Republicans have picked up another Maine House seat following a special election in the Midcoast.
Republican Abden Simmons defeated Democrat Wendy Pieh on Tuesday in a race for House District 45, which encompasses Waldoboro, Washington, Bremen, Friendship and Louds Island Township. According to the Bangor Daily News, Simmons received 52.2% of the vote.
Simmons is a commercial fisherman who previously served one term in the House. He will fill the seat vacated by Democrat Clinton Collamore, who resigned earlier this year after being charged with forging signatures to qualify for public campaign financing. Simmons' victory will give Republicans one more vote in the House, but it won't affect the balance of power because Democrats still hold 81 of the 151 seats.
