Maine Senate

The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution allows for "an odd number of Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35".[1] Unlike the lower House, the Senate does not set aside nonvoting seats for Native tribes. Because it is a part-time position, members of the Maine Senate usually have outside employment as well.

Maine State Senate
Maine State Legislature
Type
Type
Term limits
4 terms (8 years)
History
New session started
December 5, 2018
Leadership
President of the Senate
Troy Jackson (D)
since December 5, 2018
Majority Leader
Nate Libby (D)
since December 5, 2018
Minority Leader
Dana Dow (R)
since December 5, 2018
Structure
Seats35
Political groups
Majority
  •   Democratic (21)

Minority

Length of term
2 years
AuthorityArticle IV, Part Second, Maine Constitution
SalarySession 1: $13,526/year
Session 2: $9,661/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 6, 2018
(35 seats)
Next election
November 3, 2020
(35 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Maine State House
Augusta, Maine
Website
Maine State Senate

The Senate meets at the Maine State House in Augusta. Members are limited to four consecutive terms with each term being two years but may run again after a two-year wait.

Leadership

Unlike many U.S. states, the Senate's leader is not the lieutenant governor, as Maine does not have a lieutenant governor. Instead, the Senate chooses its own president, who is also the first in the line of gubernatorial succession.

Composition of the Senate
129th Legislature, 2018–2020
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Democratic Ind Vacant
125th (2010–12) 20 14 1 35 0
126th Legislature (2012–14) 15 19 1 35 0
Begin 127th Legislature 21 14 0 35 0
End of 127th Legislature 20 15
Begin 128th Legislature 18 17 0 35 0
End 128th Legislature
Begin 129th Legislature 14 21 0 35 0
Latest voting share 40% 60% 0%


Officers
PositionNameParty
President of the SenateTroy JacksonDem
Majority LeaderNate LibbyDem
Assistant Majority LeaderEloise VitelliDem
Minority LeaderDana DowRep
Assistant Minority LeaderJeffrey TimberlakeRep
Secretary of the SenateDarek GrantNon-Partisan
Assistant Secretary of the SenateMarcia HomsteadNon-Partisan

Members of the Maine Senate

Districts are currently numbered starting with 1 from north to south. 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 Senator first won in a special election

DistrictSenatorPartyResidencePrimary CountyFirst electedTerm limited
1 Troy Jackson Dem Allagash Aroostook 2016 (2008–2014) 2024
2 Michael E. Carpenter Dem Houlton Aroostook 2016 (1976–1986) 2024
3 Bradlee Farrin Rep Norridgewock Somerset 2018 2026
4 Paul Davis Rep Sangerville Piscataquis 2014 (1998–2006) 2022
5 Jim Dill Dem Old Town Penobscot 2014 2022
6 Marianne Moore Rep Calais Washington 2018 2026
7 Louis Luchini Dem Ellsworth Hancock 2018 2026
8 Kimberley Rosen Rep Bucksport Hancock 2014 2022
9 Geoffrey Gratwick Dem Bangor Penobscot 2012 2020
10 Stacey Guerin Rep Glenburn Penobscot 2018 2026
11 Erin Herbig Dem Belfast Waldo 2018 2026
12 David Miramant Dem Camden Knox 2014 2022
13 Dana Dow Rep Waldoboro Lincoln 2016 (2004–2008) 2024
14 Shenna Bellows Dem Manchester Kennebec 2016 2024
15 Matthew Pouliot Rep Augusta Kennebec 2018 2026
16 Scott Cyrway Rep Benton Kennebec 2014 2022
17 Russell Black Rep Wilton Franklin 2018 2026
18 Lisa Keim Rep Dixfield Oxford 2016 2024
19 James Hamper Rep Oxford Oxford 2012 2020
20 Ned Claxton Dem Auburn Androscoggin 2018 2026
21 Nate Libby Dem Lewiston Androscoggin 2014 2022
22 Jeffrey Timberlake Rep Turner Androscoggin 2018 2026
23 Eloise Vitelli Dem Arrowsic Sagadahoc 2016 (2013↑–2014) 2024
24 Everett "Brownie" Carson Dem Brunswick Cumberland 2016 2024
25 Cathy Breen Dem Falmouth Cumberland 2014[2] 2022
26 Bill Diamond Dem Windham Cumberland 2014 (1982–1986; 2004–2012) 2022
27 Ben Chipman Dem Portland Cumberland 2016 2024
28 Heather Sanborn Dem Portland Cumberland 2018 2026
29 Rebecca Millett Dem Cape Elizabeth Cumberland 2012 2020
30 Linda Sanborn Dem Gorham Cumberland 2018 2026
31 Justin Chenette Dem Saco York 2016 2024
32 Susan Deschambault Dem Biddeford York 2016↑ 2022
33 David Woodsome Rep Waterboro York 2014 2022
34 Robert Foley Rep Wells York 2018 2026
35 Mark Lawrence Dem Eliot York 2018 (1992–2000) 2026

Past composition of the Senate
Main article: Political party strength in Maine
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References
  1. Maine Constitution Article IV. -- Part Second.Senate.
  2. Due to a protracted recount, Sen. Breen didn't assume office until January 8, 2015.
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