BRUNSWICK — Democrats swept the area’s state House elections on Nov. 8, although only three of the five races were contested.

State Rep. Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry, D-Brunswick, will get a third term representing House District 49, after winning a rematch with Republican Michael Stevens by a vote of 3,953 to 2,037House District 49 includes a portion of Brunswick.

Rep. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, fended off a challenge from Topsham Republican Ruth Lyons, 3,102 to 2,836, to retain her House District 54 seat for a second term.

In Bath’s state House District 52, Rep. Jennifer DeChant, D-Bath, shook off a challenge from Republican Bil Weidner, 2,983 to 1,659.

First-term incumbent Reps. Ralph Tucker, D-Brunswick, and Joyce “Jay” McCreight, D-Harpswell, ran unopposed for re-election in House Districts 50 and 51, respectively.

House District 50 includes a portion of Brunswick, and House District 51 includes Harpswell, East Brunswick and West Bath.

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Daughtry

Daughtry, 29, was elected to the Legislature in 2012, and is  the youngest woman serving in the House. She is a photographer by trade.

“I think my biggest response is that I feel blessed and humbled by the voters of House District 49 for re-electing me to a third term,” Daughtry said Wednesday morning.

Although Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election cast gloom over her triumph, she said the scene at the polls Tuesday night was inspiring, particularly the civility and kindness of other candidates, regardless of party affiliations.

“As always, my hometown is a huge source of hope for me,” Daughtry said. She said she and Stevens, who was also her opponent in 2014, had a chance to speak amiably as the results came in Tuesday – about politics, and their shared love of dogs.

“A conservative running in Brunswick has about a snowball’s chance of hell of being successful,” Stevens said Wednesday morning.

DeChant

DeChant on Wednesday morning said she was “pleased with the results and honored by the opportunity to continue as state representative.”

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“Thank you to my opponent for a running a positive campaign,” she added.

Weidner, her opponent, conducted his first campaign for an elected office.

DeChant became executive director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center in 2013, following time as public relations manager for Sea Bags, a manufacturing company in Portland.

She was also chairwoman of the Sagadahoc County Democrats from 2000-04 and has served as treasurer of the Maine Democratic Party. She was a member of the Democratic National Committee from 2004-08 and one of Maine’s eight Democratic superdelegates in 2008.

DeChant served on the Judiciary Committee during her first term in the House, and the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee in her second term.

Tepler

Tepler said she “would like to thank the people of Topsham for their trust in sending me back to Augusta to represent them. I will work hard and continue to be responsive to their concerns. My opponent ran a clean and fair race and I would like to thank her as well.”

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Callie Ferguson can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or cferguson@theforecaster.net. Follow Callie on Twitter: @calliecferguson.

McCreight

Daughtry

Tucker

DeChant

Tepler


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