2019 Portland, Maine mayoral election

The 2019 Portland, Maine mayoral election was held on November 5, 2019.[1] It was the third election to be held since Portland voters approved a citywide referendum changing the city charter to recreate an elected mayor position in 2010.[2]

2019 Portland, Maine mayoral election

November 5, 2019
 
Candidate Kate Snyder Spencer Thibodeau
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round count 7,119 (39.33%) 5,110 (28.23%)
Final round count 10,460 (61.89%) 6,442 (38.11%)

 
Candidate Ethan Strimling Travis Curran
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
First round count 4,575 (25.28%) 1,296 (7.16%)
Final round count eliminated eliminated

Mayor before election

Ethan Strimling
Nonpartisan

Elected Mayor

Kate Snyder
Nonpartisan

Kate Snyder, the newly citizen-elected mayor, won a four-year term in the full-time position, and will exercise the powers and duties enumerated in Article II Section 5 of the Portland City Charter.[3] She was elected using ranked choice voting.[4] With rest of the elected municipal government in Portland, the post is officially non-partisan.[5] Incumbent Mayor Ethan Strimling running for re-election,[6] was challenged by city councilor Spencer Thibodeau, former Portland School Board Chair Kate Snyder and East End resident Travis Curran.[7]

Every candidate running for Mayor in the heavily Democratic city was a registered member of the Maine Democratic Party.

Candidates

Declared

  • Travis Curran, waiter, East End resident[7]
  • Kate Snyder, nonprofit executive, former Chair of the Portland School Board, Oakdale resident[8]
  • Ethan Strimling, incumbent mayor, West End resident[6]
  • Spencer Thibodeau, real estate lawyer, City Councilor for District 2, Parkside resident[9]

Failed to qualify for ballot

  • Mark Hodgdon, Libbytown resident[10]
  • Ronald E. Gordius III, West Bayside resident[10]
  • Thaddeus St. John, businessman, Munjoy Hill resident[10][11]

Withdrawn

  • Justin Costa, City Councilor for District 4 and East Deering resident[12]
  • Belinda Ray, City Councilor for District 1 and East Bayside resident[13]
  • Joseph Bernatche, Riverton resident, Army veteran[7][10]

Campaign

Endorsements

Belinda Ray (withdrawn)
Individuals
Kate Snyder
Individuals
  • Kim Cook, Portland City Councilor[15]
  • Justin Costa, Portland City Councilor (also endorsed Thibodeau)[12]
  • John Spritz, Co-Founder, Back Cove Neighborhood Association[16]
Media outlets
Ethan Strimling
Governors
Mayors
State legislators
Municipal officials
  • Pious Ali, Portland City Councilor[19]
  • Marshall Archer, Saco City Councilor[18]
  • Tim Atkinson, Member of the Portland Board of Education[19]
  • Deqa Dhalac, South Portland City Councilor[19]
  • Emily Figdor, Member of the Portland Board of Education[6]
  • Thomas Kane, former Mayor of Portland (1998–1999)[22]
  • Micky Bondo M'bambi, Member of the Portland Board of Education[19]
  • Marianne Morrione, Member of the Portland Board of Education[6]
  • Roberto Rodriguez, Chair of the Portland Board of Education[19]
  • Nasir Shir, Member of the Cape Elizabeth School Board[18]
Other individuals
Organizations
  • Maine People's Alliance[22]
  • Progressive Portland[23]
Trade unions
Spencer Thibodeau
Former Portland mayors
  • Michael F. Brennan, State Representative (1992–2000; 2018–present), former State Senator (2002–2006), former Mayor of Portland (2011–2015)[22]
  • Jim Cohen, former Mayor of Portland (2005–2006)[22]
  • Philip J. "Jack" Dawson, former Mayor of Portland (1986–1987; 1995–1996)[22]
  • Karen Geraghty, former Mayor of Portland (2001–2002)[22]
  • Cheryl Leeman, former Mayor of Portland (2000–2001)[22]
  • Pamela Plumb, former Mayor of Portland (1981–1982)[22]
  • Anne B. Pringle, former Mayor of Portland (1993–1994)[22]
  • Nathan Smith, former Mayor of Portland (2003–2004)[22]
City councilors
  • Brian Batson, Portland City Councilor[15]
  • Justin Costa, Portland City Councilor (also endorsed Snyder)[12]
  • Jill Duson, Portland City Councilor, former Mayor of Portland[15]
  • Nicholas Mavodones, Portland City Councilor, former Mayor of Portland[15]
  • Belinda Ray, Portland City Councilor [15]
Other individuals
Organizations
  • Portland Police Benevolent Association[24]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Travis
Curran
Kate
Snyder
Ethan
Strimling
Spencer
Thibodeau
Change Research October 4-6, 2019 347 ±5% 5% 24% 29% 29%

