The Maine governor’s race will almost certainly be a three-way contest this November, featuring independent Rick Bennett along with the winners of next week’s Republican and Democratic primaries.

Bennett, a longtime lawmaker from Oxford and former Maine Republican Party chairperson, is the only unenrolled candidate to qualify for the November ballot in the race, according to a list of qualified non-party candidates released by the Maine Department of the Secretary of State.

Another independent, John Glowa, Sr., submitted signatures but did not qualify for the ballot. Glowa has the chance to appeal, meaning there is a small chance he could still qualify and change the final lineup for the November ballot, according to the department.

Bennett will face the winners of next week’s primaries, which feature five Democrats and seven Republicans all vying to succeed outgoing Gov. Janet Mills, who is term-limited.

Bennett, a moderate who recently sided with Democrats in the Legislature on issues such as the rights of transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports and not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, unenrolled from the Republican party last year as he announced a run for governor.

“From Fort Kent to Fryeburg, Calais to Kittery, Mainers came together because they believe our state deserves independent leadership grounded in integrity, common sense, and results,” Bennett said in a written statement last month, when his campaign turned in over 4,000 voter signatures to the state in order to gain ballot access.

“I’m deeply grateful to every person who collected signatures, opened doors, hosted events, and helped us earn a place on the ballot,” Bennett said. “This campaign is truly powered by the people of Maine.”

Bennett’s candidacy could factor significantly into the outcome of the governor’s race. Though he lags the top Republicans and Democrats in fundraising, he’s raised more than several of the Republican candidates, and has a lengthy resume in business and politics.

Maine history is also favorable to independents. The state has elected two independent governors in its history: James Longley, who served from 1975 to 1979, and Angus King, who is now a U.S. senator and who served from 1995 to 2003.

Maine’s ranked-choice voting system, which is used in state primaries, does not apply in November’s general election, meaning it will be possible for a candidate in this year’s three-way race to win with less than 50% of the vote — as former Gov. Paul LePage did in 2010 and 2014.

In response to a proposal from lawmakers, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled in April that an expansion of ranked-choice voting to the general election would violate the Maine Constitution, which says the governor must be the candidate who earns the most votes.