2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine

Overview

Results of the 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine by district:

District 1

Pingree:
The 1st district includes covers the southern coastal area of the state, including all of Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and York counties and most of Kennebec County. Located within the district are the cities of Portland, Augusta, Brunswick and Saco. The incumbent Democrat Chellie Pingree, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 65% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of D+9.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chellie Pingree, incumbent U.S. representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Isaac Misiuk, former University of Southern Maine College Republicans president

Declined

• Meredith Strang Burgess, former state representative

Results

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Richard Murphy, Maine National Guardsman

General election

Debates

Endorsements

Newspapers

• Bangor Daily News U.S. senators
• Susan Collins, U.S. senator (R-ME)

State officials

• Paul LePage, governor of Maine Organizations
• Sportsman's Alliance of Maine

Newspapers

• MaineToday Media newspapers

Polling

Predictions

Results

District 2

Poliquin:
Cain:
The 2nd district covers 27326 sqmi, comprising nearly 80% of the state's total land area. It is the largest district east of the Mississippi River and the 24th-largest overall. It is the second-most rural district in the United States, with 72.11% of its population in rural areas, behind only Kentucky's 5th congressional district. It includes most of the land area north of the Portland and Augusta metropolitan areas, including the cities of Bangor, Lewiston, Auburn and Presque Isle. The incumbent Democrat Mike Michaud, who had represented the district since 2003, did not seek re-election, and was selected as the Democratic nominee for governor of Maine in the 2014 election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2012, and the district had a PVI of D+2.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Emily Cain, state senator

Eliminated in primary

• Troy Jackson, majority leader of the Maine Senate

Withdrew

• Alden Smith, Navy reservist

Declined

• Joe Baldacci, Bangor city councilor
• John Baldacci, former governor and former U.S. representative
• Matthew Dunlap, Secretary of State of Maine
• James Howaniec, attorney, former mayor of Lewiston and candidate for this seat in 1994
• Jeff McCabe, assistant majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives
• Mike Michaud, incumbent U.S. representative (running for governor)

Endorsements

State legislators

• Jeffrey Evangelos, state representative

Labor unions

• Local 6 (at Bath Iron Works)
• Maine AFL–CIO
• Maine AFSCME Local 2011
• Maine Teamsters
• United Auto Workers Region 9A

Individuals

• Thomas Steinbeck, son of author John Steinbeck

Polling

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bruce Poliquin, former state treasurer of Maine and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012

Eliminated in primary

• Kevin Raye, former president of the Maine Senate and nominee for the seat in 2002 and 2012

Withdrew

• Blaine Richardson, United States Navy veteran, and candidate for this seat in 2012 (unenrolled as a Republican, running as an independent)
• Richard Rosen, director of the Maine Office of Policy and Management and former state senator
• Alexander Willette, assistant minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives

Declined

• Kenneth Fredette, minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives
• Jonathan LaBonte, mayor of Auburn
• Paul LePage, governor of Maine (running for re-election)
• Garrett Mason, state senator
• Debra Plowman, former state senator
• Joshua Tardy, former minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives
• Michael Thibodeau, minority leader of the Maine Senate

Endorsements

U.S. senators

• Susan Collins, U.S. senator (R-ME) (for general election)

U.S. representatives

• John Boehner, speaker of the United States House of Representatives (R-OH) (for general election)

Organizations

• National Federation of Independent Business
• National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund (for general election)
• Republican Liberty Caucus (rescinded on February 5, 2015, after the election)

State legislators

• Bernard Ayotte, state representative
• David Burns, state senator
• Dean Cray, state representative
• Jarrod Crockett, state representative
• Phil Curtis, former majority leader of the Maine House of Representatives
• Jim Donnelly, former Maine House Minority Leader
• Joyce Fitzpatrick, state representative
• Anita Haskell, state representative
• Brian Langley, state senator
• Joyce Maker, state representative
• Garrett Mason, state senator
• Carol McElwee, state representative
• Robert Nutting, state representative, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
• Debra Plowman, former assistant majority leader of the Maine Senate
• Tom Saviello, state senator
• Roger Sherman, state senator
• Josh Tardy, former Maine House minority leader
• Edward Youngblood, state senator

Organizations

• Business Industry Political Action Committee
• National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund (for primary)

Newspapers

• Bangor Daily News State officials
• Paul LePage, governor of Maine

Polling

Results

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Blaine Richardson, United States Navy veteran, and Republican candidate for the seat in 2012 (unenrolled as a Republican, running as an independent)

General election

Campaign

Bruce Poliquin resisted invitations to debates where Blaine Richardson would be present, including one sponsored by MPBN. Political observers stated this might have been due to Richardson's potential to split the conservative vote. Emily Cain expressed support for Richardson being present at debates and said she would only attend debates where both of the other candidates were present. A debate to be held on WMTW-TV was cancelled after Cain pulled out to protest Richardson not being invited. WMTW said they and their parent company, Hearst Television, had strict criteria for invitations to debates that Richardson did not meet. These criteria included holding large campaign events, fundraising, and performance in polling, all of which WMTW said were not met.

On August 29, Richardson revealed, and Poliquin's campaign confirmed, that Richardson had rejected a request from Poliquin to quit the race. A Poliquin spokesman stated the phone call was made because Richardson had "no chance" to win and seemed "more interested in working with Emily Cain to bash Bruce rather than have a discussion about the future". Richardson said he would stay in the race and he was "so fed up with the parties, both of them". He also said that Poliquin asking him to quit had been one of the biggest boosts for his campaign.

