Maine gubernatorial election, 2010

Maine gubernatorial election, 2010

November 2, 2010

Nominee Paul LePage Eliot Cutler Party Republican Independent Popular vote 218,065 208,270 Percentage 37.6% 35.9%   Nominee Libby Mitchell Shawn Moody Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 109,387 28,756 Percentage 18.8% 5.0%

County results   Counties won by LePage   Counties won by Cutler

Governor before election John Baldacci Democratic Elected Governor Paul LePage Republican

The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010. The candidates who appeared on the November ballot were (in alphabetical order by last name): Eliot Cutler (Independent), Paul LePage (Republican), Libby Mitchell (Democrat), Shawn Moody (Independent), and Kevin Scott (Independent).^[1]

With 94% of precincts reporting on the day after the election, the Bangor Daily News declared LePage the winner, carrying 38.1% of the votes.^[2] Cutler was in second place with 36.7% of the votes (less than 7,500 votes behind LePage), while Mitchell was a distant third with 19%.^[2] Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively.^[2] Two days after the election, with 99% of precincts reporting, LePage's lead over Cutler had widened to more than 10,000 votes.^[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

On ballot

• Patrick K. McGowan, former State Conservation Commissioner^[4][5]
• Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell, President of the Maine Senate^[6]
• Steven Rowe, former Maine Attorney General and former State Representative^[7][8]
• Rosa Scarcelli, business owner^[9][10]

Write-in

• Donna Dion, former Mayor of Biddeford.^[11][12] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures, but continued her campaign in the primary as a write-in candidate.^[13]

Withdrawn

• Dawn Hill, State Representative.^[14][15] Hill withdrew from the race on January 1, 2010, citing the crowded field of candidates.^[16]
• John G. Richardson, former Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and former Speaker of the House.^[4][17] Richardson withdrew from the race on April 26 amid allegations that some of his campaign workers had not followed proper procedures for collecting donations to qualify him for Maine Clean Election funding.^[18] The primary ballots had already been printed before Richardson withdrew from the race, so Richardson's name appeared on the ballot even though he was no longer a candidate.^[19]
• Peter Truman (also known as Peter Throumoulos), former state representative and convicted forger.^[20] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.

Declined

• Brian Bolduc, State Representative^[21]
• Tom Allen, former U.S. Representative^[22]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Mitchell	Rowe	Scarcelli	McGowan	Undecided
Pan Atlantic SMS Group	May 21–29, 2010	13.3%	11.7%	7.0%	6.3%	61.7%

Results

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell	42,328	34.4
	Democratic	G. Steven Rowe	27,923	22.7
	Democratic	Rosa Scarcelli	26,444	21.5
	Democratic	Patrick K. McGowan	24,392	19.8
	Democratic	John Richardson	1,604	1.3
	Democratic	Write-in	236	0.3
Total votes			122,927	100

At 11:32 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Libby Mitchell the winner of the Democratic primary.^[24]

Republican primary

Candidates

On ballot

• Steve Abbott, former chief of staff for Senator Susan Collins^[25][26]
• William Beardsley, former president of Husson University ^[27][28]
• Matt Jacobson, president of Maine & Company, a private business attraction organization; former President of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad^[29][30]
• Paul LePage, Mayor of Waterville and general manager of Marden's Surplus & Salvage store chain^{[31][32][33][34]}
• Peter Mills, State Senator and candidate for Governor in 2006^[35][36][37]
• Les Otten, founder of American Skiing Company and former Boston Red Sox co-owner^[38][39]
• Bruce Poliquin, business owner/manager and economist^[40][41]

Declined

• Peter Cianchette, United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and 2002 Republican nominee for governor^[42]
• Kevin Raye, State Senate Minority Leader^[43]
• Josh Tardy, State House Minority Leader^[44]

Polling

Poll source	Dates administered	Otten	LePage	Mills	Abbott	Beardsley	Poliquin	Jacobson	Undecided
MECPO [45]	May 22-June 2, 2010	17.0%	10.7%	22.1%	13.9%	5.9%	4.9%	1.4%	24.0%
Pan Atlantic SMS Group	May 21–29, 2010	17.0%	10.3%	8.4%	8.3%	3.6%	3.3%	2.0%	47.0%

Results

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Paul LePage	49,126	37.4
	Republican	Les Otten	22,945	17.4
	Republican	Peter Mills	19,271	14.7
	Republican	Steve Abbott	17,209	13.1
	Republican	William "Bill" Beardsley	12,061	9.2
	Republican	Bruce Poliquin	6,471	4.9
	Republican	Matt Jacobson	4,324	3.3
Total votes			131,407	100

At 11:19 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Paul LePage the winner of the GOP primary.^[46]

