Maine’s June 9 primary election for governor narrowed a crowded field of candidates using ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank their preferences and automatically eliminate lower-performing contenders until someone achieved majority support.
With Democratic Gov. Janet Mills unable to run for re-election due to term limits, both parties fielded multiple candidates competing for the nomination. The Democratic primary featured Troy Jackson leading with 27.3% of first-choice votes, followed by Hannah Pingree at 22.7% and Nirav Shah at 21.3%, alongside Shenna Bellows and Angus King III.
On the Republican side, Robert Charles led early returns with 40.9%, while Benjamin Midgley garnered 18.8% and Jonathan Bush received 17.9%, with additional candidates in the race as well.
Ranked-choice voting works by allowing voters to rank candidates on their ballot in order of preference. If no candidate receives majority support in the first round, election officials eliminate the lowest-performing candidate and reallocate those voters’ ballots to their second-choice selections. This process continues through subsequent rounds until a candidate achieves more than 50% of the vote, according to Maine’s Secretary of State.
The system was designed to address Maine’s history of close gubernatorial races where independent candidates had split the vote. In the primary context, ranked-choice voting helps ensure the party’s nominee has broader support from the electorate.
Maine voters approved ranked-choice voting in 2016 and first used it in the state’s 2018 primary election. The method has since become a defining feature of Maine’s primary process for governor, state legislature, and federal offices, though it remains limited to federal races during general elections following a Maine Supreme Court ruling in April 2026.
Sources
- NBC News — Maine governor primary election results and explanation of ranked-choice voting mechanics
- Ballotpedia — Candidate list and primary election details for both Democratic and Republican races
- Maine.gov — Ranked-choice voting FAQ and election procedures
- League of Women Voters of Maine — Explanation of how ranked-choice voting functions
