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Maine's congressional districts, the boundaries of which may be redrawn in advance of the 2012 elections, pending a lawsuit
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the two U.S. Representatives from the state of Maine, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.
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Unlike most states, which will pass or have passed redistricting laws to redraw the boundaries of their congressional districts based on the 2010 United States Census in advance of the 2012 elections, Maine law requires that redistricting be done in 2013. In March 2011, a lawsuit was filed asking a U.S. district judge to ensure redistricting is completed in time for the 2012 elections. According to the Census, the 1st district had a population of 8,669 greater than that of the 2nd district.[1] The Maine Democratic Party, which opposes the lawsuit, was granted intervenor status, and argues that the lawsuit constitutes an attempt by the Maine Republican Party to force Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, both of whom are Democrats, to run in the same district.[2] On June 9, 2011, a panel of three federal judges agreed that failing to redistrict would be unconstitutional, and that the state should redraw the boundaries of its districts immediately.[3]
Governor Paul LePage will call a special session of the Maine Legislature on September 27 to consider a redistricting plan.[4] On August 15, both Republicans and Democrats released redistricting proposals. The Republican plan would move Lincoln County, Knox County (including Pingree's hometown of North Haven) and Sagadahoc County from the 1st district to the 2nd, and move Oxford County and Androscoggin County from the 2nd district to the 1st, thereby making the 2nd district more favorable to Republicans. The Democratic plan, meanwhile, would not significantly change the current districts: only Vassalboro would be moved from the 1st district to the 2nd.[5]
Democrat Chellie Pingree, who has represented Maine's 1st congressional district since 2009, is expected to run for re-election. Merchant marine Patrick Calder, a Republican, has filed with the Federal Election Commission to challenge Pingree. State Senate majority leader Jon Courtney, former Secretary of State Mark Gartley and businessman Richard Snow also may run for the Republican nomination. Shawn Moody, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 2010 as an independent, may run for Congress in the 1st district as an independent or as a Republican.[6]
Democrat Mike Michaud, who has represented Maine's 2nd congressional district since 2003, is expected to run for re-election. Kevin Raye, the president of the Maine Senate, has formed an exploratory committee to seek the Republican nomination to challenge Michaud.[7] Jason Levesque, a businessman and unsuccessful candidate for the 2nd district in 2010, may run for the Republican nomination to challenge Michaud.[8]