United States Senate election in Maine, 2012
Encyclopedia
The 2012 United States Senate election in Maine will be held on November 6, 2012 alongside a presidential election
, other elections to the United States Senate
in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives
and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
is running for re-election to a fourth term.
won re-election to a third term in 2006 with 74.01% of the vote over Democrat Jean Hay Bright
and independent Bill Slavick
. Due to the unpopularity of some of Snowe's casted votes among some more conservative voters, namely for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
and initial support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
, it is believed that she may face a competitive Republican primary from more conservative challengers in 2012. The Tea Party Express
has promised to aid in a primary against Snowe. There has been speculation that Snowe will switch parties, though she has always denied this. However, by June 2011, Snowe has officially entered her named with signatures to run in the Republican primary, saying, "she would never switch parties."
{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
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Hypothetical polling
|-
| style="border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;"|
with Emily Cain
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Scott
D'Amboise (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 33%
| align=center| 33%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 34%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Andrew Ian
Dodge (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 30%
| align=center| 32%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 37%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 64%
| align=center| 20%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 16%
|}
With Olympia Snowe
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Chellie
Pingree (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| October 28-31, 2011
| align=center| 673
| align=center| ± 3.8%
| align=center| 55%
| align=center| 36%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 9%
|}
Three-way matchups
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Scott
D'Amboise (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (I)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 21%
| align=center| 17%
| align=center| 54%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 7%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Andrew Ian
Dodge (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (I)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 19%
| align=center| 15%
| align=center| 56%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 10%
|}
Official campaign websites
Presidential election
A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is president.- United States :The United States has elections on the state and local levels...
, other elections to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe
Olympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
is running for re-election to a fourth term.
Background
Incumbent Olympia SnoweOlympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
won re-election to a third term in 2006 with 74.01% of the vote over Democrat Jean Hay Bright
Jean Hay Bright
Jean Hay Bright is an American politician from Maine. Originally a member of the Maine Democratic Party, Hay Bright re-registered as "unenrolled" in December 2009 following the announcement of the Afghanistan War troop surge of 2009...
and independent Bill Slavick
Bill Slavick
Bill Slavick is a peace activist who ran for the U.S. Senate in Maine as an independent in the 2006 election. He came in third place, receiving 5.2% of the vote.-Background:...
. Due to the unpopularity of some of Snowe's casted votes among some more conservative voters, namely for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
and initial support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
, it is believed that she may face a competitive Republican primary from more conservative challengers in 2012. The Tea Party Express
Tea Party Express
The Tea Party Express is a California-based group founded in the summer of 2009 to support the Tea Party movement. Founded as a national bus tour to rally Tea Party activists, the group's leadership also endorses and promotes conservative candidates running for state and federal offices...
has promised to aid in a primary against Snowe. There has been speculation that Snowe will switch parties, though she has always denied this. However, by June 2011, Snowe has officially entered her named with signatures to run in the Republican primary, saying, "she would never switch parties."
Declared
- Scott D'Amboise, former Lisbon FallsLisbon Falls, MaineLisbon Falls is a census-designated place in the town of Lisbon, located in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population of Lisbon Falls was 4,420 at the 2000 census...
selectman - Andrew Ian Dodge, conservative activist
- Olympia SnoweOlympia SnoweOlympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
, incumbent U.S. senator
Potential
- Tarren Bragdon, former CEO of Maine Heritage Policy CenterMaine Heritage Policy CenterMaine Heritage Policy Center is a conservative think tank located in Portland, Maine. According to its mission statement, the MHPC is "a research and educational organization whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise; limited,...
- Paul Davis, state representative
- Jinger Duryea, president of CN Brown/Big Apple
- Bruce Poliquin, state treasurer
- Carol Weston, Americans for ProsperityAmericans for ProsperityAmericans for Prosperity is a Washington, D.C.–based political advocacy group. According to their literature, they promote economic policy that supports business, and restrains regulation by government...
state director, former state representative and former senator - Chandler Woodcock, state Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, former state senator and 2006 Republican nominee for GovernorMaine gubernatorial election, 2006The Maine gubernatorial election of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat John Baldacci was then re-elected to his second term....
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott D'Amboise |
Andrew Dodge |
Olympia Snowe |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 250 | ± 6.2% | 10% | 7% | 62% | — | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 434 | ± 4.7% | 18% | 10% | 43% | — | 28% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe |
"More conservative challenger" |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 250 | ± 6.2% | 46% | 47% | — | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 434 | ± 4.7% | 33% | 58% | — | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling (report) | September 2–6, 2010 | 584 | ± 4.1% | 29% | 63% | — | 8% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe |
Chandler Woodcock |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | September 2–6, 2010 | 584 | ± 4.1% | 33% | 38% | — | 29% |
Declared
- Matthew DunlapMatthew DunlapMatthew Dunlap is an American Democratic politician from Maine. He is the former Secretary of State of Maine, taking office on January 7, 2005. Leaving office in January 2011, he assumed the role of Executive Director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine...
