The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010. The candidates who appeared on the November ballot were (in alphabetical order by last name): Eliot Cutler (Independent), Paul LePage (Republican), Libby Mitchell (Democrat), Shawn Moody (Independent), and Kevin Scott (Independent).
With 94% of precincts reporting on the day after the election, the Bangor Daily News declared LePage the winner, carrying 38.1% of the votes. Cutler was in second place with 36.7% of the votes (less than 7,500 votes behind LePage), while Mitchell was a distant third with 19%. Moody and Scott had 5% and 1%, respectively. Two days after the election, with 99% of precincts reporting, LePage's lead over Cutler had widened to more than 10,000 votes. This election was the first since 1990 that Republicans won a gubernatorial election in Maine.
Democratic primary
Candidates
On ballot
Patrick K. McGowan, former State Conservation Commissioner
Elizabeth "Libby" Mitchell, President of the Maine Senate and candidate for U. S. Senate in 1984 Steven Rowe, former Maine Attorney General and former state representative Rosa Scarcelli, business owner
Write-in
Donna Dion, former Mayor of Biddeford. Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures, but continued her campaign in the primary as a write-in candidate.
Withdrawn
Dawn Hill, State Representative. Hill withdrew from the race on January 1, 2010, citing the crowded field of candidates. John G. Richardson, former Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and former Speaker of the House. Richardson withdrew from the race on April 26 amid allegations that some of his campaign workers had not followed proper procedures for collecting donations to qualify him for Maine Clean Election funding. The primary ballots had already been printed before Richardson withdrew from the race, so Richardson's name appeared on the ballot even though he was no longer a candidate. Peter Truman (also known as Peter Throumoulos), former state representative and convicted forger. Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures.
Declined
Brian Bolduc, state representative
Tom Allen, former U.S. Representative
Polling
Results
At 11:32 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Libby Mitchell the winner of the Democratic primary.
Republican primary
Candidates
On ballot
Steve Abbott, former chief of staff for Senator Susan Collins
William Beardsley, former president of Husson University
Matt Jacobson, president of Maine & Company, a private business attraction organization; former President of the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad Paul LePage, Mayor of Waterville and general manager of Marden's Surplus & Salvage store chain Peter Mills, State Senator and candidate for governor in 2006 Les Otten, founder of American Skiing Company and former Boston Red Sox co-owner Bruce Poliquin, business owner/manager and economist
Declined
Peter Cianchette, United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and 2002 Republican nominee for governor Kevin Raye, State Senate Minority Leader Josh Tardy, State House Minority Leader
Polling
Results
At 11:19 p.m. EDT, WCSH declared Paul LePage the winner of the GOP primary.
Independents
Candidates on the ballot
Eliot Cutler, attorney, former staff member for U.S. Senator Edmund Muskie, and former adviser to President Jimmy Carter Shawn Moody, business owner Kevin L. Scott, business owner
Write-in candidates
John Jenkins, former state senator, former mayor of both Auburn and Lewiston, and a 2002 gubernatorial candidate. Jenkins, who won his most recent mayoral campaign by write-in, declared he would run for Governor of Maine if 5,000 people followed his Facebook fan page within 45 days. Beverly Cooper-Pete. Did not appear on the ballot due to lack of petition signatures, but continued her campaign as a write-in candidate.
Disqualified candidates
Alex Hammer, business owner and self-published author. Did not appear on the ballot due to not meeting the deadline for turning in petition signatures. Hammer attempted to turn in some of the signatures electronically, but the Secretary of State ruled that such methods were not allowed. Hammer filed suit to appear on the ballot in Penobscot County Superior Court on June 28, 2010. On September 28, 2010, the judge upheld the Secretary of State's decision.