2012 Elections preview: Term limits ensure Maine Senate will see at least ten new faces

### March 30, 2012

By Greg Janetka

AUGUSTA, Maine: Primary races for the Maine State Senate have been in full swing across the state for two weeks now following the passage of the deadline to file on March 15. All 35 seats in the chamber were up for election. The primary takes place on June 12 with the general election on November 6.

Going into the elections, Republicans currently hold a 6 seat majority.

Maine is one of 15 states where legislators are subject to term limits. Maine state Senators are eligible to serve no more than four consecutive 2-year terms. Owing to this, 10 current incumbents, or 28.6% of the total senate seats, were ineligible to run in 2012. Of them, 5 are Democratic state senators and 5 are Republican state senators.

These include:

Democrats (5):

* Philip Bartlett
* Bill Diamond
* Barry Hobbins
* Elizabeth Schneider
* Nancy Sullivan

Republicans (5):

* Jonathan Courtney
* David Hastings
* Debra Plowman
* Kevin Raye
* Richard Rosen

Between the two major parties there are 70 possible primary battles. In actuality, only 11 - 7 involving Democrats and 4 involving Republicans - are contested. None of the incumbents who are running will face a primary challenge.

## See also

* Maine State Senate elections, 2012
* Maine House of Representatives elections, 2012
* State legislative elections, 2012

## Footnotes

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