2010 Maine gubernatorial election

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2010 Maine gubernatorial election
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  PaulLePage (cropped).jpg Eliot Cutler (cropped) (1).jpg
Nominee Paul LePage Eliot Cutler
Party Republican Independent
Popular vote218,065208,270
Percentage37.6%35.9%
 
Nominee Libby Mitchell Shawn Moody
Party Democratic Independent
Popular vote109,38728,756
Percentage18.8%5.0%
2010 Maine gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
2010 Maine gubernatorial election results map by municipality.svg
LePage:     20–30%     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Cutler:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%
Mitchell:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
Tie:     
Governor before election

John Baldacci
Democratic

Elected Governor

Paul LePage
Republican

The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the governor of Maine. Incumbent Democratic governor John Baldacci was term-limited and could not seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010. The candidates who appeared on the November ballot were (in alphabetical order by last name): Eliot Cutler (Independent), Paul LePage (Republican), Libby Mitchell (Democratic), Shawn Moody (Independent), and Kevin Scott (Independent). [1]

Contents

With 94% of precincts reporting on the day after the election, the Bangor Daily News declared LePage the winner, carrying 38.1% of the votes. [2] Cutler was in second place with 36.7% of the votes (less than 7,500 votes behind LePage), while Mitchell was a distant third with 19%. [2] Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively. [2] Two days after the election, with 99% of precincts reporting, LePage's lead over Cutler had widened to more than 10,000 votes. [3] This election was the first since 1990 that Maine elected a Republican governor.

Democratic primary

Candidates

On ballot

Write-in

Withdrawn

  • Dawn Hill, State Representative. [14] [15] Hill withdrew from the race on January 1, 2010, citing the crowded field of candidates. [16]
  • John G. Richardson, former Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and former Speaker of the House. [4] [17] Richardson withdrew from the race on April 26 amid allegations that some of his campaign workers had not followed proper procedures for collecting donations to qualify him for Maine Clean Election funding. [18] The primary ballots had already been printed before Richardson withdrew from the race, so Richardson's name appeared on the ballot even though he was no longer a candidate. [19]
  • Peter Truman (also known as Peter Throumoulos), former state representative and convicted forger. [20] Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDates administered Mitchell Rowe Scarcelli McGowan Undecided
Pan Atlantic SMS Group [23] May 21–29, 201013.3%11.7%7.0%6.3%61.7%

Results

Results by county .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Mitchell 30-40% 40-50% Rowe 40-50% McGowan 30-40% Maine Governor Democratic Primary Election Results by County, 2010.svg
Results by county
  Mitchell
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  Rowe
  •   40–50%
  McGowan
  •   30–40%
Democratic primary results [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell 42,32834.4
Democratic G. Steven Rowe27,92322.7
Democratic Rosa Scarcelli26,44421.5
Democratic Patrick K. McGowan24,39219.8
Democratic John Richardson1,6041.3
Democratic Write-in2360.3
Total votes122,927 100

At 11:32 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Libby Mitchell the winner of the Democratic primary. [25]

Republican primary

Candidates

On ballot

Declined

Polling

Poll sourceDates administered Otten LePage Mills Abbott BeardsleyPoliquinJacobsonUndecided
MECPO [46] [47] May 22-June 2, 201017.0%10.7%22.1%13.9%5.9%4.9%1.4%24.0%
Pan Atlantic SMS Group [23] May 21–29, 201017.0%10.3%8.4%8.3%3.6%3.3%2.0%47.0%

Results

Results by county LePage 20-30% 30-40% 40-50% 50-60% Otten 30-40% Beardsley 30-40% 2010MEgovGOP.svg
Results by county
  LePage
  •   20–30%
  •   30–40%
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  Otten
  •   30–40%
  Beardsley
  •   30–40%
Republican primary results [24]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paul LePage49,12637.4
Republican Les Otten22,94517.4
Republican Peter Mills19,27114.7
Republican Steve Abbott17,20913.1
Republican William "Bill" Beardsley12,0619.2
Republican Bruce Poliquin6,4714.9
Republican Matt Jacobson4,3243.3
Total votes131,407 100

At 11:19 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Paul LePage the winner of the GOP primary. [48]

Independents

Candidates on the ballot

Write-in candidates

Disqualified candidates

Withdrawn

Maine Green Independent Party

The Maine Green Independent Party did not have a gubernatorial candidate on the ballot, as no candidate collected required number of signatures. [67]

