2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine

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All 2 Maine seats to theUnited States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party   Party Democratic Republican Last election 2 0 Seats won 2 0 Seat change Popular vote 316,156 248,170 Percentage 56.02% 43.97% Swing 4.8pp 4.79pp
District results County results Democratic   50–60%   60–70% Republican   50–60%

Elections were held on November 2, 2010, to determineMaine's two members of theUnited States House of Representatives. Representatives were elected for two-year terms to serve in the112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. Primary elections were held on June 8, 2010.^[1]

The races in both the1st and2nd districts were rated as competitive byThe Cook Political Report^[2] andThe Rothenberg Political Report,^[3] while only the 1st district was rated as competitive byCQ Politics.^[4] Both of Maine'sincumbents (Chellie Pingree of the 1st district andMike Michaud of the 2nd district, bothDemocrats) were re-elected.^[5]

A total of 564,368 votes were cast, of which 316,156 (56.02 percent) were for Democratic candidates, 248,170 (43.97 percent) were forRepublican candidates, and 42 (0.01 percent) were forwrite-in candidates.^[6]

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine by district:^[7]

The 1st district includesBiddeford,Portland andSouth Portland.^[8] The district's population was 95 percent white (seeRace and ethnicity in the United States census); 91 percent were high school graduates and 32 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Itsmedian income was $53,324.^[9] In the2008 presidential election the district gave 61 percent of its vote toDemocratic nomineeBarack Obama and 38 percent toRepublican nomineeJohn McCain.^[8] In 2010 the district had aCook Partisan Voting Index of D+8.^[2]

DemocratChellie Pingree, who took office in 2009, was theincumbent. Pingree was elected in2008 with 55 percent of the vote.^[8] In 2010 her opponent in the general election was Republican nominee Dean Scontras, the co-owner of analternative energy company.^[10] Pingree and Scontras were unopposed in their respective primaries.^[11] Pingree raised $1,282,675 and spent $1,290,022. Scontras raised $491,374 and spent the same amount.^[12]

In a poll of 790 likely voters, conducted byPublic Policy Polling between September 2 and 6, 2010, Pingree led with 47 percent to Scontras's 38 percent, while 15 percent were undecided.^[13] A poll of 316 likely voters, conducted by Critical Insights (CI) on September 13, 2010, found Pingree leading with 53 percent to Scontras's 29 percent while 18 percent were undecided.^[14][15][16] A CI poll with a statewide sample of 405 likely voters, conducted on September 27, 2010, found Pingree leading Scontras by 54 percent to 26 percent, while 19 percent were undecided.^[16][17] In a poll of 346 likely voters, conducted by the Maine Center for Public Opinion between October 4 and 7, 2010, 46 percent of respondents supported Pingree while 38 percent favored Scontras and 16 percent were undecided.^[18] A CI poll of 305 registered voters, conducted on October 10 and 11, 2010, found Pingree leading with 48 percent to Scontras's 33 percent, while 18 percent remained undecided.^[19][20] In a poll with a statewide sample of 501 likely voters, conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group between October 11 and 15, 2010, 49 percent of respondents backed Pingree with 33 percent supported Scontras and 18 percent remained undecided.^[21] In a CI poll of 295 likely voters, conducted between October 13 and 17, 2010, Pingree led Scontras by 45 percent to 40 percent while 13 percent were undecided.^[22] In CI's final poll Scontras led with 45 percent to Pingree's 41 percent.^[23]

On election day Pingree was re-elected with 57 percent of the vote to Scontras's 43 percent.^[24] Pingree was one of eight Democratic U.S. Representatives who was elected by a larger margin in 2010 than in 2008.^[25] Pingree was again re-elected in2012,^[26]2014,^[27]2016^[28] and2018.^[29]

• Chellie Pingree campaign website at theWayback Machine (archived October 29, 2010)
• Dean Scontras campaign website at theWayback Machine (archived November 4, 2010)

The 2nd district includedAuburn,Bangor,Lewiston andWaterville.^[36] Its population was 94 percent white (seeRace and ethnicity in the United States census); 87 percent were high school graduates and 20 percent had received a bachelor's degree or higher. Itsmedian income was $40,812.^[37] In the2008 presidential election the district gave 55 percent of its vote toDemocratic nomineeBarack Obama and 43 percent toRepublican nomineeJohn McCain.^[36] In 2010 the district had aCook Partisan Voting Index of D+3.^[2]

DemocratMike Michaud, who took office in 2003, was the incumbent. Michaud was re-elected in2008 with 67 percent of the vote.^[36] In 2010 Michaud's opponent in the general election was Republican nominee Jason Levesque, a businessman.^[38] Both Michaud and Levesque were unopposed in their primaries.^[39] Michaud raised $1,044,372 and spent $1,244,848. Levesque raised $542,626 and spent $529,783.^[40]

In a poll of 678 likely voters, conducted byPublic Policy Polling between September 2 and 6, 2010, Michaud led with 45 percent to Levesque's 38 percent, while 17 percent were undecided.^[13] A poll of 287 registered voters, conducted by Critical Insights (CI) on September 13, 2010, found Michaud leading with 48 percent to Levesque's 28 percent while 24 percent were undecided.^[15][41] In a poll with a statewide sample of 405, conducted by CI on September 27, 2010, Michaud had the support of 44 percent while 32 percent backed Levesque and 24 percent were undecided.^[16][17] A CI poll of 300 likely voters, conducted on October 10 and 11, 2010, found Michaud leading with 43 percent to Levesque's 30 percent while 26 percent were undecided.^[42] In a poll with a statewide sample of 501 likely voters, conducted by Pan Atlantic SMS Group between October 11 and 15, 2010, 49 percent of respondents supported Michaud while 29 percent favored Levesque and 22 percent were undecided.^[21] A poll of 305 likely voters, conducted by CI between October 13 and 17, 2010, found Michaud leading with 49 percent to Levesque's 30 percent, while 20 percent were undecided.^[22] In a CI poll of 326 likely voters, the results of which were published later in October 2010, Michaud led with 44 percent to Levesque's 40 percent while 14 percent remained undecided.^[43]

On election day Michaud was re-elected with 55 percent of the vote to Levesque's 45 percent.^[44] Michaud was again re-elected in 2012^[45] and unsuccessfully ran forGovernor of Maine in2014.^[46] He was succeeded by RepublicanBruce Poliquin.^[47]

• Jason Levesque campaign website at theWayback Machine (archived October 28, 2010)
• Mike Michaud campaign website at theWayback Machine (archived October 29, 2010)

• List of United States representatives from Maine
• Maine's congressional delegations

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• 2010 United States House of Representatives elections
• United States House of Representatives elections in Maine

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