FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2010
Contact: Matthew Dunlap
207-626-8400

Secretary of State Dunlap Announces List of Primary Candidates

AUGUSTA, MAINE – Noting that today's deadline coincides with Maine Statehood Day, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced that 551 individuals have filed as candidates for the June 8, 2010 primary elections for various federal, state and county offices.

Filers included twelve candidates for Governor and four candidates for the United States House of Representatives.  Additionally, 426 candidates for the 186 seats in the Maine State Legislature submitted petitions. Of those 426 legislative candidates, 77 filed for the 35-member State Senate and 349 filed for the 151-member House.  There are also 109 candidates seeking various county offices.

The complete list of candidates who filed by today's deadline is available online for candidates list.

"This is an important moment in the 2010 election cycle.  Today's deadline establishes the pool of candidates for the June 8th primary election.  Voters can now evaluate the field of candidates and begin their decision-making process," Secretary Dunlap commented.  "Such a strong show of filings is a heartening reminder of the importance of democracy on this of all days, the anniversary of Maine 's admission to the Union."

Candidates seeking their party's nomination for county, state and Federal offices were required by law to obtain signatures from members of their political party in the district they wish to represent, to have those signatures verified by the clerks in those towns , and to submit the verified and duly notarized petitions to the Secretary of State prior to the close of business today, March 15, 2010.

The numbers of party signatures required for placement on the June ballot were as follows:

• Governor - 2,000
• Representative to Congress - 1,000
• State Senator - 100
• Representative to the Legistature - 25
• County Commissioner - 50
• Other County Officers - 150

The office of U.S. Senate is not up for election in Maine in 2010.

Candidates who are successful at obtaining their party's nomination in June will then appear on the November general election ballot.

Non-party candidates -- individuals not enrolled in a qualified political party -- have until June 1st to submit their signatures to appear on the November election ballot.  While they have longer to circulate petitions, and can collect them from any registered voter in the district they wish to represent regardless of party enrollment status, they must gather twice as many signatures.