Withdrawn

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
Cook Political Report [71] TossupOctober 14, 2010
Rothenberg [72] Tilt R (flip)October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics [73] Likely R (flip)November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball [74] Lean R (flip)October 28, 2010
CQ Politics [75] Lean DOctober 28, 2010

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Paul LePage (R)Libby Mitchell (D)Eliot Cutler (I)Shawn Moody (I)Kevin Scott (I)Undecided
MPRC/Down East Magazine [76] October 28–30, 2010546± 4.19%39%24%29%4%1%2%
Critical Insights/MaineToday Media [77] October 27–28, 2010621± 4%40%21%21%4%1%11%
Pan Atlantic SMS [78] October 25–28, 2010400± 4.9%38.6%21.8%30.6%2.8%1.1%7.3%
Public Policy Polling [79] October 26–28, 20101,812± 2.3%40%24%28%4%1%2%
Rasmussen Reports [80] October 26, 2010500± 4.5%40%26%26%--5%
Critical Insights [81] October 13–17, 2010600± 4%32%20%19%5%1%21%
Pan Atlantic SMS [82] October 11–15, 2010501± 4.4%32.9%28.0%14.0%4.6%0.4%20.2%
Rasmussen Reports [80] October 12, 2010500± 4.5%35%32%21%**6%
Critical Insights/MaineToday Media [83] October 10–11, 2010605± 4%32%26%11%5126%
Pine Tree Politics/Maine Center for Public Opinion [84] October 4–7, 2010679± 3.76%29.6%28.7%11.1%4.9%1.6%24.1%
Critical Insights/MaineToday Media [85] September 27, 2010405± 4.9%29%30%9%5%0%26%
Rasmussen Reports [86] September 20, 2010500± 4.5%45%27%14%**10%
Critical Insights/MaineToday Media [87] September 13, 2010603± 4%38%25%11%4%1%21%
Public Policy Polling [88] September 2–6, 20101,468± 2.6%43%29%11%5%1%12%
Rasmussen Reports [89] August 12, 2010500± 4.5%38%30%16%**11%
Rasmussen Reports [90] July 14, 2010500± 4.5%39%31%15%**12%
Rasmussen Reports [91] June 10, 2010500± 4.5%43%36%7%**14%

* Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott, two Independent candidates who appeared on the ballot, were not offered as choices in the Rasmussen polls. [92]

Results

Despite polling in the low teens as late as mid-October, Cutler surged in the final weeks of the campaign to surpass Mitchell and finish second. LePage won with only 37.6% of the vote, the second-lowest percentage for any winning Maine gubernatorial candidate behind independent Angus King's 35.7% in 1994. LePage was considered to have benefitted from vote splitting between the Democrat Mitchell and the Democrat-turned-independent Cutler. [93] Mitchell would ultimately win just 18.8% of the vote, carrying only Kittery in the extreme south of the state, the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation, and a handful of staunchly Democratic municipalities in northern Aroostook County near the Canadian border. Cutler carried many other traditionally Democratic areas of the state, such as the Greater Portland area and Mount Desert Island. Mitchell's performance was the worst for any Democratic gubernatorial candidate since 1998, when Democrat Thomas J. Connolly would win just 12% of the vote in the midst of King's 16-county landslide re-election. This election remains the last time the Democratic nominee failed to carry a single county in a Maine gubernatorial election.

In addition, a number of municipalities and voting precincts finished as exact ties in official results: the municipalities of Bancroft, Dallas Plantation, Gilead, Madrid, Orient, Vanceboro, and Wesley, finished as exact ties between LePage and Cutler, while a precinct for voters in unincorporated eastern Aroostook County finished as a tie between Cutler and fellow independent Shawn Moody, with each receiving one vote.

2010 Gubernatorial Election, Maine [94]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Paul LePage 218,065 37.6% +7.39%
Independent Eliot Cutler 208,27035.9%—
Democratic Libby Mitchell 109,38718.8%−19.31%
Independent Shawn Moody28,7565.0%—
Independent Kevin Scott5,6641.0%
Majority 9,7951.7%−6.2
Turnout 580,538+29,673
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Independent

Aftermath

Paul LePage and Eliot Cutler would face off again in 2014, though Cutler would ultimately garner just 8% of the vote in that election. LePage would win re-election that year with over 48% of the vote, his closest opponent being Democrat Mike Michaud, who received 43% of the vote. In 2022, Cutler would be arrested for possession of child pornography, resulting in him serving seven months in jail and being required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. [95] [96]

