AUGUSTA — Republican 2nd District Congressman Bruce Poliquin filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Maine’s Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in an attempt to stop a retabulation of ranked-choice ballots in a race between Poliquin and Democratic challenger Jared Golden. The suit filed in federal court in Bangor is asking for a permanent injunction against Dunlap, seeking […]
election 2018
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Ranked-choice count resumes on congressional race with Republicans citing bias of state staffer
AUGUSTA — Election officials inched closer Monday to a historic ranked-choice run-off in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District even as the political parties traded jabs over “voter integrity” and “scare tactics.” With the final outcome of the 2nd District race still unclear, the Maine Republican Party called on Secretary of State Matt Dunlap to reassign an […]
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Posted inMaine, sj-web
Decision on 2nd District congressional race winner likely Wednesday
AUGUSTA — State elections officials will likely declare a winner Wednesday in the oh-so-close 2nd District congressional race. The vote count by the Secretary of State’s Office, which got underway Friday, is going smoothly, officials said, but it takes time to weed through more than 270,000 ballots from 375 towns in the sprawling district. Though […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
GOP concerned, Golden patient as 2nd District votes are counted
LEWISTON — The race for Maine’s 2nd congressional district seat is coming down to its final hours, with the GOP already raising several concerns about the process and Democratic contender Jared Golden of Lewiston taking a wait-and-see stance. It has been nearly a week since polls closed, and Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap is […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Maine Secretary of state says Poliquin campaign’s charges could erode confidence in voting system
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap criticized the campaign of U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin on Sunday for its allegations about mishandled ballot boxes, saying the charges could cause voters to lose confidence in the voting system. “I feel like I should reach out to the campaign and say, ‘Let us do our work before you […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bruce Poliquin has 'ongoing concerns' about voting process in 2nd District race
As the secretary of state’s office continues to count votes from across the sprawling 2nd District, U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin on Saturday raised questions about the process. Poliquin, the Republican who has represented the district since 2014, said in a Facebook post that there “have been ongoing concerns” about the process. His campaign said late […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Exit poll suggests Jared Golden has the advantage in ranked-choice voting
AUGUSTA — Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin will head into this weekend’s ranked-choice tabulations of 2nd Congressional District votes with a narrow lead, but political insiders, an exit poll and even bettors are suggesting that lead could evaporate as the second and third choices of independent voters are added to the tallies of the two front […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Eric Brakey reflects on his campaign — and his future
AUBURN — Eric Brakey walked into Rolly’s Diner on Thursday and was immediately greeted by a supporter with a solemn look. “I wish it was your name,” she said of the Election Day results. Brakey, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, lost handily Tuesday to Sen. Angus King, on a night that conservatives in Maine […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Legal precedent so far supports ranked-choice voting
It is not clear yet what legal arguments might be made against ranked-choice voting if the law were challenged as a result of the outcome in Maine’s 2nd District congressional race. “I don’t think there’s any way they can win,” Rob Richie, president of Fair Vote, a Maryland group advocating election reform, said Thursday. He […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Bruce Poliquin claims 1st-round win; ballots arrive in Augusta for counting
As ballots in the close race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District were being brought Thursday to a central collection spot in Augusta for counting, Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin issued a statement claiming a first-round victory. “We won the election-night total,” Brendan Conley, spokesman for the Poliquin campaign, said in a prepared statement. A first-round […]