The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 voting members and three nonvoting members. The voting members represent an equal number of districts across the state and are elected via plurality voting. The nonvoting members represent three of Maine's Native American tribes, though two tribes have declined to send representatives. Each voting member of the House represents around 9,000 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 | |
Term limits | 4 Terms (8 years) |
| History | |
New session started | December 4, 2024 |
| Leadership | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 151 (and 3 non-voting) |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
Other
Vacant |
 | |
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 5, 2024 (151 seats) |
Next election | November 3, 2026 (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
editThe 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 132nd (2024-2026) Maine House of Representatives
edit| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Green Ind. | Independ. | Nonpart. | Vacant | ||
| Begin 126th Legislature (Dec. 2012) | 89 | 58 | 0 | 4 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 126th Legislature | 57 | 150 | 1 | ||||
| Begin 127th Legislature (Dec. 2014) | 79 | 68 | 0 | 4 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 127th Legislature | 78 | 69 | |||||
| Begin 128th Legislature (Dec. 2016) | 77 | 72 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 128th Legislature | 73 | 70 | 1 | 6 | 150 | 1 | |
| Begin 129th Legislature (Dec. 2018)[c] | 89 | 57 | 0 | 5 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 129th Legislature | 87 | 56 | 6 | 149 | 2 | ||
| Begin 130th Legislature (Dec. 2020) | 80 | 67 | 0 | 4 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 130th Legislature | 76 | 63 | 3 | 142 | 9 | ||
| Begin 131st Legislature (Dec. 2022) | 82 | 67 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 0 | |
| End 131st Legislature | 79 | 148 | 3 | ||||
| Begin 132nd Legislature (Dec. 2024)[c] | 76 | 73 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 0 | |
| December 4, 2024[d] | 75 | 150 | 1 | ||||
| Latest voting share | 50% | 48.7% | 0% | 1.3% | |||
| Non-voting members | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
Nonvoting members of the House
editThe three nonvoting members within the House represent the Wabanaki or Dawnland nations of the Penobscot, the Passamaquoddy, and the Maliseet. 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 was 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 December 2022, the Maliseets and the Penobscots haven't returned to the House, leaving just the Passamaquoddy Representative, presently Aaron Dana.[3]
Independents and other parties
editDue 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. Having moved to Waterboro, Eder returned to the House in 2024 as a Republican.
On September 21, 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
edit| Position | Representative[5] | Party | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the House | Ryan Fecteau | Democratic | Biddeford |
| Majority Leader | Matt Moonen | Democratic | Portland |
| Assistant Majority Leader/Whip | Lori Gramlich | Democratic | Old Orchard Beach |
| Minority Leader | Billy Bob Faulkingham | Republican | Winter Harbor |
| Assistant Minority Leader/Whip | Katrina Smith | Republican | Palermo |
Members of the Maine House of Representatives
