Democrat Chris Johnson defeated Rep. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro, in a special election Tuesday, giving the Democrats an unexpected win in Senate District 20.

Unofficial results released by Democrats, and updated this morning by the Kennebec Journal, give Johnson a 466 vote margin with all precincts reporting. The totals show 3,368 for Johnson and 2,902 for Dow.

Senate District 20 includes 19 towns in Lincoln County, two in Knox County and the Kennebec County town of Windsor.

Dow, a current House member and former state senator, was widely seen as the favorite to win the seat that was vacated late last year by Sen. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro. Democrats, who have planned a press conference later today to talk about the win, say voters are tired of Republican rule.

“It was a repudiation of what folks are seeing in Augusta,” said Lizzy Reinholt, spokeswoman for the Maine Democratic Party.

Even after Johnson is sworn-in, Republicans will still control the chamber 19-15-1.

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