November 6, 2026

Many incumbents fall in general election races

By Ed Pierce

It was not politics as usual in the 2026 general election as incumbents were ousted in Windham and Raymond and referendums proposed by the Windham Town Council were defeated.

Republican State Rep. Barbara Bagshaw, who had served in the Maine House for two terms, lost by 139 votes to Democrat Bradley Youngs for the right to represent part of Windham in the House District 106 race. Youngs, a former golf professional, restaurant manager, stay-at-home father, received 2,637 votes to Bagshaw’s 2,498.

Democrat Joseph Campbell also won the Maine House District 107 seat representing part of Windham by defeating incumbent Republican Mark Cooper. Campbell, a substitute teacher, received 2,631 votes to Cooper’s 2,318.

In Raymond, Democrat Abigail Geer leads incumbent Republican Rolf Olsen by 30 votes with 98.2 percent of voting reported for the House District 86 seat, representing Raymond, Casco, Frye Island, and Poland. Geer, a community organizer, received 2,536 votes to Olsen’s 2,506. If that margin holds, Olsen could request a formal recount.

For State Senate District 26, representing Windham, Raymond, Casco, Frye Island and part of Westbrook, incumbent Democrat Tim Nangle won a third term defeating Republican challenger Kenneth Cianchette. Nangle, an IT Help Desk lead, received 11,307 votes to Cianchette’s 7,876.

In a statement to the press, Nangle said he was ready to get back to work in Augusta on behalf of his constituents.

“I’m honored that the people of Senate District 26 are once again trusting me to fight for them in Augusta,” Nangle said. “I’m ready to get back to work to lower costs for Maine’s working families and seniors, defend our rights and freedoms and build a strong future for the state we all love.”

State legislators will be sworn in on Dec. 2 with the 133rd Maine Legislature convening in Augusta on Jan. 8, 2027.

The top two recipients receiving the most votes out of four candidates were elected to RSU 14 Board of Director positions representing Windham for three-year terms. Winning re-election to the RSU 14 Board was incumbent Marge Govoni, who received 3,769 votes. Also winning a RSU 14 Board position was Megan Potter, a Case Manager Lead, who received 3,617 votes. Incumbent Joseph Kellner was third with 3,266 votes and Adam Zajac was fourth with 3,223 votes.

Two unopposed candidates were elected for three-year terms to serve on the Windham Town Council. Mark Cobb, a business owner, and incumbent Mark Morrison, a financial advisor, will be sworn in by Windham Town Clerk Anthony Blasi. Morrison received 7,068 votes to represent Windham’s East District on the council. Cobb received 7,629 votes to serve in an at-large position on the council.

Both Windham Town Council and RSU 14 Board of Directors positions are non-partisan.

In Cumberland County races, incumbent sheriff Kevin Joyce was unopposed for re-election as was Probate Judge Paul Aranson and both will continue to serve in those roles following the election.

With about 89.2 percent of precincts reporting, incumbent Cumberland County District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris was leading Stephanie Anderson by more than 36,000 votes and appears to have won re-election for a second term.

In Windham, three referendum measures were rejected by voters.

The first referendum would have modified the Windham Town Charter to scrap the annual town meeting held every June on a Saturday where the municipal budget is discussed and voted on by residents. It would have changed municipal budget approval to a public vote held on Maine Primary Day on the second Tuesday in June coinciding with the annual RSU 14 school budget voting. Voters defeated the proposal with 5,637 voting no and 3,821 voting yes. 

The second referendum would have raised the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending from $25,000 to $500,000. Windham Town Councilors said this measure would give the council flexibility in presenting either a single up‑or‑down budget vote or departmental line items. They said raising the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending would have allowed the council to approve purchases up to a $500,000 limit without going to a town-wide vote for approval. Councilors said this measure is currently being used by surrounding towns and the current limit of $25,000 no longer provides for emergency operations or acquisitions in a meaningful way. Voters defeated this proposal with 5,310 voting no and 3,943 voting yes.

The third referendum asked if the town should purchase Windham Middle School for $1 from RSU 14 once it becomes vacant in the fall of 2027 and then repurpose the building into a Community Center and housing for town offices and the Windham Public Library. The cost would be estimated at $19.5 million by issuing general obligation bonds for the project and includes design work, engineering, professional services, site preparation, construction, renovation, operating expenses, and other improvements and furnishings as may be required in connection with the project. The proposal included leveraging up to $2 million of the town fund balance as the Windham Town Council deems reasonable and necessary to reduce the borrowing amount and directly pay costs of the project. Voters defeated this proposal with 5,267 residents voting no and 4,548 voting yes.

Despite the Community Center referendum failing, the Town of Windham does retain the right of first refusal for the purchase of the Windham Middle School building once it is vacant. <

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