$3,810
James A Nadeau/Loan Forgiven, $000 balance	$3,500
Whalen, Francis J	$3,194
Maine Association of Realtors	$2,150
Millercoors	$1,900
Maine Dental Association	$1,800
Bangor Historic Track	$1,750
Maine Credit Union League	$1,650

2008

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2008

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 10, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008.

During the 2008 election, the total of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,854,105. The top 10 contributors were:

2008 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$1,621,186
Davis, Gerald M	$5,200
Cushing, John William	$3,806
Maine Association Of Realtors	$3,000
Maine Senate Republican Victory Fund	$2,250
Maine Insurance Agents Association	$2,250
Maine Bankers Association	$2,000
Drummond Woodsum & MacMahon	$1,750
Pack, Russell Wayne	$1,535
Greenier, Joseph H	$1,503

2006

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2006

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 13, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006.

During the 2006 election, the total of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,990,662. The top 10 contributors were:

2006 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$1,725,621
Maine Association Of Realtors	$2,500
Maine Bankers Association	$2,000
PHRMA	$2,000
Maine Insurance Agents Association	$1,750
Maine Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors	$1,650
Maine Hospital Association	$1,500
Maine Medical Association	$1,250
Maine Forest Products Council	$1,250
Business Minded Democrats	$1,250

2004

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2004

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004.

During the 2004 election, the total of contributions to Senate candidates was $2,095,278. The top 10 contributors were:

2004 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$1,428,790
Linnehan Jr, John D	$200,000
Dow, Dana L	$40,832
Sawyer Jr, W Tom	$10,442
Dyar, Clyde E	$8,239
Hastings III, David R	$2,789
Senate Republican Leadership Of Maine	$2,750
Maine Bankers Association	$2,500
Maine Oil Dealers Association	$2,100
Senate Democratic Campaign Cmte Of Maine	$2,000

2002

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2002

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 11, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002.

During the 2002 election, the total of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,323,033. The top 10 contributors were:

2002 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$918,417
Fossel, Leslie T	$24,922
Seed Money	$17,528
Sawyer Jr, W Tom	$12,041
Senate Republican Leadership Of Maine	$3,750
Maine Unlimited	$3,750
Leadership For Maine's Future	$3,750
Maine Bankers Association	$3,000
Maine State Employees Association	$3,000
Hall, Christopher G L	$2,830

2000

See also: Maine State Senate elections, 2000

Elections for the office of Maine State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 13, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000.

During the 2000 election, the total of contributions to Senate candidates was $1,368,281. The top 10 contributors were:

2000 Donors, Maine State Senate
Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$603,159
Sawyer Jr, W Tom	$128,946
Mack, Adam	$25,500
Sawyer Jr, W Tom	$15,100
Senate Republican Leadership Of Maine	$7,750
Maine Unlimited	$7,500
Leadership For Maine's Future	$7,250
Maine Bankers Association	$6,850
Maine State Employees Association	$5,500
Hall, Christopher G L	$5,500

Qualifications

Section 6 of Part 2 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "The Senators shall be 25 years of age at the commencement of the term, for which they are elected, and in all other respects their qualifications shall be the same as those of the Representatives."

Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents."

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election and allow all political committees representing the vacant seat to set all deadlines. The person elected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Maine legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Maine Term Limits Act in 1993. That initiative said that Maine senators are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1993 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 1996.

Senators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024
Salary	Per diem
$16,245.12 for the first regular session. $11,668.32 for the second regular session.	$70/day for lodging (or round-trip mileage up to $0.55/mile in lieu of housing, plus tolls). $50/day for meals.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Party		As of September 2025
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	15
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		35

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Maine State Senate from 1992 to 2013.

Leadership

The President of the Senate is elected by the full body. The President is the presiding officer, whose duties include appointing all committees and a President Pro Tempore, enforce order, and vote in all cases. The President Pro Tempore serves as presiding officer when the President is absent.

Current leadership

Senate President

TBD

Majority Leader

TBD

Minority Leader

Harold Stewart

• Assistant Majority Leader: Andre Cushing III (R)
• Assistant Minority Leader: Nathan Libby (D)

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Maine legislators assume office after the first Wednesday in December after their election.

