Legislative control may be up in the air

AUGUSTA – Activists on both sides suggest that it may be some time after election night before it becomes clear whether Democrats or Republicans have won control of the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

Both major parties have been energetically contesting the statewide elections, and officials in both camps profess optimism.

Voting in House elections two years ago gave Democrats 80 seats and Republicans 67, with three going to independents and one to a Green.

Democrats won the Senate 18-17.

Recounts to resolve legislative races are common and could delay determination of House and Senate majorities stemming from Tuesday’s balloting.

The new Legislature will be sworn in Dec. 1, although lawmakers customarily do not get down to work in earnest until after New Year’s.

Office seekers in Maine are running in redrawn districts, thanks to the 2003 actions of the Legislature and state supreme court in response to population shifts reported in the latest national census.

Redistricting is likely to reduce an advantage of familiarity to voters that incumbents might have. Ten years ago, after a statewide remapping of districts, out-of-power Republicans took control of the Senate and came close in the House.

Organizers say races in 35 Senate and 151 House districts generally remain largely personal contests.

Anticipating a large voter turnout, state election officials said Monday that anyone in line at 8 p.m., the scheduled closing time for Maine polling places, may still vote.

Legislative seats – about 5,800 or 80 percent of the national total – will be awarded by voters in 44 states. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a shift of as few as three seats could alter party control in 25 of the 84 chambers being contested.

Republicans control both legislative chambers in 21 states, Democrats control both in 17, including Maine, and control is divided in 11. Nebraska has a unicameral and officially nonpartisan legislature.