editDistricts are currently numbered starting with 1 from north to south. This is often reversed after each decennial redistricting, and it was reversed in the redistricting which occurred in 2021 and which went into effect beginning with the 2022 primary and general elections. The previous district lines, which were drawn in 2013 and were first used in the 2014 primary and general elections, were only in effect for 8 years rather than the usual 10 as Maine adjusted 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 | Lucien J.B. Daigle | Rep | Fort Kent | 2024 | 2032 |
| 2 | Roger Albert | Rep | Madawaska | 2022 | 2030 |
| 3 | Mark Babin | Rep | Fort Fairfield | 2022 | 2030 |
| 4 | Timothy Guerrette | Rep | Caribou | 2022 | 2030 |
| 5 | Joseph F. Underwood | Rep | Presque Isle | 2020 | 2028 |
| 6 | Donald Ardell | Rep | Monticello | 2022 | 2030 |
| 7 | Gregory Swallow | Rep | Houlton | 2022 (2018–2020) | 2030 |
| 8 | Tracy Quint | Rep | Hodgdon | 2020 | 2028 |
| 9 | Arthur Kevin Mingo | Rep | Calais | 2024 | 2032 |
| 10 | William R. Tuell | Rep | East Machias | 2024 (2014–2022) | 2032 |
| 11 | Tiffany Strout | Rep | Harrington | 2022 | 2030 |
| 12 | Billy Bob Faulkingham | Rep | Winter Harbor | 2018 | 2026 |
| 13 | Russell P. White | Rep | Ellsworth | 2024 | 2032 |
| 14 | Gary Friedmann | Dem | Bar Harbor | 2024 | 2032 |
| 15 | Holly Eaton | Dem | Deer Isle | 2022 | 2030 |
| 16 | Nina Milliken | Dem | Blue Hill | 2022 | 2030 |
| 17 | Steven M. Bishop | Rep | Bucksport | 2024 | 2032 |
| 18 | Mathew David McIntyre | Rep | Lowell | 2024 | 2032 |
| 19 | Richard H. Campbell | Rep | Orrington | 2022 (1992–2000; 2012–2020) | 2030 |
| 20 | Dani L. O'Halloran | Dem | Brewer | 2024 | 2032 |
| 21 | Ambureen Rana | Dem | Bangor | 2022 | 2030 |
| 22 | Laura Supica | Dem | Bangor | 2020 | 2028 |
| 23 | Amy Roeder | Dem | Bangor | 2020 | 2028 |
| 24 | Vacant | ||||
| 25 | Laurie Osher | Dem | Orono | 2020 | 2028 |
| 26 | Jim Dill | Dem | Old Town | 2022 (2010–2014) | 2030 |
| 27 | Gary Drinkwater | Rep | Milford | 2018 | 2026 |
| 28 | Irene Gifford | Rep | Lincoln | 2022 | 2030 |
| 29 | Kathy Irene Javner | Rep | Chester | 2018 | 2026 |
| 30 | James Lee White | Rep | Guilford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 31 | Chad R. Perkins | Rep | Dover-Foxcroft | 2022 | 2030 |
| 32 | Steven D. Foster | Rep | Dexter | 2018 | 2026 |
| 33 | Kenneth Fredette | Rep | Newport | 2024 (2010–2018) | 2032 |
| 34 | Abigail Griffin | Rep | Levant | 2018 | 2026 |
| 35 | James E. Thorne | Rep | Carmel | 2020 | 2028 |
| 36 | Kimberly M. Haggan | Rep | Hampden | 2024 | 2032 |
| 37 | Reagan Paul | Rep | Winterport | 2022 | 2030 |
| 38 | Benjamin C. Hymes | Rep | Waldo | 2022 | 2030 |
| 39 | Janice Dodge | Dem | Belfast | 2018 | 2026 |
| 40 | D. Michael Ray | Dem | Lincolnville | 2024 | 2032 |
| 41 | Victoria Doudera | Dem | Camden | 2018 | 2026 |
| 42 | Valli Geiger | Dem | Rockland | 2020 | 2028 |
| 43 | Ann Matlack | Dem | St. George | 2018 | 2026 |
| 44 | William Pluecker | Ind | Warren | 2018 | 2026 |
| 45 | Abden Simmons | Rep | Waldoboro | 2023↑ (2016–2018) | 2030 |
| 46 | Lydia Crafts | Dem | Newcastle | 2020 | 2028 |
| 47 | Wayne K. Farrin | Dem | Jefferson | 2024 | 2032 |
| 48 | Holly Stover | Dem | Boothbay | 2018 | 2026 |
| 49 | Allison Hepler | Dem | Woolwich | 2018 | 2026 |
| 50 | David Sinclair | Dem | Bath | 2023↑ | 2032 |
| 51 | Rafael Leo Macias | Dem | Topsham | 2024 | 2032 |
| 52 | Sally Cluchey | Dem | Bowdoinham | 2022 | 2030 |
| 53 | Michael Lemelin | Rep | Chelsea | 2020 | 2028 |
| 54 | Karen Montell | Dem | Gardiner | 2022 | 2030 |
| 55 | Daniel Shagoury | Dem | Hallowell | 2022 | 2030 |
| 56 | Randall Greenwood | Rep | Wales | 2020 (2014–2016) | 2028 |
| 57 | Tavis Hasenfus | Dem | Readfield | 2020 | 2028 |
| 58 | Sharon C. Frost | Ind | Belgrade | 2024 | 2032 |
| 59 | David M. Rollins | Dem | Augusta | 2024 | 2032 |
