2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine

Not to be confused with 2020 Maine House of Representatives election.

The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of Maine, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The election was conducted with ranked choice voting, as per the result of a referendum passed in 2016.

2020 United States House of Representatives Elections in Maine

← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
All 2 Maine seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 2 0 Seats won 2 0 Seat change Popular vote 468,978 340,236 Percentage 57.95% 42.04% Swing 2.83% 1.92%
District results County results Democratic   50–60%   60–70% Republican   50–60%

Party primaries were initially scheduled to take place on June 9, 2020. They were rescheduled by Gov. Janet Mills to July 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mills' executive order also expanded the ability to request absentee ballots, which may now be done up to and on election day.^[1] Parties that qualified to participate in the 2020 primary election were the Democratic Party, the Green Independent Party, and the Republican Party. Two candidates in District 1 and four candidates in District 2 filed petitions with the secretary of state by March 16, 2020.^[2] Non-party candidates could also file petitions to be included on the ballot by June 1, 2020.^[3]

Overview

District	Democratic		Republican		Others		Total		Result
	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%	Votes	%
District 1	271,004	62.15%	165,008	37.84%	15	0.00%	436,027	100.0%	Democratic hold
District 2	197,974	53.04%	175,228	46.95%	33	0.01%	373,235	100.0%	Democratic hold
Total	468,978	57.95%	340,236	42.04%	48	0.01%	809,262	100.0%

Popular vote Democratic   57.95% Republican   42.04% Other   0.01%

House seats Democratic   100.00%

District 1

2020 Maine's 1st congressional district election

← 2018 2022 →

Nominee Chellie Pingree Jay Allen Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 271,004 165,008 Percentage 62.2% 37.8%

County results Pingree:      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election Chellie Pingree Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree Democratic

See also: Maine's 1st congressional district

The 1st district encompasses the southern coastal area of the state, taking in Portland, Augusta, Brunswick and Saco. The incumbent was Democrat Chellie Pingree, who was re-elected with 58.8% of the vote in 2018.^[4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Chellie Pingree, incumbent U.S. Representative

Primary results

Democratic primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chellie Pingree (incumbent)	102,773	100.0
Total votes			102,773	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jay Allen, physician^[6]

Primary results

Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jay Allen	31,124	100.0
Total votes			31,124	100.0

General election

Debate

2022 Maine's 1st congressional district debate

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
					Chellie Pingree	Jay Allen
1	Oct. 21, 2020	Maine Public Broadcasting Network	Jennifer Rooks	[7]	P	P

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[8]	Safe D	October 2, 2020
Inside Elections[9]	Safe D	October 1, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10]	Safe D	October 1, 2020
Politico[11]	Safe D	September 8, 2020
Daily Kos[12]	Safe D	September 25, 2020
RCP[13]	Safe D	June 9, 2020
Niskanen[14]	Safe D	July 26, 2020

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Chellie Pingree (D)	Jay Allen (R)	Other/ Undecided
Colby College[15]	October 21–25, 2020	426 (LV)	–	58%	31%	11%[b]
Pan Atlantic Research[16]	October 2–6, 2020	300 (LV)	± 6.4%	54%	35%	11%[b]
Critical Insights[17]	September 25 – October 4, 2020	232 (LV)	–	58%	24%	18%[c]
Critical Insights[18]	July 28 – August 10, 2020	233 (LV)	–	50%	22%	27%[d]

Results

Maine's 1st congressional district, 2020^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chellie Pingree (incumbent)	271,004	62.2
	Republican	Jay Allen	165,008	37.8
	Write-in		15	0.0
Total votes			436,027	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 2

2020 Maine's 2nd congressional district election

← 2018 2022 →

Nominee Jared Golden Dale Crafts Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 197,974 175,228 Percentage 53.04% 46.95%

County results Golden:      50–60%      60–70% Crafts:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election Jared Golden Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Jared Golden Democratic

