Good morning from Augusta. Today is the final day for candidates to qualify for Maine’s June primary ballot for state and congressional races — with some candidates still racing to qualify.
We’re expecting a five-way Republican race and an eight-way Democratic race for the parties’ gubernatorial nomination. Those are the candidates who have already qualified or have scheduled a time with the Maine secretary of state’s office to turn in petitions today — and it will make for a real test of the state’s new ranked-choice voting system.
There have been few qualifying surprises so far in the race to replace the term-limited Gov. Paul LePage. Four of the five Republicans in the race have already qualified alongside five of the best-known Democrats.
Scheduled to qualify today are House Minority Leader Ken Fredette to round out the Republican field and three Democrats — former state Rep. Diane Russell, educator Steve DeAngelis and Biddeford Mayor Donna Dion. The latter two candidates will likely be the Democratic longshots if they qualify.
Democrats will likely have a four-way battle for the nomination to take on U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in Maine’s 2nd District. The Republican’s seat will be nationally targeted for the third straight cycle in 2018 — especially if Democratic candidates keep proving that they can win in more conservative areas than Maine’s 2nd District, like on Tuesday in Pennsylvania.
It’s probably too early to be enamored of their prospects, since it’s deeply unclear who the Democratic candidate will be. Conservationist Lucas St. Clair and Assistant Maine House Majority Leader Jared Golden are the frontrunners according to conventional wisdom.
However, former Maine Senate candidate Jonathan Fulford has progressive support. He has qualified for the June ballot alongside St. Clair and Golden, with Islesboro bookseller Craig Olson — the likely longshot — scheduled to join them today.
The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “It’s deadline day for Maine party candidates who want to make the ballot,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer Michael Shepherd, please follow this link to the BDN online.
