In U.S. politics, an independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party or is denied the Democratic nomination in a caucus or primary election. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials, including members of Congress, have identified as independent Democrats.
John Winchester Dana was an American businessman, diplomat and Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Maine. He served as the 19th and 21st Governor of Maine and as Chargé d'affaires to Bolivia during the 19th century.
William George Crosby was an American politician and the 23rd Governor of Maine. A Whig, Crosby served two single-year terms as governor from 1853 to 1855.
The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Maine:
The 1854–55 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1854 and 1855, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 3.
The 2018 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 6, 2018, alongside a gubernatorial election, U.S. House elections, and other state and local elections. Incumbent independent Senator Angus King won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic nominee Zak Ringelstein and Republican nominee Eric Brakey. This was one of two independent-held Senate seats up for election in a state that Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.
The 2020 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Maine, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. This was Maine's first election for its Class 2 seat to use its ranked choice voting system. Because the first round of the general election saw a majority, the instant runoff tabulation of more than 800,000 ballots was not carried out.
The 2024 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, 2024, as part of the 2024 United States elections. Regularly scheduled elections were held for 33 out of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate, plus one seat in a special election. Senators are divided into 3 classes whose 6-year terms are staggered so that a different class is elected every 2 years. Class 1 senators faced election in 2024. Republicans flipped four Democratic-held seats, regaining a Senate majority for the first time since 2021.
The 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine were held on November 3, 2020, to elect the two U.S. representatives from the state of Maine, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The election was conducted with ranked choice voting, as per the result of a referendum passed in 2016.
The 2026 United States Senate elections are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections, the winners of which will serve six-year terms in the United States Congress from January 3, 2027, to January 3, 2033. Senators are divided into three groups, or classes, whose terms are staggered so that a different class is elected every two years. Class 2 senators were last elected in 2020, and will be up for election in this cycle.
The 1852–53 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular vote held on November 8, 1852, followed by a legislative vote conducted on January 12, 1853, which elected Whig Party nominee John H. Clifford. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election.
The 1850–51 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular held on November 11, 1850 that was followed by a legislative vote that was conducted on January 11, 1851. It saw the election of Democratic Party nominee George S. Boutwell. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election.
The 1845–46 Massachusetts gubernatorial election consisted of an initial popular election held on November 10, 1845 that was followed by a legislative vote held on January 12, 1846. The ultimate task of electing the governor had been placed before the Massachusetts General Court because no candidate received the majority of the vote required for a candidate to be elected through the popular election. Incumbent Whig Governor George N. Briggs defeated Democratic nominee Isaac Davis, Liberty Party nominee Samuel E. Sewall and Know Nothing nominee Henry Shaw.
The 1846 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on 10 March 1846 in order to elect the Governor of New Hampshire. Whig nominee Anthony Colby defeated Democratic nominee and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's At-large district Jared W. Williams and Free Soil Party nominee and former member of the New Hampshire Senate Nathaniel S. Berry. Since no candidate received a majority in the popular vote, Colby was elected by the New Hampshire General Court per the state constitution, despite placing second in the popular vote.
The 1843 Maine gubernatorial election was held on 11 September 1843 in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Democratic nominee and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 6th district Hugh J. Anderson defeated Whig nominee and former U.S. Representative from Maine's 3rd congressional district Edward Robinson, Liberty Party candidate and former member of the Maine House of Representatives James Appleton and incumbent Independent Democratic Governor Edward Kavanagh.
The 1845 Maine gubernatorial election was held on September 8, 1845, in order to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic governor Hugh J. Anderson won re-election against Whig nominee and former U.S. Representative from Maine's 4th congressional district Freeman H. Morse and Liberty Party candidate and former member of the Massachusetts State Senate Samuel Fessenden.
The 1847 Maine gubernatorial election was held on 13 September 1847 in order to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic governor John W. Dana won re-election against Whig nominee and former member of the Maine Senate David Bronson and Liberty Party candidate and former member of the Massachusetts State Senate Samuel Fessenden in a rematch of the previous election.
The 1849 Maine gubernatorial election was held on 10 September 1849 in order to elect the Governor of Maine. Democratic nominee and former member of the Maine Senate John Hubbard defeated Whig nominee and former member of the Maine House of Representatives Elijah Hamlin and Free Soil Party nominee George F. Talbot.
The 1852 Maine gubernatorial election was held on 13 September 1852 in order to elect the governor of Maine. Whig nominee William G. Crosby defeated incumbent Democratic governor John Hubbard, Anti-Maine Law nominee Anson G. Chandler and Free Soil Party nominee and former member of the Maine Senate Ezekiel Holmes. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Maine law, the election was forwarded to the Maine legislature, who chose Crosby as governor, despite the fact he only came in second in the popular vote.
The 1853 Maine gubernatorial election was held on 12 September 1853 in order to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Whig governor William G. Crosby defeated Democratic nominee Albert Pillsbury, Anti-Maine Law nominee Anson Morrill and Free Soil Party nominee and former member of the Maine Senate Ezekiel Holmes. However, as no candidate received a majority of the total votes cast as was required by Maine law, the election was forwarded to the Maine legislature, who chose Crosby as governor, despite the fact he only came in second in the popular vote.
