Under the Dome: Inside the Maine State House - 6.8.12

Originally published June 8, 2012

Maine Primary Day is Next Tuesday

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 is primary day, where voters will go to the polls to elect their party's candidates to appear on the November ballot. The most discussed contest at the top of the ballot is who will be elected to represent the Republican and Democrat parties in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Snowe. Republican voters will pick among six candidates: former Senate President Rick Bennett, businessman Scott D'Amboise, Senator Debra Plowman, Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, Attorney General Bill Schneider and Secretary of State Charlie Summers. Democrat voters will pick among four candidates: Senator Cynthia Dill, former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, Representative Jon Hinck and businessman Ben Pollard. Given that both of these races have a large field of candidates and the fact that low voter turnout is expected based on the small number voters requesting absentee ballots, it is very difficult to predict who will win on Tuesday. Getting supporters to the polls is seen as the key to victory next week.

There are also primary contests in the Republican Party between candidates seeking to run for the U.S. House. In the 1st Congressional District, merchant mariner Patrick Calder and Senator Jon Courtney will both be on the ballot Tuesday. In the 2nd Congressional District, Senate President Kevin Raye and naval veteran Blaine Richardson will face off next week.

Further down the ballot are a number of primaries for state Senate and House seats. Most of these races are local affairs that garner little attention outside of the...