AUGUSTA — Maine Democrats have fallen short so far in their attempt to expand Medicaid under the federal health care law this year, and Republicans didn’t get their wish to overhaul welfare programs, either. But that won’t stop them from trying to transform those failures into successes on the campaign trail as they now return to their districts to drum up votes for the November election.

Democrats’ continued push to expand health care and Republicans’ repeated efforts to transform welfare are expected to play well with their bases as they blame each other for lack of progress in Augusta.

“We’re going to be able to go out and say that we supported a bipartisan compromise … to provide health care to 70,000 Mainers,” said House Speaker Mark Eves, of North Berwick, of the Medicaid expansion proposal vetoed by Republican Gov. Paul LePage and sustained by GOP lawmakers last week for a third time this session.

“I wish it weren’t a campaign issue. … But if we can’t be successful this session, then it will be,” he said as lawmakers rushed to finish up their work for the year.

Democrats will have one more shot at overturning a near-certain veto of a Medicaid expansion proposal sent to LePage late Thursday, but it appears to be headed down the same path as past efforts.

Meanwhile, the GOP’s unsuccessful push to pass measures that would have limited the use of electronic benefit cards and implemented stricter work-search requirements is likely to become a central theme in their effort to regain majorities in both chambers.

“What the message here, really, is status quo versus reform,” said House Republican Leader Ken Fredette, of Newport. “I think the Democrats lack of an ability in the House to embrace these ideas is going to cost them in the fall elections.”

Lawmakers have left Augusta, but their work hasn’t officially come to a close. They plan to return in early May to vote on any bills that LePage may veto after they left, potentially including a measure to close a $30 million hole in the state budget.

While partisan battles were ignited over issues like welfare and revenue sharing this year, what’s often one of the most contentious debates each session — the state budget fix — was embraced by both parties and flew through the Legislature with ease.

Its success was made even more surprising by the unprecedented challenge they faced, Democrats said. LePage refused to introduce a budget proposal after lawmakers overturned his veto of $6.3 billion state budget last year, which left lawmakers to come up with develop one on their own from scratch.

“It demonstrates that we can work together to get something done even with an extreme tea party governor who doesn’t want to play ball with anyone but himself,” Eves said. “We were able to balance the budget … and go home, adjourn this session and feel like we could do everything we could in a very toxic political environment.”

Like last session, LePage’s agenda was dealt a significant blow, but his power came from the use of his veto pen.

Democrats slammed the door on his efforts to streamline the work-permit process for minors and create special zones that provide business incentives and workers the ability not to pay labor union dues.

But Despite LePage’s rejection of more than 130 bills since becoming governor in 2011 — more than any other governor in recent history — Democrats have managed to overturn his veto only 13 times so far since taking over the Legislature.

For Republicans, ensuring those bills aren’t revived by the Democratic majority was just as much a victory as any bills they were able to get to the governor’s desk this session.

“Some of those bills would have substantially been significant policy shifts in ways that we don’t think would have been good for the state of Maine,” Fredette said. “So I think stopping bad legislation from becoming law is as important as passing Legislation.”

Review of 2014 legislative session

AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers wrapped their work in the short legislative session early Friday and will soon turn their focus to elections. They plan to return for one day next month to consider any vetoes from Republican Gov. Paul LePage before the session officially closes.

While partisan battles over health care and welfare consumed much of the session, lawmakers approved dozens of other measures that will affect Mainers’ lives.

THE BUDGET: A bill that fixes $40 million shortfall this fiscal year ending June 30 and includes some funding for next year’s budget went into law this month without LePage’s signature. Among other things, the budget includes $500,000 for Head Start programs and $9.5 million for schools. A separate bill that closes a $32 million shortfall for 2015 awaits action from LePage. That proposal also includes $5 million to remove developmentally disabled Mainers off a waitlist for Medicaid services such as home-based care.

REVENUE SHARING: A bill to prevent $40 million in cuts to state aid to cities and towns went into law without the governor’s signature. LePage blasted the measure because it was paid for in part by taking money out of the rainy day fund. He pushed a separate proposal that put $21 million back into that reserve.

BONDS: Maine voters could get a chance to consider $50 million in bond proposals in November. Lawmakers gave the green light to six borrowing measures that would support small businesses and water infrastructure projects. The measures received strong support in both chambers late Thursday and await action from LePage.

MINING REGULATIONS: Democrats sent a bill to LePage that rejects the mining regulations drafted by his administration and directs it to re-submit new rules. Environmental groups said the mining rules proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection don’t go far enough to protect the environment. The governor has yet to take action on the bill.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: LePage signed a Republican-backed bill this month that makes sex trafficking an affirmative defense to prostitution charges and provides victims with access to a compensation fund. The measure also boosts fines for human trafficking offenders.

DRUG OVERDOSE ANTIDOTE: More people would have access to a potentially life-saving drug that prevents overdose deaths, under a measure lawmakers sent to LePage’s desk this week. It allows families of addicts to be prescribed naloxone, also known as Narcan. Firefighters and police officers would also be able to administer it under the proposal.

SPENDING BILLS: Lawmakers gave final approval to several bills that have been in limbo as they awaited funding decisions. Among the measures funded is one designed to prevent multinational corporations from avoiding paying state taxes in Maine by holding their profits in overseas tax havens. Another measure would free up casino and slot machine revenue for more districts to start preschool programs for 4-year-olds. More Maine children would get private insurance coverage for autism treatment under another.