Rep.-elect Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddford, was chosen Wednesday to be the next speaker of the House. The 32-year-old served as speaker from 2020-22 but could not seek reelection two years ago because of term limits. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

AUGUSTA — House Democrats voted Wednesday to tap Rep.-elect Ryan Fecteau as the next speaker.

The 32-year-old from Biddeford served as speaker of the House from 2020-22 but could not seek reelection two years ago because of term limits.

Fecteau said in an interview Wednesday that Maine Democrats have mixed emotions about the 2024 elections. They maintained control of both the state House and Senate – albeit with smaller majorities – for the last two years of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills’ term in office. But they also are reeling from Donald Trump being elected as president again and the Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate. Republicans are also expected to hold the U.S. House of Representatives.

“For a lot of people, there was a sense of surprise and a sense of hurt in some ways, trying wrestle with these national results and what they mean for us here in Maine,” Fecteau said. “What do they mean for women and LGBTQ families and people of color?

“I think what we have to do over these next few years is make sure Maine remains a place that has values that are focused on protecting people – protecting our individual freedom, making sure that we’re working on the issues that people care about.”

Fecteau became a housing adviser for Mills after his last term in the Legislature and now works as senior officer of planning and partnerships at Avesta Housing, an affordable housing developer. He will replace outgoing House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, who was termed out of the House and instead elected to the Senate.

During his first term as speaker, Fecteau was known for running a tight ship, ensuring bills moved efficiently through committee and floor votes. When he was sworn in, he was the youngest presiding officer in the United States.

Last session, Republicans and some Democrats groused about how the House was run, including delayed starts and important bills stacking up on the House calendar for floor votes.

Republicans also complained about being cut out of the budget process, with Democrats passing majority baseline budgets early in the session and then making additional changes later. Democrats said they passed majority budgets to ensure Republicans wouldn’t shutdown the government – something the minority claims was never a consideration.

Rep. Ryan Fecteau, who was chosen to be the next Speaker of the House, speaks with David Rollins, D-Augusta, during a break in the session on Wednesday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Fecteau said he will try to build trust with Republicans.

“That’s my intention as speaker – to make sure we build that trust across the aisle so when we walk out of that chamber, everyone feels like they had a chance to have a voice and that they were respected in the process,” he said. “We need to make sure, as we have done before, that people feel that the work we do here is productive, that we’re respecting people’s time and that we’re delivering results for the Maine people.”

Pending any changes from a handful of recounts, Democrats expect to have 77 seats in the 151-seat House, while Republicans expect to have 72, though one House race is currently tied. Two other seats went to independents who ran against Republicans.

Rep. Ryan Fecteau, who was chosen to be the next Speaker of the House, steps onto the balcony during a break in the session of Wednesday. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Fecteau said it’s too soon to identify legislative priorities of his caucus. But he said voters were clearly motivated by pocketbook issues and expect lawmakers to tackle things like easing the housing crunch, addressing the affordability of child care and maintaining progress on  climate change.

With Republicans in control of Washington, Maine won’t be able to rely on as much federal funding to help with these initiatives, he said.

“Maine people still expect us to address these problems,” he said. “We have to figure out how we’re going to do so with limited resources.”

Rep. Matt Moonen, D-Portland, was chosen as majority leader and Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard Beach, was chosen to become assistant majority leader.