Maine House of Representatives

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members (excluding three nonvoting members) representing an equal number of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,800 citizens of the state. Because it is a part-time position, members of the Maine House of Representatives usually have outside employment as well. Members are limited to four consecutive terms of two years each, but may run again after two years.

Maine House of Representatives
Maine State Legislature
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	4 Terms (8 years)
History
New session started	December 5, 2018
Leadership
Speaker of the House	Sara Gideon (D) since December 7, 2016
Majority Leader	Matt Moonen (D) since December 5, 2018
Minority Leader	Kathleen Dillingham (R) since December 5, 2018
Structure
Seats	151 (and 3 non-voting)
Political groups	Majority   Democratic (87 (and 1 non-voting)) Minority   Republican (56)   Independent (6)   Vacant (2[lower-alpha 1] (and 2 non-voting))[lower-alpha 2]
Length of term	2 years
Authority	Article IV, Part First, Maine Constitution
Salary	Session 1: $13,526/year Session 2: $9,661/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 6, 2018 (151 seats)
Next election	November 3, 2020 (151 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
House of Representatives Chamber Maine State House Augusta, Maine
Website
Maine House of Representatives

The House meets at the Maine State House in Augusta.

Leadership of the House

The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected by the majority party caucus followed by confirmation of the full House through the passage of a House Resolution. In addition to presiding over the body, the Speaker is also the chief leadership position, and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. Other House leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders, are elected by their respective party caucuses relative to their party's strength in the chamber.

Composition of the 129th Maine House of Representatives

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)				Total
	Republican	Democratic	Green Ind.	Independ.		Vacant
Begin 126th Legislature	58	89	0	4	151	0
End 126th Legislature	57				150	1
Begin 127th Legislature	68	79	0	4	151	0
End 127th Legislature	69	78
Begin 128th Legislature	72	77	0	2	151	0
End 128th Legislature	70	73	1	6	150	1
Begin 129th Legislature[lower-alpha 3]	57	89	0	5	151	0
December 5, 2018[lower-alpha 4]		88			150	1
January 4, 2019[lower-alpha 5]	56			6
February 2, 2019[lower-alpha 6]		87			149	2
March 12, 2019[lower-alpha 7]		88			150	1
March 27, 2019[lower-alpha 8]		87			149	2
April 2, 2019[lower-alpha 9]		88			150	1
June 11, 2019[lower-alpha 10]		89			151	0
November 12, 2019[lower-alpha 11]		88			150	1
December 19, 2019[lower-alpha 12]		87			149	2
March 3, 2020[lower-alpha 13]		88			150	1
August 13, 2020[lower-alpha 14]		87			149	2
Latest voting share	37.6%	58.4%	0%	4%
Non-voting members	0	1	0	0	1	2

Nonvoting members of the House

The three nonvoting members within the House represent the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Maliseet Tribe. The special Representatives can sponsor legislation relating specifically to the Tribes or in relation to Tribal - State land claims, as well as co-sponsor any other legislation brought before the House, but do not cast a legislative vote due to their unique tribal status representing their tribal members only. The Penobscot, Passamaquoddy and Maliseet tribal representatives are also entitled to sit as members of joint standing committees during hearings and deliberations, where they do cast votes, which can be very important with respect to specific legislative proposals.

Starting with the second session of the 125th Legislature, the Houlton Band of Maliseets was given a legislative seat in the House of Representatives. The first elected occupant of the seat is Henry John Bear. After being sworn in by Governor Paul LePage, Bear stated he would introduce legislation to give the Micmac people of Maine a nonvoting seat.[1]

The Passamaquoddy and Penobscots announced at a State House rally on May 26, 2015 that they would withdraw their representatives from the Legislature, citing disputes over tribal fishing rights, jurisdictional issues, and a lack of respect for tribal sovereignty. They further cited an executive order by Governor Paul LePage that rescinded a prior order requiring consultation with the tribes on state issues that affected them as a reason for their decision. Subsequently, Matthew Dana II of the Passamaquoddy and Wayne Mitchell of the Penobscot left the legislature leaving Henry John Bear of the Maliseet the only non-voting tribal representative. In response, Speaker Eves said that the tribal representatives are always welcome in the House. Matthew Dana II returned to the House from the Passamaquoddy Tribe in the 2016 elections.[2]

The Maliseets chose not to send a Representative to the 129th Legislature, elected in 2018. As of the 2018 election, the Penobscots haven't returned to the House, leaving just the Passamaquoddy Representative, Rena Newell.[3]

Independents and other parties

Due to the independent political tradition in the state, the Maine House of Representatives has been an entry ground for several of the state's prominent Independent politicians. From 2002 to 2006, Representative John Eder of Portland (District 118), belonging to the Maine Green Independent Party, served in the Legislature, the highest elected Green politician in U.S. politics at that time. Eder secured recognition as a one-member Green Party caucus in the House, receiving a dedicated staff person, which is unusual for individual legislators in the Maine House. In the 2006 elections, Eder lost his seat to a Democratic challenger.

