Maine voters are heading back to the polls for the state primary election, following their previous votes for president. This time, they will choose nominees who will compete for a critical U.S. House seat that could sway the majority. Despite former President Donald Trump’s win in Maine’s 2nd District in 2016, Democrat Jared Golden managed to secure reelection in the district in 2018 and 2020. Republicans, including Trump and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, are backing state Rep. Austin Theriault in hopes of defeating Golden in the upcoming primary.
The primary is scheduled for Tuesday with polls closing at 8 p.m. ET. The Associated Press will cover 20 contested races, focusing on Republican primary elections for both of Maine’s U.S. House seats. Registered party members can only vote in their own party’s primary, while unaffiliated voters can choose to participate in any primary. The state is divided into two congressional districts, with the 2nd District being a political battleground where Republicans have seen recent success, particularly under Trump’s presidency.
In the northern 2nd District, Theriault has received Trump’s endorsement and aims to capitalize on the areas where Trump gained significant votes in 2020. Theriault, a former NASCAR driver, has a strong financial advantage over his Republican opponent, state Rep. Michael Soboleski. The 1st District, anchored by Portland, sees Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree running unopposed. Maine uses ranked-choice voting for legislative primaries with more than two candidates on the ballot, only triggering a runoff if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote.
As of March, Maine had over 1.1 million registered voters, with turnout in recent primaries ranging from 5% to 12%. Approximately 16,194 ballots were cast before Election Day in the 2022 primary. Vote-counting typically concludes by early morning following the close of polls, with results being announced shortly after. The November general election is fast approaching, with 147 days remaining. The AP will continue to cover the 2024 election extensively, providing updates on key races and developments.
