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New Voting Rules Change the Game for Independents in Maine

by Shawn M. Griffiths, published





"I sum up my campaign in 5 words: 'Not a party line voter," he said in our one-on-one conversation. "That is what people are looking for."

There are three candidates in the November election for Maine's 1st Congressional District: Democrat Chellie Pingree (the incumbent), Republican Mark Holbrook, and Grohman.


However, the 2018 congressional races will be different in Maine. Gone is the choose-one voting method that causes issues like vote-splitting. Maine will make history by being the first state to use an alternative voting method -- ranked choice voting -- in the November elections for US House and Senate.


READ MORE: How Does Ranked Choice Voting Work?


"This is what ranked choice voting is built for, a race like mine with someone in the middle -- like myself -- and a very left and a very right candidate. So nobody has to say, 'I would vote for the moderate -- I would vote for the independent, but I don't want the Republican to win.' Or say, 'I would vote for Marty, but I don't want the Democrat to win.'" - Marty Grohman




Grohman is a two-term state legislator -- a former Democrat, who has name recognition in his own district. His website touts a bipartisan record that has earned him the ranking of most bipartisan legislator, and the title of "Legislator of the Year" by both the Maine Retail Association and the American Legion.

In previous interviews, he has said he wants to take this bipartisan approach to Washington -- citing the enormous challenges that Congress is failing to address and growing voter frustration.


This is not just a race for a voter's first choice, it is a race for their second choice as well. Denying the incumbent enough votes from her own party and outside her party would give the independent candidate a potential path to victory.

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