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Maine, State Representative, District 39

Maine House of Representatives District 39
Current incumbentMichael Sylvester Democratic Party

Maine's thirty-ninth state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Michael Sylvester.

Maine state representatives represent an average of 8,682 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 8,333 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Maine House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Maine legislators assume office after the first Wednesday in December after their election.

Qualifications

Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$10,131/year$38/day for lodging (or mileage and tolls up to $38/day in lieu of housing). $32/day for meals. Set by statute.

Term limits

The Maine legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Maine Term Limits Act in 1993. That initiative said that Maine representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1993 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 1996.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election and allow all political committees representing the vacant seat to set all deadlines. The person elected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Maine House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline is March 16, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for Maine House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Michael Sylvester (D) defeated Peter Doyle (R) in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 39 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Michael Sylvester (D)
86.6
4,270

Peter Doyle (R)
13.4
659

Total votes: 4,929
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 39

Incumbent Michael Sylvester advanced from the Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 39 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Michael Sylvester (D)
100
1,512

Total votes: 1,512
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 39

Peter Doyle advanced from the Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 39 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Peter Doyle (R)
100
156

Total votes: 156


2016

Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2016. Incumbent Diane Russell (D) did not seek re-election.

Michael Sylvester defeated Peter Doyle in the Maine House of Representatives District 39 general election.

Maine House of Representatives, District 39 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Michael Sylvester 82.29% 4,387
Republican Peter Doyle 17.71% 944
Total Votes 5,331
Source: Maine Secretary of State
Michael Sylvester defeated Andrew Edwards in the Maine House of Representatives District 39 Democratic primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 39 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Michael Sylvester 73.80% 645
Democratic Andrew Edwards 26.20% 229
Total Votes 874

Peter Doyle ran unopposed in the Maine House of Representatives District 39 Republican primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 39 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Peter Doyle (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 17, 2014. The deadline for write-in candidates to run in the primary election was April 28, 2014, and the deadline for non-party candidates to run in the general election was June 2, 2014. The deadline for write-in candidates to run in the general election was September 22, 2014. District 120 incumbent Diane Russell was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election. Ashley Ryan was unopposed in the Republican primary, but withdrew prior to the general election. Benjamin Schattenburg was unopposed in the Green Party primary but withdrew afterwards.

Maine House of Representatives District 39, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDiane Russell 63.3% 2,707
Green Lauren Besanko 23.9% 1,020
None Blank Votes 12.8% 547
Total Votes 4,274

2012

Elections for the office of Maine House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 12, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 15, 2012. Brian Duprey (R) defeated Kelly Bickmore (I) in the general election and was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 39, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Duprey 56.2% 3,046
Independent Kelly Bickmore 43.8% 2,374
Total Votes 5,420

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Maine House of Representatives District 39 raised a total of $124,939. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $5,432 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Maine House of Representatives District 39

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $6,027 3 $2,009
2014 $9,265 4 $2,316
2012 $10,183 3 $3,394
2010 $22,560 3 $7,520
2008 $43,260 4 $10,815
2006 $17,476 2 $8,738
2004 $10,347 2 $5,174
2002 $2,278 1 $2,278
2000 $3,543 1 $3,543
Total $124,939 23 $5,432