2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine

Elections were held on November 2, 2010 to determine Maine's two members of the United States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011 until January 3, 2013. Primary elections were held on June 8, 2010.[1]

The races in both the 1st and 2nd districts were rated as competitive by The Cook Political Report[2] and The Rothenberg Political Report,[3] while only the 1st district was rated as competitive by CQ Politics.[4] Both of Maine's incumbents (Chellie Pingree of the 1st district and Mike Michaud of the 2nd district, both Democrats) were re-elected.[5]

A total of 564,368 votes were cast, of which 316,156 (56.02 percent) were for Democratic candidates, 248,170 (43.97 percent) were for Republican candidates, and 42 (0.01 percent) were for write-in candidates.[6]

Overview

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine by district:[7]

District Democratic Republican Others Total Result
Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%
District 1169,11456.82%128,50143.17%420.01%297,657100.0%Democratic hold
District 2147,04255.13%119,66944.87%00.00%266,711100.0%Democratic hold
Total316,15656.02%248,17043.97%420.01%564,368100.0%

District 1

Chellie Pingree, who was re-elected as the U.S. representative for the 1st district

The 1st district includes Biddeford, Portland and South Portland.[8] The district's population was 95 percent white (see Race and ethnicity in the United States Census); 91 percent were high school graduates and 32 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Its median income was $53,324.[9] In the 2008 presidential election the district gave 61 percent of its vote to Democratic nominee Barack Obama and 38 percent to Republican nominee John McCain.[8] In 2010 the district had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+8.[2]

Democrat Chellie Pingree, who took office in 2009, was the incumbent. Pingree was elected in 2008 with 55 percent of the vote.[8] In 2010 her opponent in the general election was Republican nominee Dean Scontras, the co-owner of an alternative energy company.[10] Pingree and Scontras were unopposed in their respective primaries.[11] Pingree raised $1,282,675 and spent $1,290,022. Scontras raised $491,374 and spent the same amount.[12]

In a poll of 790 likely voters, conducted by Public Policy Polling between September 2 and 6, 2010, Pingree led with 47 percent to Scontras's 38 percent, while 15 percent were undecided.[13] A poll of 316 likely voters, conducted by Critical Insights (CI) on September 13, 2010, found Pingree leading with 53 percent to Scontras's 29 percent while 18 percent were undecided.[14][15][16] A CI poll with a statewide sample of 405 likely voters, conducted on September 27, 2010, found Pingree leading Scontras by 54 percent to 26 percent, while 19 percent were undecided.[16][17] In a poll of 346 likely voters, conducted by the Maine Center for Public Opinion between October 4 and 7, 2010, 46 percent of respondents supported Pingree while 38 percent favored Scontras and 16 percent were undecided.[18] A CI poll of 305 registered voters, conducted on October 10 and 11, 2010, found Pingree leading with 48 percent to Scontras's 33 percent, while 18 percent remained undecided.[19][20] In a poll with a statewide sample of 501 likely voters, conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group between October 11 and 15, 2010, 49 percent of respondents backed Pingree with 33 percent supported Scontras and 18 percent remained undecided.[21] In a CI poll of 295 likely voters, conducted between October 13 and 17, 2010, Pingree led Scontras by 45 percent to 40 percent while 13 percent were undecided.[22] In CI's final poll Scontras led with 45 percent to Pingree's 41 percent.[23]

In October 2010 The Cook Political Report[2] and CQ Politics[4] rated the race as "likely Democratic". In November 2010 The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Democrat favored".[3] Prior to the election FiveThirtyEight's forecast gave Pingree an 80 percent chance of winning and projected that she would receive 53 percent of the vote to Scontras's 47 percent.[24]

On election day Pingree was re-elected with 57 percent of the vote to Scontras's 43 percent.[25] Pingree was one of eight Democratic U.S. Representatives who was elected by a larger margin in 2010 than in 2008.[26] Pingree was again re-elected in 2012,[27] 2014,[28] 2016[29] and 2018.[30]

General election results

Maine's 1st district general election, November 2, 2010[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chellie Pingree (incumbent) 169,114 56.82
Republican Dean Scontras 128,501 43.17
Write-In Write-in candidates 42 0.01
Total votes 297,657 100.00

District 2

Mike Michaud, who was re-elected as the U.S. representative for the 2nd district

The 2nd district included Auburn, Bangor, Lewiston and Waterville.[31] Its population was 94 percent white (see Race and ethnicity in the United States Census); 87 percent were high school graduates and 20 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Its median income was $40,812.[32] In the 2008 presidential election the district gave 55 percent of its vote to Democratic nominee Barack Obama and 43 percent to Republican nominee John McCain.[31] In 2010 the district had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+3.[2]

Democrat Mike Michaud, who took office in 2003, was the incumbent. Michaud was re-elected in 2008 with 67 percent of the vote.[31] In 2010 Michaud's opponent in the general election was Republican nominee Jason Levesque, a businessman.[33] Both Michaud and Levesque were unopposed in their primaries.[34] Michaud raised $1,044,372 and spent $1,244,848. Levesque raised $542,626 and spent $529,783.[35]