Independents

Candidates on the ballot

• Eliot Cutler, attorney, former staff member for U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie, and former adviser to President Jimmy Carter^[47][48][49]
• Shawn Moody, business owner^[49][50][51]
• Kevin L. Scott, business owner^[49][52][53]

Write-in candidates

• John Jenkins, former State Senator, former Mayor of both Auburn and Lewiston, and a 2002 gubernatorial candidate.^[54] Jenkins, who won his most recent mayoral campaign by write-in, declared he would run for Governor of Maine if 5,000 people followed his Facebook fan page^[55] within 45 days.
• Beverly Cooper-Pete.^[56] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures,^[49] but continued her campaign as a write-in candidate.^[57]

Disqualified candidates

• Alex Hammer, business owner and self-published author.^[4][58] Did not appear on the ballot due to not meeting the deadline for turning in petition signatures. Hammer attempted to turn in some of the signatures electronically, but the Secretary of State ruled that such methods were not allowed. Hammer filed suit to appear on the ballot in Penobscot County Superior Court on June 28, 2010.^[59][60] On September 28, 2010, the judge upheld the Secretary of State's decision.^[61]

Withdrawn

• Samme Bailey.^[4][62] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.^[49]
• Augustus Edgerton.^[4] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.^[49]
• Michael Heath, former leader of the Christian Civic League of Maine (now known as the Maine Family Policy Council).^[63] Withdrew from the race due to lack of petition signatures.^[64]
• John Whitcomb.^[4] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.^[49]

Maine Green Independent Party

The Maine Green Independent Party did not have a gubernatorial candidate on the ballot, as no candidate collected required number of signatures.^[65]

Withdrawn

• Lynne Williams, attorney and former state chair of the Maine Green Independent Party.^[66][67] On March 15, 2010, Lynne Williams announced her withdrawal from the campaign, citing a lack of clean elections funds and qualifying signatures.^[68]
• Patrick Quinlan, political activist, author, and lone legislative aide of Maine Green Independent Party caucus in state House of Representatives for 2004 and 2005; former campaign manager and consultant for Green state representative John Eder^[4]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report	Toss up[69]	October 29, 2010
The Rothenberg Political Report	Toss up/Tilt Republican[70]	October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics	Leans Republican[71]	October 22, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball	Leans Republican[72]	October 28, 2010
CQ Politics	Leans Democrat[73]	October 29, 2010
Rasmussen Reports	Solid Republican[74]	October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Paul LePage (R)	Libby Mitchell (D)	Eliot Cutler (I)	Shawn Moody (I)	Kevin Scott (I)	Undecided
MPRC / Down East Magazine	October 28–30, 2010	546	± 4.19%	39%	24%	29%	4%	1%	2%
Critical Insights / MaineToday Media	October 27–28, 2010	621	± 4%	40%	21%	21%	4%	1%	11%
Pan Atlantic SMS	October 25–28, 2010	400	± 4.9%	38.6%	21.8%	30.6%	2.8%	1.1%	7.3%
Public Policy Polling	October 26–28, 2010	1,812	± 2.3%	40%	24%	28%	4%	1%	2%
Rasmussen Reports	October 26, 2010	500	± 4.5%	40%	26%	26%	-	-	5%
Critical Insights	October 13–17, 2010	600	± 4%	32%	20%	19%	5%	1%	21%
Pan Atlantic SMS	October 11–15, 2010	501	± 4.4%	32.9%	28.0%	14.0%	4.6%	0.4%	20.2%
Rasmussen Reports	October 12, 2010	500	± 4.5%	35%	32%	21%	*	*	6%
Critical Insights / MaineToday Media	October 10–11, 2010	605	± 4%	32%	26%	11%	5	1	26%
Pine Tree Politics / Maine Center for Public Opinion	October 4–7, 2010	679	± 3.76%	29.6%	28.7%	11.1%	4.9%	1.6%	24.1%
Critical Insights / MaineToday Media	September 27, 2010	405	± 4.9%	29%	30%	9%	5%	0%	26%
Rasmussen Reports	September 20, 2010	500	± 4.5%	45%	27%	14%	*	*	10%
Critical Insights / MaineToday Media	September 13, 2010	603	± 4%	38%	25%	11%	4%	1%	21%
Public Policy Polling	September 2–6, 2010	1,468	± 2.6%	43%	29%	11%	5%	1%	12%
Rasmussen Reports	August 12, 2010	500	± 4.5%	38%	30%	16%	*	*	11%
Rasmussen Reports	July 14, 2010	500	± 4.5%	39%	31%	15%	*	*	12%
Rasmussen Reports	June 10, 2010	500	± 4.5%	43%	36%	7%	*	*	14%

* Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott, two Independent candidates who appeared on the ballot, were not offered as choices in the Rasmussen polls.^[75]

