The Winner

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) will represent Maine’s 1st Congressional District for a 10th term after defeating Republican Ron Russell) for the second election in a row. The Associated Press called the race at 10:18 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, Maine Public reported. ​

Pingree had 249,772 votes (65.9%) to Russell’s 129,342 (34.1%), a margin of about 32 points, in AP results published by The Maine Monitor. She topped her 2024 result against Russell, when she won 58.7% to his 36.4% in a three-way race.

The Race

Russell, 72, is a retired Army colonel and former Green Beret who grew up in Fort Fairfield and later worked as a defense contractor. He won the Republican nomination on Tuesday, June 9, with 53.5% over Joshua Pietrowicz. Pingree was unopposed in her primary.

Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the race Solid Democratic, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Democratic, according to Ballotpedia’s race page. Pingree, first elected in 2008, became the second-longest-serving U.S. House member in Maine history this year.

The district covers southern and coastal Maine. It takes in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and York counties, plus Waterville, Winslow and other towns in Kennebec County, according to The Maine Monitor. Portland, Biddeford and Brunswick are its largest anchors.

About 695,700 people live in the district, the median age is about 44 and the typical household earns about $88,000 a year. About 44% of adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Residents are about 89% white, 2% Hispanic, 2% Black and 2% Asian, unemployment is about 3.3%, and about 8% live below the poverty line.

What’s Next

Pingree’s 10th term begins Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027. Under Maine law, the secretary of state must certify the results to the governor within 20 days of the election, which sets a deadline of Monday, Nov. 23.

Democrats won control of the House, and that means Pingree would likely return as chair of an Appropriations subcommittee. That panel decides funding for the environment, public lands, the arts and tribal affairs, the Portland Press Herald reported.

---

AllCiv makes it easy to stay politically informed and involved.

---

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article