Somerville Democrat Chris Johnson won the Feb. 14 special election for the vacant State Senate District 20 seat, defeating Waldoboro Republican Dana Dow 3368 votes to 2902.
Dow called Johnson shortly after 10 p.m. to congratulate him and concede the election.
Dow, the current House District 50 representative, was making a bid to return to the senate seat he held for two terms before retiring from the senate in 2008.
Johnson was making his second bid for the office, having previously mounted a campaign for the seat in 2010.
“I think this speaks volumes to the level of commitment of people in the district in believing we need change,” Johnson said. “We need to get Augusta working again on the problems most important to them like jobs and getting money in their pockets again to spend on the local economy.”
Johnson credited his victory to the many people who volunteered their time on his campaign. At least 75 people volunteered for his campaign effort, Johnson said; doing things like making phone calls and signs, coordinating press and Meet the Candidate events, and driving him around the district introducing him to voters as he mounted an aggressive door-to-door campaign.
“It’s really amazing because so many dedicated their time,” Johnson said. “It was a real groundswell of people deciding to stand up and work for something they believe in. It will be a pleasure to go to Augusta and work for those beliefs; representing those people.”
“My Lincoln County people worked very, very hard,” Dow said. “I feel bad they are disappointed. I don’t feel bad for myself.”
“I would simply say this vote represents a referendum on the governor and maybe the budget we are trying to get passed. That might have something to do with it,” Dow said. “I don’t feel it’s a referendum on Dana Dow. It’s bigger than that. When people are looking for change, anything can happen.”
Immediately after the vote, Dow said he was considering returning to private life at the end of his current term. He noted he is already a month behind schedule declaring for the House Race. Nobleboro Republican Henry Simmons and Jefferson Democrat Joel Pitcher have filed papers declaring their candidacies for Dow’s House District 50 seat.
“Running for office is a public service and I have done my part,” Dow said. “I am thankful they put me in office to do that for a while and now maybe it’s time for someone else to do it. I am very thankful.”
Dow said he plans to talk with his wife before he makes any long-term plans. He ruled out running for the District 20 Senate seat again this fall. “I will complete this term and I will make a decision on my political future in the next few days,” he said.
State Senate District 20 includes all of Lincoln County, except for Dresden, plus the towns of Windsor, Washington and Friendship.
