At the start of 2022, the political year that lay ahead had the potential to usher in big changes.
A former two-term Republican governor moved back to Maine to take on the Democratic incumbent.
A former two-term Republican congressman again challenged the 2nd District Democratic incumbent.
All 186 seats in the Maine House and Senate were up for grabs, with at least one national pollster predicting a Republican takeover of the House.
And because it was midway through Democratic President Joe Biden’s first term, pundits foretold of Democratic headwinds that would surely trickle down to state-level races.
But in Maine, Democrats not only kept control of the Blaine House in the most expensive governor’s race in state history, they held the House and Senate and returned both Democrats to Congress.
Here’s a recap of the state’s top political stories of 2022.
Governor’s race
Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced in September 2021 that he would take on Democratic Gov. Janet Mills for what many predicted would be a fierce and expensive battle.
Through five televised debates, the two mixed it up on abortion, education, pandemic mandates and the state budget. And though they each raised millions on their own, it was spending by outside groups on television ads — mostly negative — that kept the race front and center for months.
Post-election reports show total spending topped $26 million, a record for gubernatorial races. Of that, $17.7 million came from outside groups, Mills raised $5.8 million and LePage brought in $2.6 million, according to state filings.
With an estimated 75% turnout, Mills handily defeated LePage 55-43%. Beals physician Sam Hunkler, an independent, garnered just 2% of the vote.
Mills, who turns 75 today, is the state’s first woman governor. She will be sworn-in for her second term Wednesday.
2nd Congressional District
In another highly anticipated race, former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, challenged U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, in a race that also featured independent Tiffany Bond.
There was only one debate for the candidates in this race, a Sept. 27 matchup in which all three delivered strong performances on topics such as inflation, abortion and lobster fishing regulations.
Following a ranked-choice vote count because no candidate received 50% on election night, Golden was declared the winner with 53% of the vote to Poliquin’s 47%.
1st Congressional District
In Maine’s other congressional district, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, won election to her eighth term serving the state’s southern and coastal areas.
Pingree defeated Republican challenger Ed Thelander, a retired Navy SEAL, 62-38%.
Thelander faced an uphill battle from the start. Heading into the election, Democrats comprised 41% of registered voters, followed by 33% unenrolled and 26% Republican in the 1st District.
Maine House and Senate
In late October, the Maine House and Senate were two of only seven legislative chambers nationwide rated as toss-ups by the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Republicans targeted Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash) as a potential pickup and challenged Democrats in House districts across the state.
But in the end, Jackson and his fellow Democrats held on to power, earning a 22-13 margin in the Senate and an 82-67 advantage in the House, with two independents.
With the majority, Democrats chose Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross of Portland as House Speaker, making her Maine’s first Black speaker.