Maine Democrats retain governorship, legislature

Maine Democrats retained control of the state House and Senate on Tuesday as Gov. Janet Mills (D) held off a challenge from former Gov. Paul LePage (R).

The victories mean the party maintains its trifecta control of state government and came in what appeared would be a difficult midterm environment for Democrats.

Jessica Post, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said in a statement that Democrats prevailed despite “historical headwinds” and Republicans targeting the state, proving that “a majority of Maine voters do not stand for the GOP’s agenda of banning abortion, denying election results, and giving tax cuts to the wealthy.”

As of early Wednesday, Democrats had claimed at least half the 151 seats in the state House and could possibly add a seat to their 22-13 majority in the state Senate, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Outside groups spent $4.7 million on Democratic candidates for the legislature, nearly triple the money spent on Republican candidates, according to the Bangor Daily News.