See also: Maine's 2nd congressional district

The 2nd district covers most of northern rural Maine, including the cities of Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn and Presque Isle. The incumbent was Democrat Jared Golden, who flipped the district and was elected with 50.6% of the vote in 2018,^[4] making him the first member of Congress to be elected by ranked choice voting.^[20] Donald Trump won the district in the concurrent presidential election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jared Golden, incumbent U.S. representative^[21]

Endorsements

Jared Golden

Federal officials

• William Cohen, former U.S. senator^[22] (Republican)

Organizations

• End Citizens United^[23]
• J Street PAC^[24]
• League of Conservation Voters Action Fund^[25]
• NARAL Pro-Choice America^[26]
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund^[27]
• Sierra Club^[28]
• VoteVets^[29]

Primary results

Democratic primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jared Golden (incumbent)	57,718	100.0
Total votes			57,718	100.0

Republican primary

On the ballot

• Adrienne Bennett, press secretary for former governor Paul LePage^[30]
• Eric Brakey, former state senator and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018^[31]
• Dale Crafts, former state representative^[32]

Declined

• Travis Mills, retired U.S. Army staff sergeant^[33]
• Bruce Poliquin, former U.S. representative^[34]

Endorsements

Adrienne Bennett

Federal officials

• Elise Stefanik, U.S. representative (NY-21)^[35]

Organizations

• Elevate PAC^[36]
• Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund^[37]
• Value in Electing Women (VIEW) PAC^[38]

Eric Brakey

Federal officials

• Rand Paul, U.S. senator (KY)^[39]

State officials

• Paul Davis, state senator and former state representative (2008-2014), state Senate minority leader (2004-2006), and state senator (1998-2006) (co-endorsed with Dale Crafts)^[40]

Organizations

• Club for Growth^[41]
• FreedomWorks^[42]
• Protect Freedom PAC^[43]

Dale Crafts

Federal officials

• Dan Crenshaw, U.S. representative (TX-2)^[44]
• Donald Trump, President of the United States (2017-2021)^[45]

U.S. Governors

• Paul LePage, former governor of Maine (2011-2019) and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate^[46]
• Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota^[47]

