It's Election Day, and Maine Public's news staff is out in the field covering the races. Check back here for local updates and the latest from our reporters, as well as national updates from NPR.
Click here to jump to NPR's live blog.
Local Updates
1:50 a.m. Nov. 7:
A spokesman for Republican Eric Brakey has issued a press release indicating that Brakey will not concede in the race for U.S. Senate. As of writing, the Associated Press has called the race for incumbent independent Angus King, giving Brakey 36 percent of the vote to King's 54 percent, with 69 percent of precincts reporting. The Brakey campaign pins its hopes on King's share falling below 50 percent, which would trigger an instant runoff under Maine's ranked-choice voting system.
That's a fate the 2nd District race seems destined for, with incumbent Republican Bruce Poliquin and Democratic challenger Jared Golden deadlocked at 46 percent each.
12:43 a.m. Nov. 7:
Janet Mills will be Maine's next governor, and the state's first woman governor.
Here’s Janet Mills, Maine’s next governor. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/yjsOUSjkyA
— Steve Mistler (@stevemistler) November 7, 2018
12:19 a.m. Nov. 7:
Republican Shawn Moody concedes the Maine governor's race.
12:14 a.m. Nov. 7:
Democrats have taken the Maine Senate, Mal Leary reports.
12:08 a.m. Nov. 7:
Jared Golden told supporters it's going to be a long night, and results won't be likely known right away.
Democrat Jared Golden says there won't be final results in Maine's 2nd cd tonight but he tells supporters he is ahead and all signs are that Mainers are ready for new leadership #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/b6nnfALK0Q
— Susan Sharon (@SusanSharon1) November 7, 2018
"It's going to be a late night, we're not going to get any final resutls tonight," he said. "But let me tell you this - we're winning it right now and it looks like Mainers are that much closer to getting that new generation of leadership."
Meanwhile, Golden's Republican rival Bruce Poliquin, was also telling his supporters to expect a long night.
11:08 p.m. Nov. 6:
Pingree declares victory in Maine's 1st District race:
Here’s @PingreeForME calling her race. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/cnt9gY5pb7
— Steve Mistler (@stevemistler) November 7, 2018
10:59 p.m. Nov. 6:
Patty Wight says supporters of the home health care initiative aren't feeling discouraged, despite early returns that aren't going their way.
Ben Chin, campaign manager of Mainers for Homecare tells supporters that it’s going to be a long night. Whether they win or lose, they will “not back down from the challenge” to bring universal home care to Maine. #mepolitics
— Patty Wight (@PattyWight) November 7, 2018
10:50 p.m. Nov. 6:
Democratic Senate candidate Zak Ringelstein has also conceded in his effort to unseat independent Sen. Angus King:
.@RingelsteinME concedes race to Angus King, says he will work with King “to hold...Trump accountable”. pic.twitter.com/d4JaeD7VJT
— Robbie Feinberg (@robbiefeinberg) November 7, 2018
10:47 p.m. Nov. 6:
A.J. Higgins captures the moment Terry Hayes concedes:
#mepolitics Shortly before 10 pm, Independent Terry Hayes conceded the race, saying it was clear she couldn’t prevail. pic.twitter.com/7qN1XRXGiB
— A. Jay Higgins (@ajhiggins) November 7, 2018
10:31 p.m. Nov. 6:
And independent Marty Grohman has conceded in his effort to unseat 1st District Democrat Chellie Pingree, says correspondent Caroline Losneck:
Independent Marty Grohman concedes. He thanks his opponents for the race. Says the people of Maine are ready for something different. Ranked choice has been a good first step, but independent candidates need better infrastructure to compete. #mepolitics @MainePublic pic.twitter.com/DItNfohfFQ
— Caroline Losneck (@CarolineLosneck) November 7, 2018
10:21 p.m. Nov. 6:
Fred Bever is at Sen. Angus King's headquarters at a Brunswick brewery. About 100 supporters of the incumbent independent have gathered there, as King holds a solid lead in early returns.
Harpswell resident Liz Iscze joined the crowd. “I like his approach to thinking. I like his approach to listening and I think he’s the real deal," she told Fred.
King has challengers on the right, Republican Eric Brakey, and on the left, Democrat Zak Ringelstein.
