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Bangor Daily News
Your guide to the contested State House primaries on Maine’s June 11 ballot
By Billy Kobin,
2024-05-28
AUGUSTA, Maine — During the June 11 primary, Maine voters will decide 17 contested races for legislative seats that will help finalize the slate of candidates battling for control of the State House in the November election.
Democrats have controlled each legislative chamber along with the governor’s office since the 2018 election. The House of Representatives will be in play again this year because the majority party has just a 79-68 advantage on minority Republicans with two vacant seats.
Most of this year’s primaries for the 186 seats in both chambers are uncontested. A dozen of the contested ones are for seats in the House of Representatives, while five are for the Senate. Nine are between Republicans, and eight are between Democrats.
Early voting is already underway . Here’s a quick overview of each contested race and where you can learn more about each candidate.
House District 65 (Waterville)
Perhaps the most prominent primary so far is between Rep. Bruce White, D-Waterville, and Cassie Julia, who serves on the Waterville Planning Board. It is noteworthy due to Planned Parenthood’s political arm in Maine endorsing Julia over White due to the incumbent opposing various abortion-rights measures since winning election in 2018.
The district that covers parts of Penobscot and Hancock counties features an interesting GOP primary between two members who serve in different chambers of the Legislature. Sen. Peter Lyford, R-Eddington, is facing a challenge from Rep. David Haggan, R-Hampden.
The district covering Sagadahoc County and the Lincoln County town of Dresden has an open seat due to Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, facing term limits. Jean Guzzetti, a former Sagadahoc County register of probate from Bath, is running against former state Rep. Denise Tepler of Topsham, who has served on several local boards.
Rep. Scott Cyrway of Albion and former Rep. Michael Perkins of Oakland are competing in the Republican primary for the chance to face Sen. Dave LaFountain, D-Winslow. Cyrway held the seat for four terms before switching chambers due to term limits, while Perkins lost to LaFountain by 2 percentage points in the 2022 election and wants a rematch.
Sen. Jill Duson, D-Portland, faces Ken Capron after the two previously faced one another in the 2022 primary. The district covers parts of Portland and Westbrook.
Rep. Rachel Henderson, R-Rumford, faces a primary challenge from Nathan White. The district includes Rumford, Bethel, Byron, Hanover, Milton Township and Roxbury.
White did not have a campaign website or social media page immediately available. To learn more about Henderson, visit her Facebook page .
House District 118 (part of Portland)
Three Democrats — including two who previously represented the area in the House — are vying to replace House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, who is running for the Maine Senate after getting termed out. Outgoing Sen. Ben Chipman, former Portland school board member Yusuf Yusuf and former Rep. Herb Adams are competing in the primary.
Rep. Joe Perry, D-Bangor, is facing a primary challenge from lawyer Zachary Smith. The district covers parts of Bangor, Brewer and Orono as well as all of Veazie.
Assistant Senate Minority Leader Lisa Keim, R-Dixfield, is prevented by term limits from running again for the seat that covers towns in Oxford and Franklin counties. Dave Duguay, a longtime Oxford County commissioner, and Oxford County GOP Chair Joe Martin are running in the Republican primary.
Rep. Joseph Galletta, R-Durham, faces a primary challenge from Guy Lebida. The district covers Durham and Pownal along with parts of Lisbon, Topsham and Bowdoin.
Three Democrats are seeking to replace Rep. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, who is not seeking reelection to represent the district that covers part of Cape Elizabeth. Michelle Boyer, whom Millett has endorsed, is facing off with two former lawmakers: Cynthia Dill and Kim Monaghan.
Republican candidates Cheryl Hewes and Russell White are competing for the chance to take on Rep. Mark Worth, D-Ellsworth. Hewes taught in a private school for 15 years, while White is an Air Force veteran.
Ellie Sato, a former Maine Senate aide who chairs the Maine Democratic Party’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee, and Seven Siegel, a Gorham Town Council member, are facing off in the primary to replace Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, who is not seeking reelection. The district covers part of Gorham.
Flavia DeBrito, a Waterville City Council member, and Andrew Dent, who has a background working for financial institutions and field organizing for the Maine Democratic Party, are competing in the Democratic primary for a seat that Rep. Colleen Madigan, D-Waterville, cannot seek again due to term limits. The district covers parts of Waterville and Winslow.
Republicans Lee Clement, a former Lewiston City Council president, and Joseph Velozo are competing in the primary for the chance to take on Democratic candidate David Projansky in November. The Lewiston seat is open due to Rep. Michel Lajoie, a Democrat, not seeking reelection.
Republican candidates Michael Pock and Patricia von Schaumburg are competing in the primary for the South Portland seat to take on Rep. Matthew Beck, D-South Portland, in November. Beck won a special election in March to succeed the late Rep. Lois Galgay Reckitt .
Little information was available on Pock or von Schaumburg via campaign websites or social media pages.
House District 52 (Bowdoinham area)
Two Republican candidates, David Guilmette and Brian Roy, are competing in the primary to take on Rep. Sally Cluchey, D-Bowdoinham, in November. The district includes Bowdoinham, Richmond, Perkins Island Township and part of Bowdoin.
Neither candidate had campaign websites available, but the Christian Civic League interviewed Guilmette and Roy .
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