Shawn Moody, who finished the 2010 election with 5% of the vote as an independent, would become a Republican in 2017. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2018, an election he would lose to Democrat Janet Mills. [97]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The day after: Governor's race takes shape". June 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Miller, Kevin; Wickenheiser, Matt (November 3, 2010). "BDN projects LePage to win governor's race". Bangor Daily NEws. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Campaign 2010 – Maine Election Results". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kevin Miller. "9 hopefuls for top job in Maine". Bangor Daily News.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. ↑ "McGowan joins Maine gubernatorial field". Portland Press Herald . Associated Press. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2010. Former state Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan formally announced his candidacy today, making him the seventh Democrat seeking his party's nomination in June.
  6. ↑ Cover, Susan (August 11, 2009). "Elizabeth Mitchell files for governor's race". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  7. ↑ Gagnon, Matthew (8 December 2008). "Steve Rowe Running For Governor". Pine Tree Politics . Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Rowe For Governor (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  9. ↑ Wickenheiser, Matt (July 20, 2009). "Businesswoman launches Blaine House bid". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved August 12, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. ↑ Rosa Scarcelli, Democratic Candidate for Governor of Maine, 2010 (official candidate web site)
  11. ↑ Williams, Cindy (July 22, 2009). "Former Mayor Donna Dion Announced Run For Governor". WCSH . Retrieved August 12, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ "Donna Dion For Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  13. ↑ Hoey, Dennis (March 21, 2010). "Dione will run for governor as a write-in candidate". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved March 22, 2010.
  14. ↑ O'Bryan, Heather (July 1, 2009). "House Member Announces Run For Governor". WCSH . Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  15. ↑ "dawnhillforgovernor.com (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  16. ↑ ""Rep. Hill drops out of Maine gov. race" – SeacoastOnline.com". Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  17. ↑ David Hench (16 November 2009). "Richardson to announce for governor". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  18. ↑ Richardson withdrawing from governor's race Portland Press Herald , April 26, 2010
  19. ↑ Cover, Susan (June 7, 2010). "Governor's Race: Independents can vote Tuesday, but they need to know the rules". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved June 7, 2010. Democrat John Richardson pulled out in April after the ethics commission found problems with his application for Clean Election funds. But it was too late for the ballots, which had already gone to the printers.
  20. ↑ Wickenheiser, Matt (September 10, 2009). "Man once jailed for forgery seeks state office". Portland Press Herald . Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2009. A former state representative who was jailed two years ago for forging signatures on petitions for state Clean Election funds has filed papers to run for governor. Peter Truman of Old Orchard Beach, also known as Peter Throumoulos, plans to run as a Democrat.
  21. ↑ SunJournal.com. "Auburn lawmaker decides against bid for governor" . Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  22. ↑ Mainepolitics.net. "Allen Discusses Future" . Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  23. 1 2 Pan Atlantic SMS Group
  24. 1 2 "Maine Governor Primary Results". Maine SOS. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on November 18, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Mitchell wins Democratic Primary". WCSH 6. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  26. ↑ PressHerald.com. "Does Abbott Have his Eye on Governors Job?" . Retrieved February 2, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  27. ↑ "Collins aide joins Maine gov's race". Portland Press Herald . 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  28. ↑ "Former Husson president to run for governor". Portland Press Herald . 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  29. ↑ "Bill Beardsley: Governor For Maine (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2010.
  30. ↑ Mainepolitics.net. "Republican Announces for Governor" . Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Matt Jacobson For Governor (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  32. ↑ "Waterville mayor files to run for governor". Portland Press Herald . September 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  33. ↑ "Paul LePage – Gubernatorial Dark Horse?". Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  34. ↑ "Morning Sentinel, September 18, 2009". Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  35. ↑ "Paul LePage for Governor 2010 (official campaign web site)". Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  36. ↑ Mills declares candidacy for governor [ permanent dead link ]
  37. ↑ "Welcome to the Public Campaign Finance Page for the State of Maine". Mainecampaignfinance.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  38. ↑ Peter Mills for Governor of Maine (official candidate web site) Archived 2009-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ↑ Les Otten for Governor (official candidate web site) Archived 2009-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ↑ "Portland, ME | Race For Governor Already Taking Shape". WCSH6.com. January 4, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  41. ↑ "Bruce Poliquin for Maine Governor (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2009.
