Legislative primaries have hot contests

AUGUSTA – Maine voters on Tuesday will choose their favorites in more than two dozen legislative primaries as Democrats and Republicans define the sides to vie for control of the Legislature in November.

Each of the major parties features 11 contested House primaries. In the Senate, Democrats face each other in three districts, while the Republicans have two contested Senate primaries.

No matter who wins their races on Tuesday, leaders of both parties are looking ahead to the Nov. 7 General Election with optimism. Republicans say they will have candidates in all 151 House districts and all 35 in the Senate.

“We think we’re in very good shape,” Maine GOP Executive Director Julie Ann O’Brien said Monday.

Democratic state Chairman Ben Dudley said his party is fielding candidates for all Senate seats and 150 House seats. Democrats have no candidate in District 107, where independent Rep. Richard Woodbury of Yarmouth is seeking re-election.

“We got our bases covered except in one district, where we think we can work with the independent” incumbent, said Dudley.

Among the most closely watched races is the Senate Democratic showdown in District 4 between incumbent Sen. Nancy Sullivan and term-limited Rep. Joanne Twomey, who has switched from the Democratic Party to independent then back to Democrat within the past year. Both candidates are from Biddeford.

Another sizzling Democratic Senate primary contest pits Harvey DeVane of Gardiner, a former state business regulation commissioner, against Gardiner Mayor Brian Rines for the open District 21 seat.

On the Republican side, Joyce Perry and Douglas Smith, both of Dover-Foxcroft, are both hoping to emerge as the party’s candidate for the Senate District 27 seat being vacated by Minority Leader Paul Davis of Sangerville, who is being termed out.

Republican House races drawing attention include the District 57 primary in Augusta between conservative activist Michael Hein and Rachel Ellis, wife of Maine GOP Chairman Mark Ellis.

Another hot central Maine House Republican contest pits Abigail Holman of Fayette, who was a member of former Gov. John McKernan’s staff, against Penelope Morrell of Belgrade, who has been active in local civic affairs.

A complaint about activities in a GOP race between Michael Mowles Jr. and Jennifer Duddy, both of Cape Elizabeth in House District 121, prompted action Monday by the state campaign watchdog agency.

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices found that Mowles was not authorized to include an “endorsement” by Maine’s two Republican U.S. senators, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, on his campaign brochures. The commission will consider a fine, which cannot exceed $200, at a later meeting, officials said.

In the Democratic Party, former state Rep. Joe Brooks is facing Winterport activist Donna Gilbert in the House District 42 primary as Brooks, also of Winterport, tries to keep his chances of winning his previous legislative seat alive.

Party officials also have eyes on the House District 40 runoff between former representative Wendy Pieh of Bremen and Clinton Collamore of Waldoboro. The winner will contend for a seat that is being left open by term-limited Rep. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro.

The primaries set the stage for the Nov. 7 general elections, when the parties will battle for legislative majorities. In the House, the Democrats now hold a thin 74-73 edge over the GOP. The House also has one Green party member and three independents.

The numbers are also close in the Senate, where Democrats have a 19-16 majority over the Republicans.