Does this mean both House seats might be open?
Both House seats
are open. Meanwhile, former Governor Angus King (1995-2003) apparently considering running as 'moderate' independent. The Democratic field looks set; Governor Paul lePage apparently wants Peter Cianchette (2002 gubernatorial loser) to be the Republican nominee; Cianchette is considering, but state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin says he's 'likely'. Several other names are 'considering', including state Senate Majority Leader Kevin Raye (currently running in the 2nd), former Susan Collins CoS Steve Abbott (lost gubernatorial primary in 2010), and Secretary of State Charlie Summers, who did unexpectedly well in the 1st district in 2008. Cianchette is probably a more likely consensus candidate than Raye; a damaging three-way Democratic primary between Pingree, Michaud, and Baldacci seems guaranteed, so perhaps Cianchette could benefit from that. Alternatively, Republicans could match Democrats tit-for-tat in the field of damaging primaries. And, of course, King remains very popular.