  42. ↑ "> Archives > News > Poliquin jumps to early cash lead". The Times Record. July 20, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  43. ↑ Cianchette insists he won't run for governor [ permanent dead link ]
  44. ↑ "Kevin Raye Will Not Run For Governor". Pine Tree Politics. November 10, 2009. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  45. ↑ "Josh Tardy". Abbott for Governor. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  46. ↑ MECPO
  47. ↑ Note: Poll paid for by Mills Campaign
  48. ↑ "LePage projected to win Maine GOP primary". WCSH 6. June 8, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  49. ↑ Christian, Ken (August 24, 2009). "Cutler To Run For Governor As Independent". WCSH . Retrieved August 24, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  50. ↑ "Cutler 2010 (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on September 2, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cover, Susan (June 2, 2010). "Three unenrolled candidates qualify for governor's race". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
  52. ↑ "Two Independent Gubernatorial Candidates Qualify for Maine Ballot". MBPN . April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
  53. ↑ "Shawn Moody for Governor of Maine (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on August 6, 2010. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
  54. ↑ Wilensky-Lanford, Ethan (May 27, 2010). "Scott envisions role as 'a citizen governor'". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  55. ↑ "Kevin L. Scott: Maine Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  56. ↑ Tice, Lindsay (August 26, 2010). "Jenkins' campaign hinges on Web friends". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  57. ↑ Draft John Jenkins to be Maine Governor in 2010 Facebook Fan Page. August 26, 2010.
  58. ↑ "Waterville mayor files to run for governor". Portland Press Herald . September 23, 2009. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2009. Beverly Cooper-Pete of Portland also filed Tuesday as an unenrolled candidate.
  59. ↑ Wickenheiser, Matt (September 15, 2010). "Maine gubernatorial candidates put the focus on homeless". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2010. The candidates who attended were Democrat Libby Mitchell and independent Shawn Moody, along with write-in candidates Beverly Cooper-Pete and Ed Braley ...
  60. ↑ Alex Hammer for Maine Governor (official candidate web site)
  61. ↑ Miller, Kevin (June 29, 2010). "Blaine House candidate sues over denied petitions". Bangor Daily News. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  62. ↑ "Gov. candidate Hammer sues Sec. of State | Mainebiz". Mainebiz.biz. Archived from the original on August 20, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  63. ↑ Associated Press. "Judge: state correct in rejecting candidate's signatures". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  64. ↑ "Sam Bailey: Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)". Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  65. ↑ Journal, Kennebec (April 14, 2010). "Gay-rights foe running for Maine governor". Portland Press Herald . Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  66. ↑ "Heath decides against running for gov". Portland Press Herald . Associated Press. April 14, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  67. ↑ Cover, Susan M. (March 16, 2010). "Falling short on signatures, Williams exits". The Morning Sentinel. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010.
  68. ↑ Bangor Daily News. "Maine Green party chairwoman to run for governor". Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  69. ↑ Lynne Williams for Governor 2010 (official candidate web site)
  70. ↑ Green candidate drops out of governor's race Archived 2010-03-23 at the Wayback Machine March 15, 2010, Portland Press Herald
  71. ↑ "2010 Governors Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  72. ↑ "Governor Ratings". Rothenberg Political Report . Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  73. ↑ "2010 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics . Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  74. ↑ "THE CRYSTAL BALL'S FINAL CALLS". Sabato's Crystal Ball. October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  75. ↑ "Race Ratings Chart: Governor". CQ Politics. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  76. ↑ MPRC / Down East Magazine
  77. ↑ Critical Insights / MaineToday Media
  78. ↑ Pan Atlantic SMS
  79. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  80. 1 2 Rasmussen Reports
  81. ↑ Critical Insights
  82. ↑ Pan Atlantic SMS
  83. ↑ Critical Insights / MaineToday Media
  84. ↑ Pine Tree Politics / Maine Center for Public Opinion
  85. ↑ Critical Insights / MaineToday Media
  86. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  87. ↑ Critical Insights / MaineToday Media
  88. ↑ Public Policy Polling
  89. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  90. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  91. ↑ Rasmussen Reports
  92. ↑ "Maine Governor". Rasmussen Reports. August 12, 2010.
  93. ↑ Woodard, Colin (March 27, 2018). "Maine's Radical Democratic Experiment". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  94. ↑ "Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections and Voting, Results, 2010-11 Tabulations, Governor General Election Tabulations".
  95. ↑ Shepherd, Michael; Piper, Jessica; Trotter, Bill (March 25, 2022). "2-time Maine gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler arrested on child porn charges". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  96. ↑ "Eliot Cutler released early after serving 7 months, jail official says". newscentermaine.com. January 18, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  97. ↑ Shepherd, Michael (November 21, 2017). "Moody announces GOP gubernatorial bid run by LePage insiders". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 12, 2025.

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