State officials

• Bernard Ayotte, former state representative (2006-2014)^[48]
• Kevin Battle, former state representative (2014-2018)^[48]
• Robert Berube, former state representative (2002-2008)^[48]
• Russell Black, state senator and former state representative (2010-2018)^[49]
• David C. Burns, former state senator (2012-2016)^[49]
• Richard Cebra, state representative and former Maine Republican Party chair (2012-2013) and state representative (2004-2012)^[48]
• Patrick Corey, state representative^[49]
• Dean Cray, former state representative (2008-2014)^[49]
• Andre Cushing III, former state senator (2012-2018), state Senate assistant majority leader, and state representative (2008-2012)^[48]
• Scott Cyrway, state senator^[48]
• Douglas Damon, former state representative (2010-2012)^[50]
• Paul Davis, state senator and former state representative (2008-2014), state senator (2002-2006), and state Senate minority leader (2004-2006) (co-endorsed with Eric Brakey)^[48]
• Peter Doak, former state representative (2012-2014)^[50]
• Dana Dow, state senator and state Senate minority leader^[48]
• Gary Drinkwater, state representative^[49]
• Bradlee Farrin, state senator and former state representative (2014-2018)^[50]
• Jeffery Gifford, former state representative (2006-2014)^[48]
• Randall Greenwood, former state representative (2014-2016)^[51]
• James Hamper, state senator and former state representative (2004-2012)^[48]
• Jeffery Hanley, state representative (co-endorsed with Eric Brakey)^[48]
• Gary Hilliard, former state representative (2014-2018)^[48]
• Brian Hobart, former state representative (2014-2016)^[48]
• Peter Johnson, former state representative (2008-2014)^[48]
• L. Gary Knight, former state representative (2006-2014)^[48]
• Ricky Long, former state representative (2010-2016)^[48]
• Tom Martin, state representative and former state senator (2010-2012)^[48]
• Garrett Mason, former state senator (2010-2018) and state Senate majority leader^[48]
• Rick Mason, state representative (co-endorsed with Eric Brakey)^[49]
• Michael McClellan, former state representative (2010-2016)^[48]
• Susan Morissette, former state representative (2010-2012)^[48]
• Joshua Morris, state representative (co-endorsed with Eric Brakey)^[48]
• Allen Nadeau, former state representative (2012-2014)^[48]
• Melvin Newendyke, former state representative (2010-2014)^[48]
• John Picchiotti, former state representative (2010-2012, 2014-2018)^[48]
• Richard Pickett, state representative^[48]
• Jeffrey Pierce, former state representative (2014-2018)^[48]
• Debra Plowman, acting Education Commissioner (2016), Republican candidate in 2012 U.S. Senate race, and former state senator (2004-2012) and state Senate assistant majority leader and state representative (1992-2000)^[48]
• Gary Plummer, former state senator (2012-2014) and state representative (2004-2012)^[48]
• Matthew Pouliot, state senator and former state representative (2014-2018)^[48]
• Kerri Prescott, former state representative (2006-2012)^[48]
• Deborah Sanderson, state representative^[48]
• Jeff Timberlake, state senator and former state representative (2010-2018)^[49]
• Michael Timmons, former state representative (2014-2016)^[48]
• William Tuell, state representative^[48]
• Charlie Webster, former Maine Republican Party chair (2008-2012), 1994 Republican gubernatorial candidate, and former state senator (1984-1994), state Senate minority leader (1988-1992), state Senate assistant minority leader (1986-1988), and state representative (1980-1984)^[48]
• Stephen Wood, former state representative (2010-2018)^[49]
• David Woodsome, state senator^[48]

Newspapers

• Bangor Daily News^[52]

Organizations

• Family Research Council (FRC) Action^[53]
• National Federation of Independent Business^[54]

Individuals

• Shawn Moody, businessman, 2018 Republican gubernatorial nominee, and 2010 independent gubernatorial candidate^[55]

Declined to endorse

• Susan Collins, U.S. senator from Maine^[56]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Adrienne Bennett	Eric Brakey	Dale Crafts	Undecided
SurveyUSA[57]	June 30 – July 6, 2020	604 (LV)	± 4.1%	25%[e]	19%	37%	19%
				31%[f]	–	45%	34%
We Ask America[58]	June 16–17, 2020	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	28%	22%	20%	29%

Debate

2020 Maine's 2nd congressional district republican primary debate

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Republican	Republican	Republican
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
					Adrienne Bennett	Eric Brakey	Dale Crafts
1	Jul. 9, 2020	Maine Public Television	Jennifer Rooks	[59]	P	P	P

Primary results

Both Bennett and Brakey conceded the race to Crafts the day after the primary. As Crafts did not get 50% of the vote, Maine's ranked choice system calls for the second choices of the last place candidate's votes to be distributed to the other candidates, whether or not the candidates concede the race. Crafts criticized this as a waste of taxpayer dollars, and both Bennett and Brakey said they would refuse to accept the results of the ranked choice tabulation. Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said whether the concessions could stop the tabulation was "a question for lawyers", but that the tabulation would begin on July 18. Crafts called on the Maine Legislature to examine this issue. Dunlap's office, while not responding directly to Crafts' call to action on the Legislature, did agree with Crafts that Dunlap was performing his duty under the law.^[60]

