AUGUSTA, Maine — Several former Maine lawmakers are trying to return to Augusta in the 2024 elections, led by a Republican from northern Maine who is seeking the seat she lost in a record-smashing race two years ago.
Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, cannot run this year due to term limits. Former Rep. Sue Bernard, R-Caribou, is seeking the seat after Jackson beat her in an election that saw an unprecedented $1 million in outside spending by the campaigns and outside groups.
It could make the northern Maine district that has grown more conservative in recent years one of the most likely to flip in the 2024 election. But Senate Republicans are also losing a popular Republican from Augusta on the heels of major losses since 2018. Prominent former lawmakers are also trying to return to the State House, including a former House speaker.
Bernard, a former news anchor for Presque Isle-based WAGM who was later a spokesperson for Maine’s Catholic diocese, served one term in the House before opposing Jackson. On Friday, she said she would support legislation to lessen regulations on entrepreneurs and large businesses and promote growth in the agriculture and forestry sectors.
“If you had asked me a month ago if I was running again, I would have said no,” Bernard said. “But at the end of the day, it’s not about me. If I can use my position to give voters a change, that’s what I want.”
No Democratic candidate has filed for the race. It is early on the legislative race calendar. Only about 140 candidates running active campaigns have filed to run for the 186 seats in the Senate and House. Slates of candidates are typically finalized by summer filing deadlines.
Northern Aroostook County has trended more Republican in recent years. The seat Bernard is running constitutes a top pick-up opportunity for Senate Republicans, who are at a yawning 22-13 disadvantage to Jackson and Democrats in the upper chamber. The House is more contested at an 80-68 Democratic majority with two independents and a vacancy.
Republicans are losing Sen. Matt Pouliot, R-Augusta, a former legislative leader who is leaving after three terms to focus on real estate development. State Reps. Raegan LaRochelle, D-Augusta, and Dick Bradstreet, R-Augusta, have filed to run in the capital-area district.
There could be a number of primaries on the June ballot. On the Republican side, Rep. David Haggan of Hampden is running against Sen. Peter Lyford of Eddington, and Rep. Scott Cyrway of Albion and former Rep. Michael Perkins of Oakland filed to run for the seat now held by Sen. David LaFountain, D-Waterville.
For Democrats, former Sagadahoc County Register of Probate Jean Guzzetti of Bath is running against former Rep. Denise Tepler of Topsham for the party’s nomination to replace term-limited Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic. Rep. Bruce White of Waterville, who opposed his party’s major abortion bill last year, is being challenged by Cassie Julia of Waterville.
A number of former lawmakers are seeking their seats again, including former House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, former House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, and former Reps. Will Tuell, R-East Machias, and Patrick Corey, R-Windham. Former Sen. Robert Foley, R-Wells, is running for the House.
Two Democrats from Aroostook County are trying to knock off Republican incumbents in their old districts. Former Rep. Danny Martin, D-Sinclair, has filed for the seat held by Rep. Roger Albert, R-Madawaska, and Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, is running a rematch of the 2022 race he narrowly lost to Rep. Mark Babin, R-Fort Fairfield.