Maine race for Congress: Jared Golden, Austin Theriault going to ranked choice runoff

(This story has been updated with new information.)

LEWISTON, Maine — Maine's Second Congressional District's extremely tight race between incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Golden and Republican Austin Theriault is headed to a ranked choice runoff.

Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced Thursday night a ranked-choice tabulation would be required as neither candidate had garnered more than 50% of the vote.

Initial results received by the secretary of state's office showed Golden with a slight lead of 48.65% to Theriault's 48.11% out of 403,274 total ballots cast. A little over 2,100 votes separated the two candidates. 

The race for Maine’s Second District has been watched closely nationally as it’s one of handful of pivotal races to decide which party takes power in the U.S. House, which remains undecided. Republicans are hoping to maintain or grow their narrow majority. Running for his fourth term in the Congress, Golden was particularly vulnerable to a Republican challenge as he is a Democrat in a district that has now voted for President-elect Donald Trump three times in a row. 

According to Maine election laws, if no candidate gets over 50% of the vote during the first round of counting in a race with more than two contenders, the lowest-ranked candidate will be eliminated and the voters who chose that candidate as their top pick will have their votes redistributed to their next choice. That process will continue until someone emerges with the majority of the votes.

Four hundred twenty people, or .1%, voted for the pro-Palestine declared write-in candidate Diana Merenda on their ballot. But over 3%, or 12,635 people, left their first-choice blank. According to Bellows, the second-choice votes of those voters will be added to the first-choice votes for Golden and Theriault.

Golden disputes ranked choice runoff

Golden’s campaign is protesting a ranked-choice runoff, saying the 50% requirement should be out of first-choice votes only.

"The rules are clear: A ranked-choice run-off is required only if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes. When the clerks reported returns on Tuesday, Congressman Golden was the candidate who received more than 50 percent of first-choice votes,” read a statement from the Golden campaign. “Voters have a right to see elections decided both accurately and expediently. State Rep. Theriault has asserted his right to a recount by hand and Congressman Golden agrees to it. So let's just do it, rather than incur the delays and expenses of a ranked-choice run-off."

It is unclear whether the Golden campaign will take further action.

“There is a process in place and we look forward to the process unfolding according to the law,” Theriault campaign manager Shawn Roderick said in a statement.

This would be the third time in four elections that the Maine's Second Congressional District race will be decided by ranked choice voting. Golden's first victory in 2018 over then-incumbent Republican Bruce Poliquin was the first time a member of Congress was elected via this method.

Bellows' office said that the ranked choice voting tabulation will be held next week in Augusta and will be live-streamed on the Maine secretary of state's YouTube channel.

A declared victory, a requested recount

Golden had initially declared victory on Wednesday afternoon after Decision Desk HQ and the Bangor Daily News called the race for Golden.

"Any viable path for a win for my opponent has closed," Golden said Wednesday. "It’s been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine’s 2nd District in Congress. I’m grateful to voters for allowing me to continue to serve.”

Earlier on Thursday before the ranked choice tabulation was announced, Theriault’s campaign had formally requested a recount.

"Given that this is the closest race in modern Maine history, we must ensure a full, accurate count," Theriault campaign manager Roderick said in a statement. "Despite being significantly outspent, this race is still extremely close. We must work together to ensure the Mainers' voices are heard and the final result reflects the will of the people."

Theriault’s campaign needed to request a recount as there are no automatic recounts under Maine election law. However, the state will cover the cost of a recount if the margin between the requester and the winning candidate is less than or equal to 1% of the total votes cast. The losing candidate must request a recount within five days of the election.

The secretary of state's office said any recount would follow ranked choice tabulation. Both ranked choice voting tabulation and recount proceedings are open to the public.

Will Golden continue to defy political odds?

If Golden prevails, it will again prove his unique ability to win as conservative Democrat in a district dominated by Trump. Maine is one of two states that apportions electoral votes by congressional districts, and Trump has now won the Second District’s one electoral vote every presidential election since 2016.

Golden's quest for re-election was complicated this year because of his reversal of position, deciding to support an assault weapons ban after Maine’s deadliest mass shooting last year in his hometown of Lewiston. Maine’s Second District has a high proportion of gun owners, and Theriault cast his change of position as “flip flopping” and a sign that Golden was aligned with national Democrats like Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.

However, Golden has built a brand as a blue dog Democrat, often deviating from his party on issues like gun control and energy policy. He refused to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, and said he would be “OK” with a Trump presidency.

If Golden wins, he will remain just one of a few Democrats in Congress who represent Trump-won districts. It will also indicate that Maine’s Second District continues to have a tradition of ticket splitting despite a deeply polarized nation.

King wins re-election to US Senate

Incumbent Independent Sen. Angus King has won re-election to his third term in the U.S. Senate.

The Associated Press called the race for King on Thursday morning. With 94% reporting, King had garnered almost 52% of the vote. Republican Demi Kouzounas, his closest challenger, received 34.3% of the vote. Democratic challenger David Costello received 10.6% and Independent Jason Cherry 2.5%.

If the 80-year-old King finishes his term, he will be the oldest senator from Maine to serve.