The unofficial Portland primary results are in.
The Portland primary results are in. The most hotly contested race was for State Senate District 27 (West End, Parkside, East End, East Deering and Back Bay neighborhoods).
Former Senate President Justin Alfond was term-limited. This left an open seat that in all likelihood will be filled by a Democrat given the district’s demographics and voting history. Most would agree that the winner of the Democratic primary is the de facto winner of the seat.
Ben Chipman speaks to save India Street public health clinic in May 2016.
State Representative Ben Chipman ran against State Rep Diane Russell and newcomer Charles Radis. Ben Chipman won with 1778 votes (53%). Radis finished second with 797 votes (24%) and Diane Russell finished third with 770 votes (23%).
This race made headlines more than once. Diane Russell raised over $89,700 (the most ever for the district) and went on the attack with a plethora of negative mail pieces and robocalls.
In the general election this November Ben Chipman will face Republican Mark Lockman and Green Independent Seth Baker, who were unopposed in their respective primaries.
In another closely fought race for State Representative District 40 (Parkside, Bayside and Oakdale) former head of the Portland branch of the NAACP Rachel Talbot Ross won with 198 votes (38%). Previous Parkside State Rep Herb Adams received 171 votes (32%) and finished second. Clean Elections organizer Anna Kellar finished third with 156 votes (30%).
Meanwhile in Portland’s other Senate seat, District 28 representing the rest of Portland and part of Westbrook, the primary was contested by three experienced Democrats. Former Cumberland County sheriff and State Rep Mark Dion (551 votes, 49%) defeated City Councilor Jill Duson (478 votes, 43%) and former Westbrook Councilor and State Rep Ann Peoples (90 votes, 8%).
Mark Dion will face Republican Karen Usher of Westbrook in the general election.
On the East End labor activist Michael Sylvester (645 votes, 74%) defeated Andrew Edwards (26%). Mike Sylvester will go on to face perennial Republican candidate Peter Doyle.