Results

2010 Gubernatorial Election, Maine^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Republican	Paul LePage	218,065	37.6%	+7.39%
	Independent	Eliot Cutler	208,270	35.9%	—
	Democratic	Libby Mitchell	109,387	18.8%	-19.31%
	Independent	Shawn Moody	28,756	5.0%	—
	Independent	Kevin Scott	5,664	1.00%
Majority			9,795	1.7%	-6.2
Turnout			580,538		+29,673
	Republican gain from Democratic		Swing

See also

• Governor of Maine
• List of Maine Governors

References

1. http://www.pressherald.com/home/governor/The-day-after-Governors-race-takes-shape-.html
2. Miller, Kevin; Wickenheiser, Matt (3 November 2010). "BDN projects LePage to win governor's race". Bangor Daily NEws. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
3. "Campaign 2010 – Maine Election Results". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
4. Kevin Miller. "9 hopefuls for top job in Maine". Bangor Daily News.
5. "McGowan joins Maine gubernatorial field". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010. Former state Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan formally announced his candidacy today, making him the seventh Democrat seeking his party's nomination in June.
6. Cover, Susan (2009-08-11). "Elizabeth Mitchell files for governor's race". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
7. Gagnon, Matthew (8 December 2008). "Steve Rowe Running For Governor". Pine Tree Politics. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
8. Rowe For Governor (official candidate web site)
9. Wickenheiser, Matt (20 July 2009). "Businesswoman launches Blaine House bid". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
10. Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic Candidate for Governor of Maine, 2010 (official candidate web site)
11. Williams, Cindy (22 July 2009). "Former Mayor Donna Dion Announced Run For Governor". WCSH. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
12. Donna Dion For Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)
13. Hoey, Dennis (21 March 2010). "Dione will run for governor as a write-in candidate". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
14. O'Bryan, Heather (1 July 2009). "House Member Announces Run For Governor". WCSH. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
15. dawnhillforgovernor.com (official candidate web site)
16. "Rep. Hill drops out of Maine gov. race" – SeacoastOnline.com
17. David Hench (16 November 2009). "Richardson to announce for governor". Portland Press Herald.
18. Richardson withdrawing from governor's race Portland Press Herald, April 26, 2010
19. Cover, Susan (7 June 2010). "Governor's Race: Independents can vote Tuesday, but they need to know the rules". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2010. Democrat John Richardson pulled out in April after the ethics commission found problems with his application for Clean Election funds. But it was too late for the ballots, which had already gone to the printers.
20. Wickenheiser, Matt (10 September 2009). "Man once jailed for forgery seeks state office". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 10 September 2009. A former state representative who was jailed two years ago for forging signatures on petitions for state Clean Election funds has filed papers to run for governor. Peter Truman of Old Orchard Beach, also known as Peter Throumoulos, plans to run as a Democrat.
21. SunJournal.com. "Auburn lawmaker decides against bid for governor". Retrieved 2009-09-02.
22. Mainepolitics.net. "Allen Discusses Future". Retrieved 2008-12-31.
23. "Maine Governor Primary Results". Maine SOS. June 8, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
24. "Mitchell wins Democratic Primary". WCSH 6. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
25. PressHerald.com. "Does Abbott Have his Eye on Governors Job?". Retrieved 2009-02-02.
26. "Collins aide joins Maine gov's race". Portland Press Herald. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
27. "Former Husson president to run for governor". Portland Press Herald. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
28. Bill Beardsley: Governor For Maine (official candidate web site)
29. Mainepolitics.net. "Republican Announces for Governor". Retrieved 2009-02-26.
30. Matt Jacobson For Governor (official candidate web site)
31. "Waterville mayor files to run for governor". Portland Press Herald. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
32. Paul LePage – Gubernatorial Dark Horse?
33. Morning Sentinel, September 18, 2009
34. Paul LePage for Governor 2010 (official campaign web site)
35. Mills declares candidacy for governor
36. "Welcome to the Public Campaign Finance Page for the State of Maine". Mainecampaignfinance.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
37. Peter Mills for Governor of Maine (official candidate web site)
38. Les Otten for Governor (official candidate web site)
39. "Portland, ME | Race For Governor Already Taking Shape". WCSH6.com. 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
40. Bruce Poliquin for Maine Governor (official candidate web site)
41. "> Archives > News > Poliquin jumps to early cash lead". The Times Record. 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
42. Cianchette insists he won't run for governor
43. "Kevin Raye Will Not Run For Governor". Pine Tree Politics. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
44. "Josh Tardy". Abbott for Governor. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
45. Note: Poll paid for by Mills Campaign
46. "LePage projected to win Maine GOP primary". WCSH 6. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
47. Christian, Ken (August 24, 2009). "Cutler To Run For Governor As Independent". WCSH. Retrieved August 24, 2009.
48. Cutler 2010 (official candidate web site)
49. Cover, Susan (2 June 2010). "Three unenrolled candidates qualify for governor's race". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
50. "Two Independent Gubernatorial Candidates Qualify for Maine Ballot". MBPN. April 23, 2010.
51. Shawn Moody for Governor of Maine (official candidate web site)
52. Wilensky-Lanford, Ethan (May 27, 2010). "Scott envisions role as 'a citizen governor'". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
53. Kevin L. Scott: Maine Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)
54. Tice, Lindsay (August 26, 2010). "Jenkins' campaign hinges on Web friends". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
55. Draft John Jenkins to be Maine Governor in 2010 Facebook Fan Page. August 26, 2010.
56. "Waterville mayor files to run for governor". Portland Press Herald. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009. Beverly Cooper-Pete of Portland also filed Tuesday as an unenrolled candidate.
57. Wickenheiser, Matt (15 September 2010). "Maine gubernatorial candidates put the focus on homeless". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 15 September 2010. The candidates who attended were Democrat Libby Mitchell and independent Shawn Moody, along with write-in candidates Beverly Cooper-Pete and Ed Braley ...
58. Alex Hammer for Maine Governor (official candidate web site)
59. Miller, Kevin (June 29, 2010). "Blaine House candidate sues over denied petitions". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
60. "Gov. candidate Hammer sues Sec. of State | Mainebiz". Mainebiz.biz. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
61. Associated Press. "Judge: state correct in rejecting candidate's signatures". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
62. Sam Bailey: Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)
63. Journal, Kennebec (14 April 2010). "Gay-rights foe running for Maine governor". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
64. "Heath decides against running for gov". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
65. Cover, Susan M. (March 16, 2010). "Falling short on signatures, Williams exits". The Morning Sentinel.
66. Bangor Daily News. "Maine Green party chairwoman to run for governor". Retrieved 2008-12-30.
67. Lynne Williams for Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)
68. Green candidate drops out of governor's race March 15, 2010, Portland Press Herald
69. "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
70. "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
71. "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
72. "2010 Governor Ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
73. "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
74. "Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
75. "Maine Governor". Rasmussen Reports. August 12, 2010.
76. http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/2010-11/gen2010gov.html

