Overview
- State officials completed the ranked‑choice tabulation on Friday, June 19, confirming Republican Bobby Charles and Democrat Hannah Pingree as their parties’ gubernatorial nominees and leaving Independent Rick Bennett on the November ballot.
- The tabulation also produced an upset in the Democratic 2nd Congressional District when Matt Dunlap overtook Joe Baldacci in later rounds and will now face former governor Paul LePage in a key House contest.
- Officials began public, livestreamed tabulations at the Maine Department of Public Safety after the June 9 primaries and finished the multi‑round count before Juneteenth despite delays that included misplaced memory drives and other logistical hiccups.
- Charles publicly denounced the ranked‑choice process as too slow and complicated, and Republican officials signaled they will press for changes to or elimination of ranked‑choice voting if they regain power.
- Higher Democratic primary turnout than Republican turnout and these results are likely to draw national attention and spending to both the governor’s race and the competitive 2nd District this fall.