June 10 — Maine voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in congressional and legislative primaries and to vote on school budgets, local referendums and municipal elections.
Polling places across the state will be open until 8 p.m., with hours varying by municipality. In Portland, polls open at 7 a.m. All mail-in ballots statewide must be returned by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The primaries are being held under Maine’s new semi-open primary law, which allows unregistered voters to vote in party primaries that were once open only to members of each party.
There are two races — Democratic primaries in House District 118, which includes part of Portland, and House District 123, which includes part of Cape Elizabeth — that could result in a ranked runoff because they involve more of two candidates.
As with most primary elections, turnout Tuesday will likely be low. As of Thursday, 32,679 people had requested an absentee ballot and 19,596 ballots had been returned. Maine has approximately 951,000 active registered voters.
Among the highest-profile primaries are the Republican elections in Maine’s two congressional districts. In the 1st Congressional District, political newcomers Andrew Piantidosi, of Cape Elizabeth, and Ronald Russell, of Kennebunkport, are vying to take on Rep. Chellie Pingreea Democrat, in the November elections.
The winner will face an uphill battle; Pingree, who is seeking a ninth term, has easily won re-election in recent years and the seat is a Democratic stronghold.
The 2nd District Republican primary has drawn more spending and attention because the winner of that race is more likely to have a shot at unseating incumbent Rep. Jared Golden, a Lewiston Democrat in his third term.
First-term state Reps. Austin Theriault, of Fort Kent, and Mike Soboleski, of Phillips, are competing for the chance to challenge Golden.
Donald Trump won an electoral vote in Golden’s district in the 2020 presidential race, and Golden defeated Republican challenger Bruce Poliquin with 53% of the vote after a ranked-choice runoff in 2022. The Cook Political Report lists this year’s race as a draw. .
The legislative races include three-way primaries for House District 118 in Portland and House District 123 in Cape Elizabeth.
Portland’s race features former state Rep. Herb Adams, incumbent Sen. Ben Chipman and former school board member Yusuf Yusuf. Since no Republicans or unregistered candidates are running, the winner of the Democratic primary will likely be the winner of the seat in November, barring a written challenge.
In Cape Elizabeth, former senator and state Rep. Cynthia Dill, former state Rep. Kimberly Monaghan and political newcomer Michelle Boyer are seeking to fill the seat currently held by Rep. Rebecca Millett, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election.
There’s also a competitive Democratic primary in Waterville, where three-term state Rep. Bruce White is being challenged by newcomer Cassie…
