PORTLAND (AP) — A hotly contested race that could determine whether Democrats seize control of the U.S. House is getting attention on Election Day in Maine, which is using ranked-choice voting for the first time in congressional races.
Two-term Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin looked to defend his seat against Democratic challenger Jared Golden in the closely watched race in the vast, largely rural 2nd Congressional District. Polls suggested a tight race.
Also on the ranked-choice ballot were re-election bids by Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and independent Sen. Angus King. The earliest polling places in the state open at 6 a.m., and they all close at 8 p.m.
In the 2nd District, the race featured saturation television ad campaigns and attacks in which Poliquin and Golden called each other liars.
Golden, a state representative and Marine Corps veteran, highlighted his military service while accusing Poliquin of trying to take Mainers’ access to affordable health care away, pledging to create jobs and promising to protect gun rights. The race has the distinction of being the most expensive congressional contest in Maine’s history.
In the 1st District, Pingree was being challenged by independent state Rep. Marty Grohman and Republican Mark Holbrook.
Grohman, of Biddeford, left the Democratic Party after expressing frustration with partisanship in government. He hoped to take advantage of the ranked-choice voting system to unseat Pingree. Ranked-choice voting was approved by voters in 2016 and used in primaries for the first time in June.
Pingree soundly defeated Holbrook in 2016. Holbrook is a supporter of President Donald Trump, whom Pingree has harshly criticized.
In the Senate race, independent Sen. Angus King was challenged by opponents on his ideological right and left.
King, a popular former Maine governor, faced Republican state Sen. Eric Brakey and Democratic activist Zak Ringelstein. King caucuses with the Democrats and was first elected to the Senate in 2012.
During the race, Ringelstein charged that the Democratic establishment abandoned him despite his winning the nomination.
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