Party primaries were initially scheduled to take place on June 9, 2020. They were rescheduled by Gov. Janet Mills to July 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mills' executive order also expanded the ability to request absentee ballots, which may now be done up to and on election day.[1] Parties that qualified to participate in the 2020 primary election were the Democratic Party, the Green Independent Party, and the Republican Party. Two candidates in District 1 and four candidates in District 2 filed petitions with the secretary of state by March 16, 2020.[2] Non-party candidates could also file petitions to be included on the ballot by June 1, 2020.[3]
The 1st district encompasses the southern coastal area of the state, taking in Portland, Augusta, Brunswick and Saco. The incumbent was Democrat Chellie Pingree, who was re-elected with 58.8% of the vote in 2018.[4]
Paul Davis, state senator and former state representative (2008-2014), state Senate minority leader (2004-2006), and state senator (1998-2006) (co-endorsed with Dale Crafts)[35]
Douglas Damon, former state representative (2010-2012)[45]
Paul Davis, state senator and former state representative (2008-2014), state senator (2002-2006), and state Senate minority leader (2004-2006) (co-endorsed with Eric Brakey)[43]
Peter Doak, former state representative (2012-2014)[45]
Dana Dow, state senator and state Senate minority leader[43]
Debra Plowman, acting Education Commissioner (2016), Republican candidate in 2012 U.S. Senate race, and former state senator (2004-2012) and state Senate assistant majority leader and state representative (1992-2000)[43]
Gary Plummer, former state senator (2012-2014) and state representative (2004-2012)[43]
Matthew Pouliot, state senator and former state representative (2014-2018)[43]
Kerri Prescott, former state representative (2006-2012)[43]
Charlie Webster, former Maine Republican Party chair (2008-2012), 1994 Republican gubernatorial candidate, and former state senator (1984-1994), state Senate minority leader (1988-1992), state Senate assistant minority leader (1986-1988), and state representative (1980-1984)[43]
Stephen Wood, former state representative (2010-2018)[44]
Both Bennett and Brakey conceded the race to Crafts the day after the primary. As Crafts did not get 50% of the vote, Maine's ranked choice system calls for the second choices of the last place candidate's votes to be distributed to the other candidates, whether or not the candidates concede the race. Crafts criticized this as a waste of taxpayer dollars, and both Bennett and Brakey said they would refuse to accept the results of the ranked choice tabulation. Maine Secretary of StateMatthew Dunlap said whether the concessions could stop the tabulation was "a question for lawyers", but that the tabulation would begin on July 18. Crafts called on the Maine Legislature to examine this issue. Dunlap's office, while not responding directly to Crafts' call to action on the Legislature, did agree with Crafts that Dunlap was performing his duty under the law.[52]
% (gross) = percent of all valid votes cast (without eliminating the exhausted votes)
% (net) = percent of votes cast after eliminating the exhausted votes
Debra Plowman, acting Education Commissioner (2016), Republican candidate in 2012 U.S. Senate race, and former state senator (2004-2012) and state Senate assistant majority leader and state representative (1992-2000)[43]
Gary Plummer, former state senator (2012-2014) and state representative (2004-2012)[43]
Matthew Pouliot, state senator and former state representative (2014-2018)[43]
Kerri Prescott, former state representative (2006-2012)[43]
Charlie Webster, former Maine Republican Party chair (2008-2012), 1994 Republican gubernatorial candidate, and former state senator (1984-1994), state Senate minority leader (1988-1992), state Senate assistant minority leader (1986-1988), and state representative (1980-1984)[43]
Stephen Wood, former state representative (2010-2018)[44]
^Poll sponsored by Left of Center PAC, which has endorsed Golden prior to this poll's sampling period.
Referencesedit
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^ abc"July 14, 2020 - Primary Election - Non-Ranked Choice Offices". Maine Department Secretary of State. July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
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