STAFF REPORT

Two Waterville House candidates and a Somerset County Senate candidate are among those who have officially dropped out of their races for the Maine Legislature.

Monday was the deadline to withdraw from the races to give the parties time to name replacement candidates, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Statewide, five Senate candidates and 43 House candidates have withdrawn. In November, all 186 House and Senate races will be on the ballot.

In Waterville, Republicans Robert Neal Patterson, District 76, and Alek Fortier, District 77, have dropped out of their races.

Thomas Munson, a Fairfield Democrat, has withdrawn from Senate District 26, which covers 27 towns in Somerset County. Democrats who live in those towns are scheduled to meet Sunday to choose a new candidate to face Sen. Rodney Whittemore, R-Skowhegan, in November.

In China, Helen Hanson, a Democrat, has dropped out of the House District 55 race.

Two other central Maine Democrats have also withdrawn from local House races, Margaret Allen of Madison and Daniel DiPompo of Jay.

On Monday, Augusta Republicans chose Matthew Pouliot as a replacement candidate in the House District 57 race. Democrats in that district are scheduled to meet at 6:30 tonight in Augusta City Hall to choose their candidate.

Former Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, is running for the nomination and Monica Castellanos, who previously worked nine years as 2nd District U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud’s communications director, has expressed interest as well.

Next week, Republicans are scheduled to pick a new candidate in the Senate District 21 race to replace Sen. Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Manchester Fire Station. Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, will face Ryan Wheaton, a Republican from West Gardiner.

Parties have until Monday, July 23, to name new candidates for the general election vote.

Copy the Story Link