Results

The official election results were:[27]

Portland, Maine mayoral election, 2019
Party Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes %
Non-partisan Kate Snyder 7,119 39.33% + 458 7,577 42.08% + 2,883 10,460 61.89%
Non-partisan Spencer Thibodeau 5,110 28.23% + 164 5,274 29.29% + 1,168 6,442 38.11%
Non-partisan Ethan Strimling 4,575 25.28% + 580 5,155 28.63% - 5,155 Eliminated
Non-partisan Travis Curran 1,296 7.16% - 1,296 Eliminated
Total votes 16,902 100.0%

Notes

    References

    1. The U.S. Conference of Mayors: Meet the Mayors Archived 2015-04-13 at the Wayback Machine, The U.S. Conference of Mayors
    2. Maine Voices | Why Portland doesn't have an elected mayor by Abraham Peck, Portland Press Herald, September 27, 2010
    3. Portland City Charter Archived 2011-09-08 at the Wayback Machine SEE: Article II Section 5. Mayor’s powers and duties.
    4. Ranked Choice Voting City of Portland, Maine
    5. Portland, Maine, to get popularly elected mayor Boston Globe, November 4, 2010
    6. "Ethan Strimling Results That Matter". June 12, 2019.
    7. Zeli, Anthony (July 22, 2019). "Justin Costa Withdraws from Mayor's Race – Endorses Two Candidates (Hint: Neither is Mayor Ethan Strimling)". West End News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
    8. Billings, Randy (March 26, 2019). "Former school board chair announces run for Portland mayor". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 14, 2019. City Councilors Justin Costa, Belinda Ray and Spencer Thibodeau have already made announcements.
    9. Billings, Randy (January 9, 2019). "Portland councilor becomes first to say he'll run to challenge Strimling for mayor". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
    10. "Nominating Papers Taken Out". August 23, 2019.
    11. Lusignan, Kate (July 15, 2019). "Millennial entrepreneur enters race for Portland mayor". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
    12. Billings, Randy (July 12, 2019). "Justin Costa drops out of Portland mayoral race". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
    13. Billings, Randy (June 24, 2019). "Councilor Belinda Ray drops out of Portland mayor's race". Portland Press Herald.
    14. "Portland Councilor Ray announces mayoral bid". The Forecaster. February 4, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
    15. "Five of 7 fellow councilors endorse Spencer Thibodeau for Portland mayor". pressherald.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
    16. "Team - Kate for Mayor".
    17. "Our Endorsement: Kate Snyder is Our Choice for Mayor". Portland Press Herald. October 17, 2019.
    18. "Endorsements - Mayor Ethan Strimling".
    19. "Over 20 current and former elected officials, including most of the Portland School Board endorse Mayor Strimling's re-election" (PDF).
    20. Emerson, Anthony [@AnthonyEmerso14] (May 23, 2019). "In a twist I did not see coming, NYC Mayor and Presidential candidate @BilldeBlasio has endorsed Ethan Strimling for Mayor of Portland #mepolitics" (Tweet) via Twitter.
    21. "Looking Forward — Mayor Ethan Strimling".
    22. Billings, Randy (October 18, 2019). "Thibodeau endorsed by 11 former mayors, including 3 who supported Strimling in last election". Portland Press Herald.
    23. Harry, David (January 22, 2019). "Portland mayor's unofficial campaign draws $42K in contributions, Progressive Portland endorsement". The Forecaster. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
    24. Billings, Randy (October 2, 2019). "Portland's First Responders Take Opposing Sides In Mayoral Race". Portland Press Herald.
    25. "Southern Maine Labor Council Endorses Strimling for Mayor of Portland" (PDF).
    26. "Coming Soon". www.spencerthibodeau.com.
    27. "Offcial Elections Results for General Election 11-5-2019". portlandmaine.gov. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
    Official campaign websites
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