Republican primary results[61]
Party		Candidate	Round 1			Round 2
			Votes	%	Transfer	Votes	% (gross)	% (net)
	Republican	Dale Crafts	23,665	45.0%	+3,551	28,019	53.3%	58.0%
	Republican	Adrienne Bennett	16,920	32.2%	+3,375	20,295	38.6%	42.0%
	Republican	Eric Brakey	11,976	22.8%	-11,976	Eliminated
Total active votes			52,561			48,314		100.0%
Exhausted ballots					+3,252	4190	8.0%
Total votes			52,561	100.0%		52,561	100.0%

% (gross) = percent of all valid votes cast (without eliminating the exhausted votes)
% (net) = percent of votes cast after eliminating the exhausted votes

General election

Debate

2020 Maine's 1st congressional district debate

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
					Jared Golden	Dale Crafts
1	Oct. 25, 2020	Maine Public Television	Jennifer Rooks	[62]	P	P

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[8]	Likely D	October 2, 2020
Inside Elections[9]	Safe D	October 16, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10]	Likely D	October 1, 2020
Politico[11]	Lean D	October 11, 2020
Daily Kos[12]	Likely D	October 29, 2020
RCP[13]	Lean D	June 9, 2020
Niskanen[14]	Lean D	July 26, 2020

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jared Golden (D)	Dale Crafts (R)	Other/ Undecided
Change Research[63]	October 29 – November 2, 2020	475 (LV)	± 4.6%	53%	44%	3%[g]
Colby College[15]	October 21–25, 2020	453 (LV)	–	56%	31%	13%[h]
Pan Atlantic Research[16]	October 2–6, 2020	300 (LV)	± 6.4%	60%	33%	7%[i]
Critical Insights[17]	September 25 – October 4, 2020	234 (LV)	–	52%	34%	14%[j]
Colby College[64]	September 17–23, 2020	275 (LV)	–	56%	33%	11%[b]
Siena College/NYT Upshot[65]	September 11–16, 2020	440 (LV)	–	56%[k]	37%	6%[l]
Fabrizio Ward/Hart Research Associates[66][A]	August 30 – September 5, 2020	367 (LV)	–	53%	40%	7%[m]
Wick Surveys (D)[67][B]	August 25–28, 2020	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	50%	44%	6%[n]
Critical Insights[18]	July 28 – August 10, 2020	218 (LV)	–	46%	36%	18%[o]
Colby College/SocialSphere[68]	July 18–24, 2020	888 (LV)	± 3.9%	45%	33%	22%[p]

Hypothetical polling

Jared Golden vs. generic Republican

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jared Golden (D)	Generic Republican	Undecided
Colby College/SocialSphere[69]	February 10–13, 2020	493 (LV)	–	43%	29%	28%

Results

Maine's 2nd Congressional District, 2020^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jared F. Golden (incumbent)	197,974	53.04%	+2.42%
	Republican	Dale John Crafts	175,228	46.95%	−2.43%
	Write-in		33	0.01%	N/A
Majority			22,746	6.09%	+4.85%
Total votes			373,235	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

See also

• 2020 Maine elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. Undecided with 11%
3. "Someone else" with 3%; "Refused" with 2%; would not vote with 1%; Undecided with 12%
4. "Someone else" with 4%; "Prefer not to say" with 1%; would not vote with no voters; Undecided with 22%
5. Standard IV response
6. With ranked choice voting
7. Would not vote with 1%; "Don't recall and Did not vote with 0%; Undecided with 2%
8. Undecided with 13%
9. Undecided with 7%
10. "Someone else" with 2%; "Refused" with 1%; would not vote with 0%; Undecided with 11%
11. Topline after Ranked Choice Voting is used
12. "Someone else" and would not vote with 0%; "Undecided/Refused" with 6%
13. Would not vote with 0%; Undecided with 7%
14. Undecided with 6%
15. "Someone else" with 1%; would not vote with 0%; "Prefer not to say" with no voters; Undecided with 16%
16. "One of the minor party candidates" with 5%; Undecided with 17%

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by AARP.
2. Poll sponsored by Left of Center PAC, which has endorsed Golden prior to this poll's sampling period.