PORTLAND — Well-known legislators overwhelmingly captured Portland’s two seats in the state Senate Tuesday, based on unofficial results released late in the evening.

Two-term incumbent Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, defeated Green Independent Asher Platts in the race for District 8, 12,491 to 5,124.

The district includes the peninsula, the islands and the University of Southern Maine neighborhood, as well as the western neighborhoods along Congress Street and Brighton Avenue to the Westbrook city line.

Alfond is a real estate and business entrepreneur who founded Bayside Bowl, an upscale bowling alley, restaurant and music space on Alder Street.

In the senate, he serves as assistant Democratic leader. He also chairs the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, whose accomplishments have included setting a 90 percent graduation rate for Maine high schools by 2016.

In the race for the District 9 seat, Rep. Anne Haskell, D-Portland, cruised to victory over Republican Kirsten Martin, 11,183 to 3,914.

Haskell will replace Sen. Joseph Brannigan, D-Portland, who did not seek re-election. Martin’s husband, Jeff, ran unsuccessfully against Brannigan in 2010.

District 9 covers the Back Cove, Deering, North Deering and East Deering neighborhoods, and part of Westbrook.

Haskell is a six-term state representative, now finishing her third term representing state House District 117. She also represented Gorham in the House for three terms, beginning in 1988.

William Hall can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 106 or whall@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @hallwilliam4.

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