11 Maine legislative races headed to recounts, including one tie

Eleven races in the Maine Legislature that were contested on Nov. 5 are headed to recounts, the Maine secretary of state’s office announced Wednesday.

Ballots will be recounted in nine House races and two Senate races. Recounts will start on Friday and continue through Nov. 25.

Preliminary counts included a dead-even tie in House District 141, and three races where the margin between the apparent winner and loser was fewer than 20 votes.

The results below are unofficial preliminary counts provided by the secretary of state’s office.

House District 44

William Pluecker – 2,731

Ray Thombs – 2,369

House District 52

Sally Cluchey – 2,748

David Guilmette – 2,732

House District 58

Sharon Frost – 3,158

Daniel Newman – 3,114

House District 75

Stephan Bunker – 2,318

Randall Gauvin – 2,308

House District 81

Peter Wood – 2,835

Joan Beal – 2,816

House District 96

Michel Lajoie – 2,550

Kerryl Clement – 2,514

House District 98

Kilton Webb – 2,995

Guy Lebida – 2,941

House District 141

Patricia Kidder – 2,476

Lucas Lanigan – 2,476

House District 142

Anne-Marie Mastraccio – 1,938

Amy Bell – 1,874

Senate District 8

Leo Kenney – 10,112

Michael Tipping – 10,229

Senate District 15

Richard Bradstreet – 10,820

Raegan LaRochelle – 10,621

Maine law does not have mandatory recounts, but when the apparent margin of victory is 1 percent or less in statewide or multi-county races, or 1.5 percent or less in legislative or single county races, a candidate can request a recount free of charge.

When the margin is larger, the candidate must pay a deposit. That money is refunded if the result is overturned by the recount.  

Wednesday was the last day that a candidate could request a recount in a non-ranked-choice race, according to the secretary of state’s office.