LePage Wins Second Term As Maine Governor; Bear Referendum Defeated

Collins, Pingree Return to Washington

Maine voters on Tuesday returned Gov. Paul LePage to a second term in the Blaine House, with the Republican taking about 48 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Democrat Mike Michaud, who received about 43 percent of the vote, conceded the race late Tuesday evening. Independent Eliot Cutler had about 8 percent of the vote, according to results compiled by the Associated Press.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Republican Susan Collins won handily with 68 percent of the vote over Democrat Shenna Bellows, a former head of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.

In the races for U.S. House, Republican Bruce Poliquin held a lead over Democrat Emily Cain with 46 percent of the vote in the 2nd Congressional District. Independent Blaine Richardson had 11 percent of the vote.

In the 1st District, Democrat Chellie Pingree won 61 percent of the vote, turning back two political newcomers on her way to a fourth term.

In District 2, Bruce Poliquin has defeated Emily Cain and Blaine Richardson with 46 percent of the votes with 344 of 410 precincts reporting.

In other statewide races, voters rejected Question 1, which would have banned the use of traps, hounds and bait in bear hunting.

All other state bond questions have passed, with the exception of Question 5, which is a request for funds to modernize and expand a biological lab specializing in tissue repair and regeneration. That initiative has yet to be decided, with the two sides separated by only 4 percent of the votes after 66 percent of the results were tallied.