On September 21st, 2017, Ralph Chapman, previously registered as an independent, switched his registration to the Maine Green Independent Party, the first time in over a decade that the Maine Green Independent Party was represented at the state level.[4]

Officers

Position	Name[5]	Party	Hometown
Speaker of the House	Sara Gideon	Democratic	Freeport
Majority Leader	Matt Moonen	Democratic	Portland
Majority Whip	Ryan Fecteau	Democratic	Biddeford
Minority Leader	Kathleen Dillingham	Republican	Oxford
Minority Whip	Trey Stewart	Republican	Presque Isle

Members of the Maine House of Representatives

Districts are currently numbered starting with 1 from south to north. This is reversed after each decennial redistricting, which will next occur in 2021 and will go into effect beginning with the 2022 primary and general elections. The current district lines, which were drawn in 2013 and were first used in the 2014 primary and general elections, will only be in effect for 8 years rather than the usual 10 as Maine adjusts its legislative redistricting cycle to conform with most other states.

↑ denotes that the Representative first won in a special election

District	Representative[5]	Party	Residence	First elected	Term-limited
1	Deane Rykerson	Dem	Kittery	2012	2020
2	Michele Meyer	Dem	Eliot	2018	2026
3	Lydia Blume	Dem	York	2014	2022
4	Patricia Hymanson	Dem	York	2014	2022
5	Beth O'Connor	Rep	Berwick	2014 (2010–2012)	2022
6	Tiffany Roberts-Lovell	Dem	South Berwick	2018	2026
7	Daniel J. Hobbs	Dem	Wells	2018	2026
8	Christopher Babbidge	Dem	Kennebunk	2014 (2004–2008)	2022
9	Diane Denk	Dem	Kennebunk	2018	2026
10	Henry Ingwersen	Dem	Arundel	2018	2026
11	Ryan Fecteau	Dem	Biddeford	2014	2022
12	Victoria Foley	Dem	Biddeford	2018	2026
13	Lori Gramlich	Dem	Old Orchard Beach	2018	2026
14	Donna Bailey	Dem	Saco	2016	2024
15	Margaret M. O'Neil	Dem	Saco	2016	2024
16	Donald G. Marean	Ind	Hollis	2012 (2004–2008)	2020
17	Dwayne W. Prescott	Rep	Waterboro	2014	2022
18	Anne-Marie Mastraccio	Dem	Sanford	2012	2020
19	Matthew Harrington	Rep	Sanford	2015↑	2022
20	Theodore Kryzak	Rep	Acton	2018	2026
21	Heidi H. Sampson	Rep	Alfred	2016	2024
22	Mark John Blier	Rep	Buxton	2018	2026
23	Lester Ordway	Rep	Standish	2015↑	2022
24	Mark Bryant	Dem	Windham	2014 (2004–2012)	2022
25	Patrick Corey	Rep	Windham	2014	2022
26	Maureen Fitzgerald Terry	Dem	Gorham	2016	2024
27	Vacant
28	Christopher Caiazzo	Dem	Scarborough	2018	2026
29	Shawn Babine	Dem	Scarborough	2018	2026
30	Anne Carney	Dem	Cape Elizabeth	2018	2026
31	Lois Galgay Reckitt	Dem	South Portland	2016	2024
32	Chris Kessler	Dem	South Portland	2018	2026
33	Victoria Morales	Dem	South Portland	2018	2026
34	Drew Gattine	Dem	Westbrook	2012	2020
35	Vacant
36	Michael F. Brennan	Dem	Portland	2018 (1992–2000)	2026
37	Richard Farnsworth	Dem	Portland	2012 (1996–1998)	2020
38	Matt Moonen	Dem	Portland	2012	2020
39	Michael Sylvester	Dem	Portland	2016	2024
40	Rachel Talbot Ross	Dem	Portland	2016	2024
41	Erik Jorgensen	Dem	Portland	2012	2020
42	Benjamin Collings	Dem	Portland	2016	2024
43	W. Edward Crockett	Dem	Portland	2018	2026
44	Teresa Pierce	Dem	Falmouth	2014	2022
45	Stephen Moriarty	Dem	Cumberland	2019↑ (2012–2014)	2026
46	Braden Sharpe	Dem	Durham	2018	2026
47	Janice Cooper	Dem	Yarmouth	2012	2020
48	Sara Gideon	Dem	Freeport	2012	2020
49	Mattie Daughtry	Dem	Brunswick	2012	2020
50	Ralph Tucker	Dem	Brunswick	2014	2022
51	Joyce McCreight	Dem	Harpswell	2014	2022
52	Sean Paulhus	Dem	Bath	2019↑	2026
53	Allison Hepler	Dem	Woolwich	2018	2026
54	Denise Tepler	Dem	Topsham	2014	2022
55	Seth Berry	Dem	Bowdoinham	2016 (2006–2014)	2024
56	Rick Mason	Rep	Lisbon	2017↑	2024
57	Thomas Martin	Rep	Greene	2018	2026
58	Jim Handy	Dem	Lewiston	2016 (1982–1992)	2024
59	Margaret Craven	Dem	Lewiston	2018 (2002–2008)	2026
60	Kristen Cloutier	Dem	Lewiston	2018	2026
61	Heidi Brooks	Dem	Lewiston	2014	2022
62	Gina Melaragno	Dem	Auburn	2014	2022
63	Bruce Bickford	Rep	Auburn	2014 (2008–2012)	2022