External links

• Maine Secretary of State – Elections Division
• Maine Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for 2010 Maine Governor from Follow the Money
• Maine Governor 2010 from OurCampaigns.com
• 2010 Maine Gubernatorial General Election: Paul LePage (R) vs Libby Mitchell (D) graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com
• Election 2010: Maine Governor from Rasmussen Reports
• 2010 Maine Governor – LePage vs. Mitchell vs. Cutler from Real Clear Politics
• 2010 Maine Governor's Race from CQ Politics
• Race Profile in The New York Times

Official campaign websites

• Patrick McGowan (D)
• Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell (D)
• Steven Rowe (D)
• Rosa Scarcelli (D)
• Steven Abbott (R)
• William Beardsley (R)
• Matt Jacobson (R)
• Paul LePage (R)
• Peter Mills (R)
• Les Otten (R)
• Bruce Poliquin (R)
• Eliot Cutler (I)
• Alex Hammer (I)
• Shawn Moody (I)
• Kevin Scott (I)

Debates

• Debate hosted by the Associated General Contractors of America (Democrats, Republicans, and Cutler)
• Democrat debate hosted by WCSH-TV, Part 1
• Democrat debate hosted by WCSH-TV, Part 2
• Republican debate hosted by WCSH-TV, Part 1
• Republican debate hosted by WCSH-TV, Part 2
• Democrat debate hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 1
• Democrat debate hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 2
• Republican debate hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 1
• Republican debate hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 2
• Democrat debate hosted by Maine Public Broadcasting
• Republican debate hosted by Maine Public Broadcasting
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WGME-TV and MaineToday Media, Part 1
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WGME-TV and MaineToday Media, Part 2
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 1
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WMTW-TV and University of Southern Maine, Part 2
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WCSH-TV and Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Part 1
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WCSH-TV and Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Part 2
• Debate featuring four of the five general election candidates (LePage chose not to participate), hosted by MPBN and Bates College
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WGME-TV, WGAN-AM, and MaineToday Media, Part 1
• Debate featuring all five general election candidates, hosted by WGME-TV, WGAN-AM, and MaineToday Media, Part 2

Candidate interviews

• Interview with Democratic candidate Donna Dion
• Interview with Republican candidate Les Otten
• Interview with Democratic candidate Rosa Scarcelli
• Interview with Republican candidate Paul LePage
• Interview with Democratic candidate Libby Mitchell
• Interview with Independent Alex Hammer
• Interview with Republican candidate Paul LePage
• Interview with Democratic candidate Libby Mitchell
• Interview with Republican candidate Bruce Poliquin
• Interview with Democratic candidate Steven Rowe
• Interview with Green candidate Lynne Williams
• Interview with Independent candidate Shawn Moody