The Maine House of Representatives vote recounts requested by Republican incumbents Susan Morissette, of Winslow, and Ryan Harmon, of Palermo, are scheduled for Monday.

The votes in House District 54 race between Morissette and Democrat Catherine Nadeau, also of Winslow, will be recounted at 8:30 a.m.; and the votes in House District 45, involving Harmon and Democrat Brian Jones, of Freedom, will be recounted at 5:30 p.m., the Maine Secretary of State’s Office announced Wednesday.

Morissette asked for a recount after losing by 34 votes to Nadeau by an unofficial total of 2,176 to 2,142. The district also includes part of Benton.

Harmon lost by 33 votes to Jones by an unofficial tally of 2,252 to 2,219. The district also includes Burnham, Knox, Montville, Thorndike, Troy and Unity.

Secretary of state staff members and representatives from each candidate will review each ballot manually to find an official vote total. The recounts, open to the public, are held at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta. Maine State Police collect and secure district ballots for each recount.

Rep. Melvin Newendyke, R-Litchfield, retained his House District 80 seat at the end of a three-hour ballot recount Wednesday morning.

In the end, four votes made the difference.

The final official tally of ballots cast Nov. 6 in Litchfield, Monmouth and Wales showed Newendyke with 2,459 votes and Democratic challenger Rachel Sukeforth with 2,455 votes.

The recount finished in time for Newendyke, 70, to take his place at the Republican legislative caucus this afternoon at the State House.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.