Mainers OK $120M in broadband, transportation bonds; Gideon to take on Collins

street intersection with roadside election placard

Photo / Peter Van Allen A sign in Yarmouth promoted Betsy Sweet, candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

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By Staff

By vast margins, Maine voters on Tuesday approved two referendums that will result in $120 million of state borrowing to improve broadband internet access and transportation infrastructure.

In other voting, Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon cruised to an easy victory in the state Democratic primary to take on U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Meanwhile, a three-way race in the Republican primary to oppose U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District, may be determined by a ranked-choice voting run-off.

Question 1 on the statewide ballot asked voters whether Maine should issue a $15 million bond to invest in high-speed internet infrastructure for unserved and underserved areas. The financing would be matched by $30 million in federal, private, local and other funds.

With 83% of precincts reporting, voters had approved the question by a 75.6% majority, 198,223 to 63,960.

In the only other statewide referendum, Mainers voted by an even larger majority to authorize a $105 million bond for upgrades to highways, bridges, airports, transit facilities and other transportation needs. The bond, which will get a match of $275 million from federal and other funds, received 77.7% of the ballots cast, 204,587 to 58,561, with 83% of precincts reporting.

Last November, Maine voters approved a similar transportation bond for roughly the same amount. The bond OK’d by voters Tuesday is the 11th transportation-related one approved by Mainers in a dozen years, according to Ballotpedia.

In a statement late Tuesday night, an advocacy group applauded the vote on the broadband bond.

“Question 1 will help our economy to recover from economic hardships caused by COVID-19, strengthen Maine’s rural economy and help families to connect to their jobs, schools and loved ones,” said Nick Battista, co-chair of the Yes on 1 for Better Internet campaign. “I want to thank all of our partners who supported this campaign, and the voters who made the decision to invest in better internet.”

Primaries

With 83% of precincts reporting, Freeport resident Gideon had tallied 96,546, or 70.4% of votes cast, in the Democractic primary. Betsy Sweet, former director of the Maine Women’s Lobby, had received 31,488, while attorney Bre Kidman garnered 9,193.

The 2nd District Republican primary appeared to be a closer contest. With 83% of precincts votes in, Dale Crafts had received 20,549, or 44.6% of the total; Adrienne Bennett had 14,939, or 32.4%; and Eric Brakey, 10,560, or 22.9%. Bennett and Brakey conceded their races Tuesday night, but since none of the candidates attained a majority vote, the primary may be determined by a retabulation under the state’s ranked-choice voting process.

Turnout at polls was light, according to many reports, because of stormy weather in some parts of Maine and absentee balloting in response to the pandemic.