Former President Donald Trump won a decisive victory in a deeply divided country in the November 5 U.S. presidential election, after some states that went for President Biden in 2020 turned red, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia.
      Along with the presidency, Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate, but control of the House was still not clear the day after the election. They also won all of the Maine House and Senate seats up for election in Washington County. Democrats, though, did retain control of the Maine Senate and appeared to have held off the Republican campaign for the House, pending possible recounts.
      Harris won three of Maine's four electors, receiving 52.3% of the statewide vote to 45.6% for Trump. However, for the third straight election Trump won the one elector from the state's 2nd Congressional District, where he received 53% of the vote to 45% for Harris. In the 1st District, Harris' margin of victory was 60% to 38% for Trump.
      Independent U.S. Senator Angus King of Brunswick won reelection with 52.1% of the vote. Republican Party candidate Demi Kouzounas of Saco trailed with 34.8%, and Democratic Party candidate David Costello of Brunswick garnered 10.5%.
      For Maine's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent Democrat Jared Golden of Lewiston appeared on track to defeat Republican challenger Austin Theriault of Fort Kent in a tight race. With 95% of the precincts reporting, Golden led with 50.3% of the vote to 49.7% for Theriault, according to unofficial results. With Golden holding approximately a 3,000-vote lead the day after the election, the race, one of the closest in the state's history, most likely was headed to a recount.

State Senate and House races
      For Maine Senate District 6, Republican incumbent Marianne Moore of Calais easily won reelection, receiving 68% of the vote to 32% for Democratic candidate Jonathan Goble of Cherryfield, according to unofficial results.
      In Maine House District 9, Republican candidate Arthur Mingo of Calais was elected by a margin of 62.2% to 37.8% for Democratic candidate Darin McGaw of Baileyville. Democratic Rep. Anne Perry of Calais could not run again for the seat because of term limits.
      For Maine House District 10, Republican William Tuell of East Machias received 76.4% of the vote to 23.6% for Democratic candidate Peter Colman of Lubec. Tuell will replace Rep. Kenneth "Bucket" Davis of East Machias, who did not seek reelection. He previously served in the House but did not run in 2022 because of term limits.
      In Maine House District 11, the incumbent Republican, Rep. Tiffany Strout of Harrington, won reelection by a margin of 69.6% to 30.4% for Democratic candidate Roland "Skip" Rogers of Jonesport.
      Both candidates for the two open seats as Washington County commissioners ran unopposed. Republican candidate David Burns of Whiting was elected for the District 2 seat that has been held for the past 20 years by Christopher Gardner of Edmunds, who did not seek reelection. For the District 1 seat, William "Billy" Howard of Calais will replace Vinton Cassidy, who lost in the primary.

Referendum questions
     In the five statewide referendum questions, Maine voters overwhelmingly approved Question 1, setting a limit on political donations, by a margin of 73% to 27%. The question asked if voters wanted to set a $5,000 limit for giving to political action committees that spend money independently to support or defeat candidates for office.
      Voters decisively rejected changing the state flag, by a margin of 55.5% to 44.5%. They approved all three bond issues. For Question 2, the $25 million research and development bond, the margin was 54.5% to 45.5%. On Question 3, the $10 million historic buildings bond, the vote was closer, with 51.3% in favor and 48.7% opposed. Voters approved Question 4, the $30 million trails bond, by a margin of 55% to 45%.