10:15 p.m. Nov. 6:
Things are quiet at the Holbrook campaign event in Brunswick, says correspondent Murray Carpenter, who posted this photo:
9:57 p.m. Nov. 6:
A.J. Higgins reports that Terry Hayes, independent candidate for governor, has conceded. That's the word from Steve Mistler:
NEWS: Our correspondent at Terry Hayes’s campaign — the recently retired @ajhiggins — says she’s conceded #mepolitics
— Steve Mistler (@stevemistler) November 7, 2018
9:52 p.m. Nov. 6:
The crowd keeps growing at Jared Golden's headquarters in Lewiston, Susan Sharon reports:
So the crowd at the Jared Golden campaign in Lewiston is now around 150. People keep coming. No sign yet of the candidate. #Midterms2018 #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/cbg7Ksgm8g
— Susan Sharon (@SusanSharon1) November 7, 2018
9:21 p.m. Nov. 6:
Supporters of a ballot initiative that would create a universal home care program in Maine for seniors and people with disabilities are awaiting election results at Stroudwater Distillery in Portland. Patty Wight is there:
With the polls just closed, most of the party for Mainers for Homecare are notaries, ready to check out petitions that could put paid sick leave on a future ballot. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/sXySeFlBlP
— Patty Wight (@PattyWight) November 7, 2018
Sandy Fordyce, a volunteer with the Maine People's Alliance, the group that spearheaded the proposal, told Patty why she is supporting the measure:
“I am a senior citizen, and eventually it’s going to happen to me, it’s going to happen to you, it’s going to happen to everyone in this room - the whole country, the world. I think that the situation should be addressed, and I think this is a really good way.”
If voters approve Question 1, a tax will be levied on higher income earners to pay for universal home care. Opponents have criticized the tax, and say the program won’t be able to deliver what it promises.
8:50 p.m. Nov. 6:
Susan Sharon reports that a crowd is gathering at the headquarters of 2nd District Democratic candidate Jared Golden. Here's the scene at the Franco Center in Lewiston:
8:37 p.m. Nov. 6:
Robbie Feinberg sends this photo in from Think Tank Coworking in Portland, where Democratic Senate candidate Zak Ringelstein's supporters await the candidate.
And here's the scene at Marty Grohman's headquarters in downtown Biddeford, where about two dozen supporters are gathered, Caroline Losneck reports. Grohman, who's running as an independent in Maine's 1st District race, said he saw a lot of new voters at the polls he visited today:
8:23 p.m. Nov. 6:
Zach Heiden of the ACLU of Maine says Justice Warren has ordered the Italian Heritage Center polling place to stay open until 9:30, after a car crash disrupted voting.
8:00 p.m. Nov. 6:
The polls are now closed in Maine! We'll bring you the results live, as they come in.
7:50 p.m. Nov. 6:
Steve Mistler says supporters of Democrats Janet Mills and Chellie Pingree are beginning to arrive at Aura - to the tune of live music:
Mills and Pingree supporters are just beginning to arrive. They’re greeted by live music pic.twitter.com/Hx0qYasGxB
— Steve Mistler (@stevemistler) November 7, 2018
6:16 p.m. Nov. 6:
Steve Mistler is keeping an eye on what's happening at gubernatorial candidate Janet Mills' campaign, which is set up at the concert venue Aura in Portland.
The @MainePublic team is deployed all over the state for the election. I’ll be here. Check this thread for updates. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/dRjfI0KnNJ
— Steve Mistler (@stevemistler) November 6, 2018
6:05 p.m. Nov. 6:
Officials with the City of Portland say a car accident could disrupt voters trying to get to the Italian Heritage Center polling place:
For anyone trying to get to the Italian Heritage Center polling location: please access Westland St via the Shaw’s parking lot. #portlandme https://t.co/qclGjtrtrg
— City of Portland, Maine (@CityPortland) November 6, 2018
4:07 p.m. Nov. 6:
Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says voter turnout in the state appears on track to break the 2014 midterm record - but whether it will reach the 70 percent level often seen in a presidential election year remains to be seen.
10:30 a.m. Nov. 6:
The AP reports that Secretary of State Matt Dunlap says that he's receiving reports of a strong turnout, in line with projections. Dunlap expects up to 65 percent of the voting-age public in Maine to cast tallies in Tuesday's election. That includes more than 170,000 people who cast tallies via absentee ballot ahead of Election Day.
8:15 a.m. Nov 6:
Voter turnout is expected to be very high for a midterm election. Here’s Maine Public News Director Mark Simpson in Portland:
Woodfords club Line out the door to vote this morning .@MainePublic #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/HDM9nSqZZ0
— Mark Simpson (@mark_h_simpson) November 6, 2018
8 a.m. Nov 6:
Good morning! Maine's polls close in 12 hours, so you've got plenty of time to get out and vote.
It's still quite early in the day, so check back throughout the morning and afternoon for updates. Things will heat up after polls close, and we'll have reporters at quite a few of the candidates' election night parties.
If you're looking for a quick rundown of Maine's races before you hit the polls, we've got your guide here. If you've already voted and are looking for some context, at 1 p.m. we'll discuss the history of Maine elections on Maine Calling. And for even more information and resources, check out our Your Vote 2018 page.
National Updates
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