, former Maine Secretary of StateSecretary of State of MaineThe Secretary of State of Maine is elected by the Legislature in that U.S. state. The Maine Secretary of State is responsible for administering elections, the Maine State Archives, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and for chartering corporations. The Secretary of State is elected to no more than two... - Jon HinckJon HinckJon Hinck is an American environmentalist, lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing House District 118, part of Portland, Maine. The non-partisan research group Maine Conservation Voters gives Hinck a score of "100%" on their...
, state representative from Portland
Potential
- Phil BartlettPhil BartlettPhil Bartlett is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Maine. A Democrat, he serves in the Maine Senate, representing the 6th district which is composed of Scarborough, Westbrook and his hometown of Gorham....
, current state senator and former Senate Majority leader - Emily CainEmily CainEmily Ann Cain is a Democratic politician from the state of Maine. She serves as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. She represents part of Orono, Maine....
, Maine House of Representatives minority leader - Hannah PingreeHannah PingreeHannah M. Pingree is a Democratic politician from the State of Maine and daughter of Maine politician Chellie Pingree. She served four terms in the State Legislature including one as Speaker of the House before being forced to leave office by state term limits. In the Legislature she represented...
, former Maine House of Representatives speakerSpeaker of the Maine House of RepresentativesThe Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives is the speaker and presiding officer of the Maine House of Representatives, the lower house of the Maine Legislature.-List of speakers:... - Rosa ScarcelliRosa ScarcelliRosa W. Scarcelli is an American politician and business executive, currently serving as the CEO of Stanford Management, a low-cost housing provider in Maine...
, businesswoman - Donato Tramuto, businessman and chairman of the Ogunquit Select Board
with Scott D'Amboise
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott D'Amboise (R) |
Matt Dunlap (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 23% | 31% | — | 47% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott D'Amboise (R) |
Jon Hinck (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 26% | 25% | — | 49% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott D'Amboise (R) |
Rosa Scarcelli (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 36% | 29% | — | 35% |
with Andrew Ian Dodge
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Andrew Ian Dodge (R) |
Matt Dunlap (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 25% | 30% | — | 44% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Andrew Ian Dodge (R) |
Jon Hinck (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 25% | 27% | — | 48% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Andrew Ian Dodge (R) |
Rosa Scarcelli (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 33% | 29% | — | 38% |
with Olympia Snowe
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe (R) |
Matt Dunlap (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 64% | 22% | — | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe (R) |
Jon Hinck (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 65% | 18% | — | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe (R) |
Mike Michaud (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | October 28-31, 2011 | 673 | ± 3.8% | 54% | 37% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Olympia Snowe (R) |
Rosa Scarcelli (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 66% | 18% | — | 17% |
Three-way matchups
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Scott D'Amboise (R) |
Rosa Scarcelli (D) |
Olympia Snowe (I) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 20% | 15% | 56% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Andrew Ian Dodge (R) |
Rosa Scarcelli (D) |
Olympia Snowe (I) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (report) | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ± 2.8% | 19% | 13% | 57% | — | 10% |
{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align:left; border:0; margin-top:0.2em;"
|-
! style="background:#cff; font-weight:normal;"|
Hypothetical polling
|-
| style="border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;"|
with Emily Cain
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Scott
D'Amboise (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 33%
| align=center| 33%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 34%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Andrew Ian
Dodge (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 30%
| align=center| 32%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 37%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 64%
| align=center| 20%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 16%
|}
With Olympia Snowe
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Chellie
Pingree (D)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| October 28-31, 2011
| align=center| 673
| align=center| ± 3.8%
| align=center| 55%
| align=center| 36%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 9%
|}
Three-way matchups
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Scott
D'Amboise (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (I)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 21%
| align=center| 17%
| align=center| 54%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 7%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign= bottom
! Poll source
! style="width:120px;"| Date(s)
administered
! class=small | Sample
size
! Margin of
error
! style="width:100px;"| Andrew Ian
Dodge (R)
! style="width:100px;"| Emily
Cain (D)
! style="width:100px;"| Olympia
Snowe (I)
! Other
! Undecided
|-
| Public Policy Polling (report)
| align=center| March 3–6, 2011
| align=center| 1,246
| align=center| ± 2.8%
| align=center| 19%
| align=center| 15%
| align=center| 56%
| align=center| —
| align=center| 10%
|}
See also
- United States Senate elections, 2012United States Senate elections, 2012Elections to the United States Senate are to be held on November 6, 2012, with 33 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections whose winners will serve six-year terms from January 3, 2013 until January 3, 2019. Additionally, special elections may be held to fill vacancies...
- United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2012United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2012The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Maine will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the two U.S. Representatives from the state of Maine, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the elections of other federal and...
External links
- Elections Division from the Maine Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for Maine at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
Official campaign websites