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 16, 2014

Endorsements

U.S. senators

• Angus King, U.S. senator (I-ME)

State legislators

• Patrick Flood, Republican state senator, ranking Appropriations Committee member
• Sherry Huber, former state legislator, former candidate for governor

Labor unions

• AFL–CIO
• American Federation of Teachers
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 104

Organizations

• EMILY's List
• EqualityMaine
• Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund
• Sierra Club Maine

Newspapers

• Bangor Daily News (for primary and general)

Individuals

• Maj. Gen. (retired) John Libby, former head of the Maine National Guard and former commissioner of the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management

Organizations

• Sportsman's Alliance of Maine

Newspapers

• MaineToday Media newspapers

Polling

Predictions

Results

References

References

1. Haas, Karen L.. (March 9, 2015). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2014". [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
2. Miller, Kevin. "Chellie Pingree says she won't run for Maine governor". [[Kennebec Journal]].
3. "Tabulations for Elections held in 2014". Maine Secretary of State.
4. Mistler, Steve. (August 7, 2013). "Two announce plans to run for Maine congressional seats". Kennebec Journal.
5. Harriman, Phil. (December 27, 2013). "Get ready for one doozy of a political year". Bangor Daily News.
6. Koeing, Seth. (August 8, 2013). "National Guardsman enters 1st District congressional race as independent". Bangor Daily News.
7. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZEp1fPWj3E YouTube (Part 1)]
8. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynre6RyQSMM YouTube (Part 2)]
9. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgS_hTrlLxQ YouTube (Part 3)]
10. [https://www.pbs.org/video/your-vote-1st-congressional-district-debate-october-9-2014/ PBS]
11. (October 23, 2014). "Maine's 1st District can continue to benefit from Chellie Pingree's influence". [[Bangor Daily News]].
12. (July 20, 2014). "GOP ticket in Maine features conflicting views between moderate Collins, conservative LePage, Poliquin". [[Bangor Daily News]].
13. (June 9, 2014). "LePage's endorsement of Misiuk spends more time on LePage than Misiuk". [[Bangor Daily News]].
14. (August 21, 2014). "Sportsman's Alliance of Maine won't endorse candidates in gubernatorial, federal races". Bangor Daily News.
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31. Strimling, Ethan. (June 13, 2013). "Michaud is running. Democrats have life!". [[Bangor Daily News]].
32. Strimling, Ethan. (December 31, 2013). "Joe Baldacci decides not to run for Congress". [[Bangor Daily News]].
33. (June 13, 2013). "Michaud's possible jump sets off the sounds of musical chairs". Kennebec Journal.
34. Miller, Kevin. (August 25, 2013). "Michaud is Republicans see potential to win 2nd District seat". [[Kennebec Journal]].
35. Shepherd, Michael. (January 30, 2014). "Former Lewiston mayor considers 2nd Congressional District run". [[Kennebec Journal]].
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40. "Maine Teamsters Endorse Michaud For Governor, Jackson For Congress {{!}} Troy Jackson for Congress".
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45. (August 29, 2013). "Raye joining Republican fray for Michaud's seat". Kennebec Journal.
46. (January 21, 2013). "Richardson preps another run for Congress | www.timesrecord.com". The Times Record.
47. (January 19, 2014). "Belfast conservative drops Republican affiliation". [[Kennebec Journal]].
48. (November 30, 2013). "Richard Rosen opts out of race to replace Michaud in CD2". Bangor Daily News.
49. (August 29, 2013). "Republican Willette ends bid to replace Michaud in Congress". [[Kennebec Journal]].
50. (June 26, 2013). "Lawmakers Override Governor's Budget Veto - LePage Considering Future As Maine Governor". WABI TV.
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52. (2014-07-25). "Collins helps Poliquin raise $281,000 in congressional bid". Kennebec Journal.
53. (September 17, 2014). "John Boehner will campaign with Bruce Poliquin". Bangordailynews.com.
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57. "Poliquin endorsed by Republican Liberty Caucus - Bruce Poliquin for Congress - Strong leadership for a better Maine".
58. (2015-02-05). "U.S. GOP Congressman Brushes off Criticism for Health Care Vote". ABC News.
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66. (October 23, 2014). "Cain skipping WMTW debate". wmtw.com.
67. (August 29, 2014). "'Fed up' Richardson rejects Poliquin call to quit congressional campaign". Bangordailynews.com.
68. Michael Shepherd. (October 1, 2014). "Angus King to endorse 2nd District's Cain on Wednesday". KJonline.com.
69. Nell Gluckman. (October 17, 2014). "A coalition of Republicans announces support for Emily Cain". Bangor Daily News.
70. (June 25, 2014). "AFL-CIO endorses Cain, Bellows; Mike Tipping's new book on his favorite governor". Bangor Daily News.
71. "Cain for Congress Receives Labor Endorsement {{!}} Emily Cain, Democrat for Congress".
72. Ethan Strimling. (October 14, 2013). "EMILY's love of Emily is a very big deal". Bangordailynews.com.
73. (June 9, 2014). "EqualityMaine Endorses in Three Primary Races". EqualityMaine.
74. (May 30, 2014). "Cain for Congress Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund". Cain for Congress.
75. (August 1, 2014). "Sierra Club Maine endorses Cain; Alfond pays ethics fine; somber Senate tribute to McGowan". Bangor Daily News.
76. (June 3, 2014). "On June 10, Democrats' best choice for 2nd District is Emily Cain". Bangordailynews.com.
77. (October 23, 2014). "Cain offers productive approach that's needed in Congress". Bangordailynews.com.
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