| 60 | William Bridgeo | Dem | Augusta | 2022 | 2030 |
| 61 | Alicia Carol Collins | Rep | Sidney | 2024 | 2032 |
| 62 | Katrina Smith | Rep | Palermo | 2022 | 2030 |
| 63 | Paul R. Flynn | Rep | Albion | 2024 | 2032 |
| 64 | Flavia M. DeBrito | Dem | Waterville | 2024 | 2032 |
| 65 | Cassie Lynn Julia | Dem | Waterville | 2024 | 2032 |
| 66 | Robert Nutting | Rep | Oakland | 2022 (1998–2006; 2008–2016) | 2030 |
| 67 | Shelley Rudnicki | Rep | Fairfield | 2018 | 2026 |
| 68 | Amanda Collamore | Rep | Pittsfield | 2020 | 2028 |
| 69 | Dean Cray | Rep | Palmyra | 2022 (2006–2014) | 2030 |
| 70 | Jennifer Poirier | Rep | Skowhegan | 2020 | 2028 |
| 71 | John Ducharme | Rep | Madison | 2020 | 2028 |
| 72 | Elizabeth M. Caruso | Rep | Caratunk | 2024 | 2032 |
| 73 | Michael Soboleski | Rep | Phillips | 2022 | 2030 |
| 74 | Randall Hall | Rep | Wilton | 2018 | 2026 |
| 75 | Stephan M. Bunker | Dem | Farmington | 2024 | 2032 |
| 76 | Sheila Lyman | Rep | Livermore Falls | 2020 | 2028 |
| 77 | Tammy Schmersal-Burgess | Rep | Mexico | 2022 | 2030 |
| 78 | Rachel A. Henderson | Rep | Rumford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 79 | Michael J. Lance | Rep | Paris | 2024 | 2032 |
| 80 | Caldwell Jackson | Rep | Oxford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 81 | Peter Conley Wood | Rep | Norway | 2024 | 2032 |
| 82 | Nathan Wadsworth | Rep | Hiram | 2024 (2014–2022) | 2032 |
| 83 | Marygrace Caroline Cimino | Rep | Bridgton | 2024 | 2032 |
| 84 | Mark Walker | Rep | Naples | 2022 | 2030 |
| 85 | Kimberly Pomerleau | Rep | Standish | 2022 | 2030 |
| 86 | Rolf A. Olsen | Rep | Raymond | 2024 | 2032 |
| 87 | David Boyer | Rep | Poland | 2022 | 2030 |
| 88 | Quentin J. Chapman | Rep | Auburn | 2024 | 2032 |
| 89 | Adam R. Lee | Dem | Auburn | 2022 | 2030 |
| 90 | Laurel Libby | Rep | Auburn | 2020 | 2028 |
| 91 | Joshua Morris | Rep | Turner | 2018 | 2026 |
| 92 | Stephen J. Wood | Rep | Greene | 2022 (2010–2018) | 2030 |
| 93 | Julia A.G. McCabe | Dem | Lewiston | 2024 | 2032 |
| 94 | Kristen Cloutier | Dem | Lewiston | 2018 | 2026 |
| 95 | Mana Abdi | Dem | Lewiston | 2022 | 2030 |
| 96 | Michel Lajoie | Dem | Lewiston | 2022 (2008–2016) | 2030 |
| 97 | Richard G. Mason | Rep | Lisbon | 2017↑ | 2026 |
| 98 | Kilton M. Webb | Dem | Durham | 2024 | 2032 |
| 99 | Cheryl Golek | Dem | Harpswell | 2022 | 2030 |
| 100 | Daniel Ankeles | Dem | Brunswick | 2022 | 2030 |
| 101 | Poppy Arford | Dem | Brunswick | 2020 | 2028 |
| 102 | Melanie Sachs | Dem | Freeport | 2020 | 2028 |
| 103 | Arthur L. Bell | Dem | Yarmouth | 2020 | 2028 |
| 104 | Amy Arata | Rep | New Gloucester | 2018 | 2026 |
| 105 | Anne P. Graham | Dem | North Yarmouth | 2022 (2010–2014) | 2030 |
| 106 | Barbara Bagshaw | Rep | Windham | 2022 | 2030 |
| 107 | Mark C. Cooper | Rep | Windham | 2024 | 2032 |
| 108 | Parnell William Terry | Dem | Gorham | 2024 | 2032 |
| 109 | Eleanor Y. Sato | Dem | Gorham | 2024 | 2032 |
| 110 | Christina R.C. Mitchell | Dem | Cumberland | 2024 | 2032 |
| 111 | Amy Kuhn | Dem | Falmouth | 2022 | 2030 |
| 112 | W. Edward Crockett | Dem | Portland | 2018 | 2026 |
| 113 | Grayson Lookner | Dem | Portland | 2020 | 2028 |
| 114 | Dylan R. Pugh | Dem | Portland | 2024 | 2032 |
| 115 | Michael F. Brennan | Dem | Portland | 2018 (1992–2000) | 2026 |
| 116 | Samuel Zager | Dem | Portland | 2020 | 2028 |
| 117 | Matt Moonen | Dem | Portland | 2022 (2012–2020) | 2030 |
| 118 | Yusuf M. Yusuf | Dem | Portland | 2024 | 2032 |
| 119 | Charles Skold | Dem | Portland | 2022 | 2030 |
| 120 | Deqa Dhalac | Dem | South Portland | 2022 | 2030 |
| 121 | Christopher Kessler | Dem | South Portland | 2018 | 2026 |
| 122 | Matthew D. Beck | Dem | South Portland | 2024↑ | 2032 |