Current members

Current members, Maine State Senate (35)
District	Senator	Party	Assumed office
1	Troy Dale Jackson	Democratic	2016
2	Michael Carpenter	Democratic	2016
3	Rodney Whittemore	Republican	2010
4	Paul T. Davis	Republican	2014
5	James Dill	Democratic	2014
6	Joyce Maker	Republican	2016
7	Brian Langley	Republican	2010
8	Kimberley Rosen	Republican	2014
9	Geoffrey Gratwick	Democratic	2012
10	Andre Cushing	Republican	2012
11	Michael Thibodeau	Republican	2010
12	David Miramant	Democratic	2014
13	Dana Dow	Republican	2016
14	Shenna Bellows	Democratic	2016
15	Roger Katz	Republican	2010
16	Scott Cyrway	Republican	2014
17	Thomas Saviello	Republican	2010
18	Lisa Keim	Republican	2016
19	James Hamper	Republican	2012
20	Eric Brakey	Republican	2014
21	Nathan Libby	Democratic	2014
22	Garrett Mason	Republican	2010
23	Eloise Vitelli	Democratic	2016
24	Everett Carson	Democratic	2016
25	Cathy Breen	Democratic	2015
26	William Diamond	Democratic	2014
27	Benjamin Chipman	Democratic	2016
28	Mark Dion	Democratic	2016
29	Rebecca Millett	Democratic	2012
30	Amy Volk	Republican	2014
31	Justin Chenette	Democratic	2016
32	Susan Deschambault	Democratic	2016
33	David Woodsome	Republican	2014
34	Ronald Collins	Republican	2010
35	Dawn Hill	Democratic	2010

Veto overrides

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Maine are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 101 of the 151 members in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 of the 35 members in the Maine State Senate. Maine is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

Authority: Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Maine Constitution.

"Every bill or resolution, having the force of law, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on a question of adjournment, which shall have passed both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor, and if the Governor approves, the Governor shall sign it; if not, the Governor shall return it with objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which shall enter the objections at large on its journals, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, 2/3 of that House shall agree to pass it, it shall be sent together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall be reconsidered, and, if approved by 2/3 of that House, it shall have the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all such cases, the votes of both Houses shall be taken by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons, voting for and against the bill or resolution, shall be entered on the journals of both Houses respectively."

Standing committees

There are five Senate Standing Committees:

• Bills in Second Reading
• Engrossed Bills
• Conduct and Ethics
• Senatorial Vote
• Senate Rules

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Maine

Partisan breakdown of the Maine legislature from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Maine State Senate for 16 years while the Republicans were the majority for four years.

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Maine, the Maine State Senate and the Maine House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Maine state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Between 1992 and 2002, the state experienced divided government until electing a Democratic trifecta, which occurred between 2003 and 2011. For two years (2011 and 2012), the state had a Republican trifecta before reverting back to divided government. Maine hit the bottom-10 in the SQLI ranking in 2006 and 2007 (42nd and 45th, respectively). Its highest ranking in the SQLI ranking occurred in 2012 (27th) under a Republican trifecta. The state rose seven points in the SQLI ranking between the years 2010 and 2011.

• SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 38.38
• SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 28.00
• SQLI average with divided government: 33.73

Chart displaying the partisanship of Maine government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

See also

• Maine
• Maine House of Representatives
• Governor of Maine
• Maine State Legislature
• Maine Constitution

External links

• Official website of the Maine Senate
• Official list of members of the 126th Maine State Senate

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Maine State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Matthea Daughtry

Majority Leader:Teresa Pierce

Senators

District 1

Susan Bernard (R)

District 2

Harold Stewart (R)

District 3

Bradlee Farrin (R)

District 4

Stacey Guerin (R)

District 5

Russell Black (R)

District 6

Marianne Moore (R)

District 7

Nicole Grohoski (D)

District 8

Mike Tipping (D)

District 9

Joe Baldacci (D)

District 10

David Haggan (R)

District 11

Glenn Curry (D)

District 12

Anne Beebe-Center (D)

District 13

Cameron Reny (D)

District 14

Craig Hickman (D)

District 15

Richard Bradstreet (R)

District 16

Scott Cyrway (R)

District 17

Jeffrey Timberlake (R)

District 18

Richard Bennett (R)

District 19

Joseph Martin (R)

District 20

Bruce Bickford (R)

District 21

Margaret Rotundo (D)

District 22

James Libby (R)

District 23

Matthea Daughtry (D)

District 24

Denise Tepler (D)

District 25

Teresa Pierce (D)

District 26

Timothy Nangle (D)

District 27

Jill Duson (D)

District 28

Rachel Talbot Ross (D)

District 29

Anne Carney (D)

District 30

Stacy Brenner (D)

District 31

Donna Bailey (D)

District 32

Henry Ingwersen (D)

District 33

Matthew Harrington (R)

District 34

Joseph Rafferty (D)

District 35

Mark Lawrence (D)

Democratic Party (20)

Republican Party (15)

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