Maine GOP, Dems battle across Maine over control of State House
PORTLAND (WGME) -- Election Day is now six days away for the midterms in Congress and all the state races in Maine.
The Maine Republican Party hopes to flip enough seats in the state legislature to take control of one or both houses, and it's been a while.
Democrats, of course, hope to maintain control.
There is no polling on state races, so we really have no indication yet which State Senate and House candidates might win on Tuesday.
Political experts say it all depends on voter turnout, and which party can get more of their people to vote.
Democrats have had control of the Maine House and Senate the last four years.
With the economy doing so poorly under the Trump administration, UMaine Farmington Political Science Professor Jim Melcher says usually, that would mean Democrats maintain control of the state legislature.
"However, both chambers are very close,” Melcher said. “The House only would take three seats flipping Republican. I think that's the one they think they've got the best shot at. But even the Senate is relatively close. You'd only need a few."
Republican party leaders also believe they have a better chance of taking control of the House but say the State Senate is also a possibility.
"You never know how elections are going to turn out,” Maine Republican Party Chair Jim Deyermond said. “But we've done everything possible to get our people to get out and vote, and to present our candidates to them."
Democrats have also been knocking on doors.
Sophie Warren is running for State Senate.
"This is an election where democracy is on the ballot. Where Affordability is on the ballot. We're fighting back against a cruel and chaotic federal government," Warren said. "Our reproductive rights. Child Care. Our universal needs that are not being met."
"President Trump is still very popular in Maine. I hope people understand that, especially in CD2," Deyermond said. "There are many things that have affected the tax rates, the affordability in Maine, long before President Trump was here. I've noticed the price of gas is coming way down in the last week."
"Trump's popularity is unusually low," Melcher said.
Yet, Melcher says Maine voters are often willing to split their ticket and vote for candidates they know and like, rather than vote along party lines.
"I think there's a lot of reason for people to turn out to vote,” Melcher said. “And Mainers are very, very good at it."
CBS13 reached out multiple times Wednesday to the Maine Democratic Party for comment but did not hear back.
Democrats have a two-seat majority in the State House.
Over in the State Senate, Democrats currently have a six-seat majority.
But with every seat up for grabs, anything can happen.