Politics

Now that the June primary is over - sort of - we turn to Maine Public's two political correspondents, Steve Mistler and Mal Leary, for some analysis of the results.  They spoke with Maine Calling host Jennifer Rooks earlier about some of Tuesday night's surprises - including, says Mistler, the Republican gubernatorial primary in which Shawn Moody got the nomination.

Republican Shawn Moody dominated his party's gubernatorial primary last night, taking 56 percent of the vote, soundly besting his GOP competitors and apparently averting any further vote counting under the state's new ranked-choice voting law.

The mood at Moody's Gorham headquarters stayed buoyant through the evening, as results came in showing a consistently commanding lead. At 11 p.m., just in time for the late television news, he took the podium for a quick shoutout to his supporters.

While Shawn Moody has been declared the winner in the Republican primary race for governor, Maine Democrats have not been able to call a winner of Tuesday’s primary. Attorney General Janet Mills is currently leading challenger Adam Cote and, says she's feeling optimistic about her race for the Blaine House.

The dance tunes that were playing in the background of Janet Mills Lewiston campaign headquarters could foreshadow a party in the coming days. Around 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, Mills spoke to her supporters.

One surprise in Tuesday's election that may have gone under the radar is the unofficial victory of Seth Carey in the Republican race for the district attorney nomination in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties. Carey's apparent win is unusual for several reasons, including the fact that his law license is currently suspended.

It was a big night for supporters of ranked-choice voting. 

Originally published 6: 30 p.m. June 13, 2018.

This week more than 1,300 citizen volunteers have been in Washington D.C. to lobby for - wait for it - a bipartisan solution to climate change. You heard that right. In the face of political divisiveness and gridlock, volunteers from all 50 states are trying to find common ground on climate change policy. What's even more surprising is they say they're making progress.

Jared Golden ended his night on Tuesday with the lead in the three-way race for Democratic nomination in Maine's Second District Congressional race. He eventually sent supporters in Lewiston home around midnight, unable to declare any kind of victory.

Golden ended the evening by telling supporters at the Franco Center in Lewiston that he hoped to carry his lead and earn the right to face off against incumbent Republican Bruce Poliquin in the fall.