| 123 | Michelle Nicole Boyer | Dem | Cape Elizabeth | 2024 | 2032 |
| 124 | Sophia Warren | Dem | Scarborough | 2020 | 2028 |
| 125 | Kelly Noonan Murphy | Dem | Scarborough | 2022 | 2030 |
| 126 | Drew Gattine | Dem | Westbrook | 2022 (2012–2020) | 2030 |
| 127 | Morgan Rielly | Dem | Westbrook | 2020 | 2028 |
| 128 | Suzanne Salisbury | Dem | Westbrook | 2020 | 2028 |
| 129 | Marshall F. Archer | Dem | Saco | 2024 | 2032 |
| 130 | Lynn Copeland | Dem | Saco | 2020 | 2028 |
| 131 | Lori Gramlich | Dem | Old Orchard Beach | 2018 | 2026 |
| 132 | Ryan Fecteau | Dem | Biddeford | 2024 (2014–2022) | 2032 |
| 133 | Marc Malon | Dem | Biddeford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 134 | Traci Gere | Dem | Kennebunkport | 2020 | 2028 |
| 135 | Daniel Sayre | Dem | Kennebunk | 2022 | 2030 |
| 136 | John Eder | Rep | Waterboro | 2024 (2002–2006) | 2032 |
| 137 | Nathan Carlow | Rep | Buxton | 2020 | 2028 |
| 138 | Mark Blier | Rep | Buxton | 2018 | 2026 |
| 139 | David Woodsome | Rep | Waterboro | 2022 | 2030 |
| 140 | Wayne Parry | Rep | Arundel | 2020 (2010–2018) | 2028 |
| 141 | Lucas Lanigan | Rep | Sanford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 142 | Anne-Marie Mastraccio | Dem | Sanford | 2022 (2012–2020) | 2030 |
| 143 | Ann Fredericks | Rep | Sanford | 2022 | 2030 |
| 144 | Jeffrey S. Adams | Rep | Lebanon | 2022 | 2030 |
| 145 | Robert Foley | Rep | Wells | 2024 (2014–2018) | 2032 |
| 146 | Walter Runte | Dem | York | 2022 | 2030 |
| 147 | Holly Sargent | Dem | York | 2022 | 2030 |
| 148 | Thomas Lavigne | Rep | Berwick | 2022 | 2030 |
| 149 | Tiffany Roberts | Dem | South Berwick | 2018 | 2026 |
| 150 | Michele Meyer | Dem | Eliot | 2018 | 2026 |
| 151 | Kristi Mathieson | Dem | Kittery | 2020 | 2028 |
Non-voting members
edit| Representing | Representative | Party | Residence | First elected | Term-limited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passamaquoddy Tribe | Aaron M. Dana | Nptsn | Princeton | 2022 | ? |
| Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Vacant | ||||
| Penobscot Nation | Vacant |
↑ Member was first elected in a special election
Past composition of the House of Representatives
editNotable former members
edit- Augusta Kalloch Christie, first woman to serve in both houses of the Maine legislature, 1953-1961
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The seat of Rep.-elect Joe Perry, who declined to take the oath of office on December 4, 2024 after being nominated by Democrats in the Legislature to be Maine State Treasurer, to which post he was subsequently elected unanimously by joint ballot of the Legislature.
- ^ The Houlton Band of Maliseets and Penobscot Nation have both withdrawn their non-voting Representatives to the Maine House of Representatives.
- ^ a b Includes a Rep.-elect who declined to take the oath of office.
- ^ Rep.-elect Joe Perry (D-24) declined to take the oath of office after being nominated by Democrats in the Legislature to be Maine State Treasurer, to which post he was subsequently elected unanimously by joint ballot of the Legislature.
References
edit- ^ Bayly, Julia (January 26, 2012). "Houlton Maliseet, first elected tribal representative to Maine House, looking forward to session". Bangor Daily News.
- ^ Moretto, Mario (May 26, 2015). "Passamaquoddy, Penobscot tribes withdraw from Maine Legislature". Bangor Daily News.
- ^ "Tribal Representatives to the Maine Legislature, 1823 - | Maine State Legislature". legislature.maine.gov.
- ^ "Lawmaker's party switch gives Greens a seat in the Maine House". 22 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Maine House of Representatives". legislature.maine.gov.