United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2012

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine was 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 coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2012 [1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Democratic 427,819 61.66% 2 2 -
Republican 265,982 38.34% 0 0 -
Totals 693,801 100% 2 2 -

Redistricting

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

Governor Paul LePage will call a special session of the Maine Legislature on September 27 to consider a redistricting plan.[5] 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.[6]

District 1

Democrat Chellie Pingree, who has represented Maine's 1st congressional district since 2009, was gathering signatures to run for the U.S. Senate, however she decided not to run.[7][8] State senator Cynthia Dill and state representative Jon Hinck, both of whom are Democrats, had picked up petitions to run in the 1st district. However after Pingree stepped out of the Senate race, Dill and Hinck returned campaigning for U.S. Senate

Merchant marine Patrick Calder had filed with the Federal Election Commission to seek the Republican nomination in the 1st district,[9] while State Senate majority leader Jon Courtney and former Secretary of State of Maine Markham Gartley had picked up petitions to do so.[10] Businessman Richard Snow also may run for the Republican nomination.[9]

Shawn Moody, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor in 2010 as an independent, was rumored as a potential candidate for Congress in the 1st district as an independent or as a Republican.[9]

Polling
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size Margin of error Chellie
Pingree (D)		 Jon
Courtney (R)		 Undecided
Maine People's Resource Center[11] March 31–April 2, 2012 522 ± 4.29% 61.3% 27.9% 10.8%

General election results

Maine 1st Congressional District 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chellie Pingree (Incumbent) 236,363 64.8
Republican Jonathan T. E. Courtney 128,440 35.1
Total votes 364,803 100.0
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}
External links

District 2

Democrat Mike Michaud, who has represented Maine's 2nd congressional district since 2003, will not run for the U.S. Senate, and is running for a sixth term in the United States House of Representatives.[12] David Costa, a concierge at the Portland Harbor Hotel; Wellington Lyons, a lawyer; and David Lamoine, a former state treasurer, had taken out papers to seek the Democratic nomination to succeed Michaud had he run for Senate.[10] Emily Cain, the minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives, had also planned to seek the Democratic nomination in the 2nd district if Michaud decided to run for the Senate seat.[13]

Kevin Raye, the president of the Maine Senate, announced in January 2012 he would seek the Republican nomination to challenge Michaud.[13][14] Jason Levesque, a businessman and unsuccessful candidate for the 2nd district in 2010, said he may seek the Republican nomination in the 2nd district if Raye were to run for Senate.[15] However after Senator Olympia Snowe announced on February 28 she would not seek re-election, five additional candidates announced they would seek Republican nomination in the Senate, so due to the large amount of candidates running Raye decided to continue his campaign for the House. In March 2012 Blaine Richardson, a retired naval veteran of Farmington, announced he would challenge Raye in the June 12th primary. Raye was declared the winner of the primary at 9:43pm with 78% of precincts reporting.

Polling
Poll source Date(s) administered Sample size Margin of error Mike
Michaud (D)		 Kevin
Raye (R)		 Undecided
Maine People's Resource Center[11] March 31–April 2, 2012 471 ± 4.51% 53.1% 36.7% 10.2%

General election results

Maine 2nd Congressional District 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael H. Michaud (Incumbent) 191,456 58.2
Republican Kevin L. Raye 137,542 41.8
Total votes 328,998 100.0
Democratic hold Swing {{{swing}}}
External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections Division". Main Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commission, Elections. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Lawsuit aims to speed Maine redistricting". Bangor Daily News. March 29, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  3. ↑ Hench, David (April 27, 2011). "Federal judges to review redistricting lawsuit". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  4. ↑ Canfield, Clarke (June 9, 2011). "Maine's congressional districts must be redrawn". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  5. ↑ Miller, Joshua (August 4, 2011). "Maine Legislature Will Hold Special Session on Redistricting Plan". Roll Call. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  6. ↑ Russell, Eric (August 15, 2011). "Republicans' redistricting plan would add more GOP voters to 2nd District". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  7. ↑ Russell, Eric (February 29, 2012). "Michaud, Pingree and Baldacci may seek Olympia Snowe's seat; King, Raye and Cutler also considering". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  8. ↑ http://www.pressherald.com/news/Pingree-wont-run-for-US-Senate.html
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Gagnon, Matthew (June 30, 2011). "The Next David To Pingree's Goliath". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Murphy, Edward D. (February 29, 2012). "Baldacci, Michaud, Pingree take out papers for Senate seat". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Russell, Eric (April 6, 2012). "Poll: Summers, Dill lead in Senate primary races, King leads overall". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  12. ↑ Russell, Eric (March 1, 2012). "Michaud to stay in House race; Republicans cautiously considering Senate seat". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Higgins, A.J. (February 29, 2012). "Maine Lawmakers Stampede to Qualify for Ballot in Wake of Snowe's Departure". Maine Public Broadcasting Network. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  14. ↑ Mistler, Steve (January 5, 2012). "Raye will challenge Michaud for congressional seat". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  15. ↑ Miller, Joshua (July 13, 2011). "GOP Sees Opportunity With Maine House Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved July 14, 2011.

External links