Chellie Pingree, whose political career began on North Haven, received the most votes in 10 out of Maine’s 15 island voting districts. Pingree lost her statewide race for the U.S. Senate to Susan Collins, of course, but Collins prevailed on only five islands – Swan’s, Long, Frenchboro, Great Diamond and Great Cranberry (one of two polling places in the Cranberry Isles) – while Pingree won everywhere else.
John Baldacci, the Democratic governor-elect, did better than Collins: he won his four-way race in 11 of the 15 island voting districts, including a 12-12 tie with Republican Peter Cianchette on Matinicus. Cianchette carried Long, Vinalhaven, Cliff, Chebeague and Great Diamond islands.
Jonathan Carter, the Green Independent candidate for governor, and John Michael, also an independent, carried no island towns at all.
Islands fall into both of Maine’s two congressional districts. Islands in the First District – Long, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Monhegan, Cliff, Chebeague, Peaks and Great Diamond – all favored Democrat Tom Allen, who was re-elected.
In the Second District, only Islesboro and Islesford voted for Democrat Mike Michaud, while Kevin Raye, the Republican, carried Swan’s, Frenchboro and Great Cranberry. Michaud was the eventual winner in the Second District race.
Islanders voted “no” on the bond issue for corrections facilities, except in Islesford in the Cranberries, and on Monhegan, where the vote was tied, 30-30.
The second bond issue on the statewide ballot, a list of 14 public works and environmental projects, passed everywhere but on Matinicus and Frenchboro.
A Constitutional amendment affecting the way the state Department of Transportation borrows money passed in all but three island communities (Frenchboro, Vinalhaven and Islesford) and tied 20-20 on Cliff Island.
The 15 island voting districts are Islesboro, Great Cranberry, Islesford, Swan’s, Long, Isle au Haut, Matinicus, North Haven, Vinalhaven, Monhegan, Cliff, Frenchboro, Chebeague, Peaks and Great Diamond.