64	Bettyann Sheats	Dem	Auburn	2016	2024
65	Amy Arata	Rep	New Gloucester	2018	2026
66	Jessica L. Fay	Dem	Raymond	2016	2024
67	Susan Austin	Rep	Gray	2014 (2002–2010)	2022
68	Richard Cebra	Rep	Naples	2016 (2004–2012)	2024
69	Walter Riseman	Ind	Harrison	2018	2026
70	Nathan Wadsworth	Rep	Hiram	2014	2022
71	Sawin Millett	Rep	Waterford	2018 (1968–1972; 2002–2010)	2026
72	Kathleen Dillingham	Rep	Oxford	2014	2022
73	John Andrews	Rep	Paris	2018	2026
74	Christina Riley	Dem	Jay	2016	2024
75	Joshua Morris	Rep	Turner	2018	2026
76	Dennis Keschl	Rep	Belgrade	2018 (2010–2014)	2026
77	Michael D. Perkins	Rep	Oakland	2016	2024
78	Catherine Nadeau	Dem	Winslow	2012	2020
79	Timothy Theriault	Rep	China	2014	2022
80	Richard T. Bradstreet	Rep	Vassalboro	2016	2024
81	Craig Hickman	Dem	Winthrop	2012	2020
82	Kent Ackley	Ind[lower-alpha 15]	Monmouth	2016	2024
83	Thom Hartnett	Dem	Gardiner	2018	2026
84	Charlotte Warren	Dem	Hallowell	2014	2022
85	Donna Doore	Dem	Augusta	2014	2022
86	Justin Fecteau	Rep	Augusta	2018	2026
87	Jeffery Hanley	Rep	Pittston	2014	2022
88	Chloe Maxmin	Dem	Nobleboro	2018	2026
89	Holly Stover	Dem	Boothbay	2018	2026
90	Michael Devin	Dem	Newcastle	2012	2020
91	Jeffrey Evangelos	Ind	Friendship	2018 (2012–2016)	2026
92	Ann Higgins Matlack	Dem	St. George	2018	2026
93	Anne Beebe-Center	Dem	Rockland	2015↑	2022
94	Victoria Doudera	Dem	Camden	2018	2026
95	William Pluecker	Ind	Warren	2018	2026
96	Staney Zeigler	Dem	Montville	2016	2024
97	Janice Dodge	Dem	Belfast	2018	2026
98	Scott W. Cuddy	Dem	Winterport	2018	2026
99	MaryAnne Kinney	Rep	Knox	2014	2022
100	Danny Costain	Rep	Plymouth	2018	2026
101	David G. Haggan	Rep	Hampden	2016	2024
102	Abigail Griffin	Rep	Levant	2018	2026
103	Roger E. Reed	Rep	Carmel	2012	2020
104	Steven D. Foster	Rep	Dexter	2018	2026
105	Joel Stetkis	Rep	Canaan	2014	2022
106	Scott Walter Strom	Rep	Pittsfield	2016	2024
107	Betty A. Austin	Dem	Skowhegan	2016	2024
108	Shelley Rudnicki	Rep	Fairfield	2018	2026
109	Bruce A. White	Dem	Waterville	2018	2026
110	Colleen Madigan	Dem	Waterville	2016	2024
111	Philip Curtis	Rep	Madison	2018 (2004–2012)	2026
112	Thomas Skolfield	Rep	Weld	2014	2022
113	H. Scott Landry	Dem	Farmington	2018	2026
114	Randall C. Hall	Rep	Wilton	2018	2026
115	Josanne C. Dolloff	Rep	Milton	2018	2026
116	Richard Pickett	Rep	Dixfield	2014	2022
117	Frances Head	Rep	Bethel	2014	2022
118	Chad Wayne Grignon	Rep	Athens	2016	2024
119	Paul Stearns	Rep	Guilford	2014	2022
120	Norman Higgins	Ind[lower-alpha 16]	Dover-Foxcroft	2014	2022
121	Gary Drinkwater	Rep	Milford	2018	2026
122	Michelle Dunphy	Dem	Old Town	2014	2022
123	Ryan Tipping	Dem	Orono	2012	2020
124	Joe Perry	Dem	Bangor	2019↑ (1996–2004)	2026
125	Victoria Kornfield	Dem	Bangor	2012	2020
126	John Schneck	Dem	Bangor	2012	2020
127	Barbara A. Cardone	Dem	Bangor	2016	2024
128	Kevin O'Connell	Dem	Brewer	2020↑	2026
129	Peter Lyford	Rep	Eddington	2014	2022
130	Richard Campbell	Rep	Orrington	2012 (1992–2000)	2020
131	Sherman H. Hutchins	Rep	Penobscot	2018 (1988–1990)	2026
132	Nicole Grohoski	Dem	Ellsworth	2018	2026
133	Sarah Pebworth	Dem	Blue Hill	2018	2026
134	Genevieve McDonald	Dem	Stonington	2018	2026
135	Brian Hubbell	Dem	Bar Harbor	2012	2020
136	William Faulkingham	Rep	Winter Harbor	2018	2026
137	Lawrence Lockman	Rep	Amherst	2012	2020
138	Robert Alley	Dem	Beals	2014	2022
139	William Tuell	Rep	East Machias	2014	2022
140	Anne C. Perry	Dem	Calais	2016 (2002–2010)	2024
141	Kathy Irene Javner	Rep	Chester	2018	2026
142	Sheldon Hanington	Rep	Lincoln	2014	2022
143	Stephen Stanley	Dem	Medway	2012 (1996–2002)	2020
144	Gregory Swallow	Rep	Houlton	2018	2026
145	Chris A. Johansen	Rep	Monticello	2016	2024
146	Dustin White	Rep	Washburn	2014	2022
147	Trey Stewart	Rep	Presque Isle	2016	2024
148	David Harold McCrea	Dem	Fort Fairfield	2016	2024
149	John DeVeau	Rep	Caribou	2018	2026
150	Roland Martin	Dem	Sinclair	2014 (1974–1976)	2022
151	John L. Martin	Dem	Eagle Lake	2014 (1964–1996; 1998–2000; 2008–2012)	2022

