BANGOR – Three-term state Rep. Christina Baker, D-Bangor, bowed out of her re-election bid Monday, citing her husband’s recent health problems and her resulting absence from much of the last legislative session.

Baker’s pullout was part of a record number of withdrawals this year, according to state officials.

The east side lawmaker, known for her liberal leanings and focus on education, said Tuesday that, despite her husband’s recovery, it was time for her to step aside and not seek her final term as allowed by Maine’s term limits laws.

“I think it’s time to turn it over to someone with more time and more energy,” said Baker, 62, in a telephone interview from her summer home in Tremont.

As of Monday’s deadline for candidates to withdraw, a total of 70 races were being left uncontested by the parties. Fewer than 20 seats were uncontested through the June 11 primaries, but since then scores of candidates have withdrawn.

In a typical election year, Maine Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky said, about 30 candidates drop out by this point in the process, and about half of them end up being replaced.

State law gives the parties until July 22 this year to field candidates in the 70 races they’re not contesting.

Before her withdrawal, Baker, an English professor at the University College at Bangor, was poised to face former talk radio station owner Jerry Evans.

Baker’s decision – although coming on the Monday deadline – came as no surprise to party leaders, who were already considering several possible replacements.

Maine Democratic Party Chairwoman Gwethalyn Phillips on Tuesday praised Baker for her service in what is essentially a full-time job in Augusta.

“She took her job very seriously, and it’s a very time-consuming position,” Phillips said. “I don’t think people realize the time involved.”

Baker has held the seat since first defeating Bangor businessman Willard Farnham in 1996 by only 7 votes.

Baker again bested Farnham in 1998, that time by 25 votes. In 2000, she defeated businessman Frank Farrington, now a Bangor city councilor.

During her tenure, Baker said she was most proud of her efforts to increase the state’s share of general purpose aid to education and to monitor storm water runoff in environmentally sensitive areas.

In other Penobscot County races, Republican challengers Duane Carter and James Bair withdrew their respective candidacies against Democratic incumbents Rep. Joseph Perry in District 118, and Rep. Pat Blanchette in District 119.

In District 121, Republican Albert Duplessis withdrew his candidacy against incumbent Rep. Matthew Dunlap, D-Old Town.

Also, in District 126, Democrat Michelle Nickerson withdrew her challenge to incumbent Rep. James Tobin, R-Dexter.

Democrats, who currently have majorities in both chambers, were leaving six seats uncontested in the 35-member Senate, and 19 in the 151-member House.

Republicans were leaving two Senate seats uncontested as of Monday. Through the June primary, they had no candidates in 13 House seats, but that number grew sharply after 29 candidates dropped out. In addition, one Green party Senate candidate quit, the secretary said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.