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Maine Begins Public Ranked‑Choice Count to Decide Governor and 2nd District Nominees

The offline, livestreamed tabulation will reallocate voters’ backup choices to determine nominees who will shape the November ballots.

A Mainer reacts after his papers successfully dropped into to a ballot box while voting in the Maine Primary, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Augusta, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Mary Saunders gets help from election officials after picking up her ballots to vote in the Maine Primary, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Augusta, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Art Fairbrother casts one of his ballots while voting in the Maine Primary, Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Belfast, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Overview

  • The ranked‑choice tally began in Augusta on Friday and is being run offline at the Department of Public Safety with the sessions open to the public and livestreamed on the secretary of state’s YouTube channel.
  • Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has recused herself from direct involvement and delegated the counting to her staff to avoid conflicts while officials guard ballot memory sticks and other physical evidence.
  • No candidate cleared 50% in first‑round returns for the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries and the Democratic 2nd District primary, triggering the elimination-and-transfer rounds that continue until a candidate wins a majority.
  • Simulators show former public health chief Nirav Shah leading the Democratic governor first round but with a reduced chance to win overall, Shenna Bellows and Hannah Pingree remain plausible winners, Bobby Charles is the strong Republican favorite, and Joe Baldacci leads the 2nd District field in projections.
  • Officials expect the tabulation to finish next week and the outcomes will name the nominees who will contest an open governor’s race and the 2nd District seat that will pit the Democratic nominee against Republican Paul LePage in November.