Non-Voting Members

Representing	Representative	Party	Residence	Term-limited
Passamaquoddy Tribe	Rena Newell	Dem	Princeton	2026
Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians	Vacant
Penobscot Nation	Vacant

Past composition of the House of Representatives

Main article: Political party strength in Maine

See also

• Category:Members of the Maine House of Representatives
• Maine State House
• Maine Legislature
• Maine Senate

Notes

1. The seats of Ann Peoples, who died on November 12, 2019, and Andrew McLean, who resigned on August 13, 2020.
2. The Houlton Band of Maliseets and Penobscot Nation have both withdrawn their non-voting Representatives to the Maine House of Representatives.
3. Includes a Rep.-elect who declined to take the oath of office.
4. Rep.-elect Aaron Frey (D-124) declines to take the oath of office after being nominated by Democrats in the Legislature to be Attorney General of Maine, to which post he was subsequently elected unanimously by joint ballot of the Legislature.
5. Rep. Don Marean (R-16) resigns the Republican caucus to become an independent.
6. Rep. Jennifer DeChant (D-52) resigns to take a position in the private sector.
7. Joe Perry (D) elected to replace Aaron Frey (D-124).
8. Rep. Dale Denno (D-45) resigns to seek treatment for cancer. Denno subsequently passed away on April 16, 2019.
9. Sean Paulhus (D) elected to replace Jennifer DeChant (D-52).
10. Steve Moriarty (D) elected to replace Dale Denno (D-45).
11. Death of Ann Peoples (D-35).
12. Death of Arthur Verow (D-128).
13. Kevin O'Connell (D) elected to replace Arthur Verow (D-45).
14. Andrew McLean (D-27) resigned due to a work conflict.
15. Elected under the party label "Candid Common Sense"; currently identifies as a "Common Sense Independent" (he was elected as such previously)
16. Elected under the party label "Common Sense Independent"; currently identifies as an Independent

References

1. Bayly, Julia (January 26, 2012). "Houlton Maliseet, first elected tribal representative to Maine House, looking forward to session". Bangor Daily News.
2. Moretto, Mario (May 26, 2015). "Passamaquoddy, Penobscot tribes withdraw from Maine Legislature". Bangor Daily News.
3. "Tribal Representatives to the Maine Legislature, 1823 - | Maine State Legislature". legislature.maine.gov.
4. "Lawmaker's party switch gives Greens a seat in the Maine House".
5. "Maine House of Representatives". legislature.maine.gov.

External links

• Maine House of Representatives