In a poll of 678 likely voters, conducted by Public Policy Polling between September 2 and 6, 2010, Michaud led with 45 percent to Levesque's 38 percent, while 17 percent were undecided.[13] A poll of 287 registered voters, conducted by Critical Insights (CI) on September 13, 2010, found Michaud leading with 48 percent to Levesque's 28 percent while 24 percent were undecided.[15][36] In a poll with a statewide sample of 405, conducted by CI on September 27, 2010, Michaud had the support of 44 percent while 32 percent backed Levesque and 24 percent were undecided.[16][17] A CI poll of 300 likely voters, conducted on October 10 and 11, 2010, found Michaud leading with 43 percent to Levesque's 30 percent while 26 percent were undecided.[37] In a poll with a statewide sample of 501 likely voters, conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group between October 11 and 15, 2010, 49 percent of respondents supported Michaud while 29 percent favored Levesque and 22 percent were undecided.[21] A poll of 305 likely voters, conducted by CI between October 13 and 17, 2010, found Michaud leading with 49 percent to Levesque's 30 percent, while 20 percent were undecided.[22] In a CI poll of 326 likely voters, the results of which were published later in October 2010, Michaud led with 44 percent to Levesque's 40 percent while 14 percent remained undecided.[38]

In October 2010 The Cook Political Report rated the race as "likely Democratic".[2] In November 2010 The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race as "Democrat favored".[3] Prior to the election FiveThirtyEight's forecast gave Michaud a 92 percent chance of winning and projected that he would receive 55 percent of the vote to Levesque's 45 percent.[39]

On election day Michaud was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote to Levesque's 45 percent.[40] Michaud was again re-elected in 2012[41] and unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Maine in 2014.[42] He was succeeded by Republican Bruce Poliquin.[43]

General election results

Maine's 2nd district general election, November 2, 2010[40]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Michaud (incumbent) 147,042 55.13
Republican Jason Levesque 119,669 44.87
Total votes 266,711 100.00

See also

References

  1. "June 8, 2010 Primary Election Candidate Listing". Secretary of State of Maine. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  2. "2010 competitive House race chart". The Cook Political Report. October 26, 2010. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  3. "House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. November 1, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  4. "Race Ratings Chart: House". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  5. Sharp, David (November 2, 2010). "Reps. Pingree, Michaud win re-election in Maine". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  6. Haas, Karen L. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the congressional election of November 2, 2010". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. p. 21. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  7. Haas, Karen L. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  8. "Maine – 1st District". Roll Call. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  9. "Maine 1st District Profile". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  10. Jordan, Glenn (October 29, 2010). "Chellie Pingree vs. Dean Scontras". Kennebec Journal. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  11. Jordan, Glenn (October 29, 2010). "Maine 1st Congressional District rivals air differences in debate". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  12. "Maine District 01 Race". OpenSecrets. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  13. "Maine Rep's Pingree, Michaud Favored for Re-election" (PDF). Public Policy Polling. September 9, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  14. Jordan, Glenn (September 20, 2010). "1st District". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  15. "Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave I". Critical Insights. September 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  16. Wickenheiser, Matt (September 29, 2010). "Poll: Mitchell, LePage in dead heat in governor's race". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  17. "Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave II". Critical Insights. September 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  18. Metzler, Rebekah (October 10, 2010). "Political poll sees shift in numbers". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  19. Jordan, Glenn (October 14, 2010). "Scontras gains on Pingree". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  20. "Maine Voter Preference Study – Wave III". Critical Insights. October 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  21. "The 45th Pan Atlantic SMS Group Omnibus Poll" (PDF). Pan Atlantic SMS Group. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  22. "Critical Insights on Maine Tracking Survey: Fall 2010" (PDF). Critical Insights. October 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  23. Jordan, Glenn (October 29, 2010). "Scontras edging Pingree in latest poll". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  24. "Maine 1st District". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  25. "General Election Tabulations: November 2, 2010, Congressional District 1". Secretary of State of Maine. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  26. Ostermeier, Eric (November 7, 2010). "Nancy Pelosi 1 of 8 House Democrats to Win by Bigger Margin in 2010 than 2008". Smart Politics. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  27. "Democrat Pingree re-elected in Maine House race". WMTW. November 7, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  28. Koenig, Seth (November 4, 2014). "Pingree turns back challenges from political newcomers to gain re-election". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  29. Miller, Kevin (November 8, 2016). "Pingree wins re-election to 1st Congressional District". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  30. "Rep. Chellie Pingree wins Maine's 1st Congressional District seat". The Washington Post. November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  31. "Maine – 2nd District". Roll Call. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  32. "Maine 2nd District Profile". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  33. Monroe, Scott (October 22, 2010). "Jason Levesque vs. Mike Michaud". Kennebec Journal. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  34. Nick, Jr. (June 8, 2010). "Just another day for unopposed candidates". Bangor Daily News. Sambides. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  35. "Maine District 02 Race". OpenSecrets. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  36. Monroe, Scott (September 19, 2010). "2nd District". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  37. Monroe, Scott (October 14, 2010). "Poll gives Michaud strong lead". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  38. Monroe, Scott (October 29, 2010). "New poll: Levesque surges close to Michaud". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  39. "Maine 2nd District". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  40. "General Election Tabulations: November 2, 2010, Congressional District 2". Secretary of State of Maine. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  41. "Rep. Mike Michaud re-elected in Maine's second district". WCSH. November 6, 2012. Archived from the original on May 27, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  42. Duffy, Nick (November 5, 2014). "US: Mike Michaud loses bid to become first openly gay governor". Pink News. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  43. "Cain concedes 2nd Dist. race, Poliquin takes seat". WCSH. November 5, 2014. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
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