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Maine, State Representative, District 52

Maine House of Representatives District 52
Current incumbentSean Paulhus Democratic Party

Maine's fifty-second state house district is represented by Democratic Representative Sean Paulhus.

Maine state representatives represent an average of 8,682 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 8,333 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Maine House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Maine legislators assume office after the first Wednesday in December after their election.

Qualifications

Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$10,131/year$38/day for lodging (or mileage and tolls up to $38/day in lieu of housing). $32/day for meals. Set by statute.

Term limits

The Maine legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Maine Term Limits Act in 1993. That initiative said that Maine representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1993 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 1996.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Governor must call for an election and allow all political committees representing the vacant seat to set all deadlines. The person elected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Maine House of Representatives will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline is March 16, 2020.

2019

A special election for Maine House of Representatives District 52 was called for April 2, 2019. Political parties in Maine had until February 22, 2019, to submit candidate nominations to the secretary of state.

The seat became vacant after Jennifer DeChant (D) resigned on February 1, 2019, to take a job in the private sector.

General election
Special general election for Maine House of Representatives District 52

Sean Paulhus (D) defeated Kenneth Sener (R) in the special general election for Maine House of Representatives District 52 on April 2, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes

Sean Paulhus (D)
66.5
975

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Kenneth Sener (R)
33.5
491

Total votes: 1,466


2018

General election
General election for Maine House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Jennifer DeChant (D) defeated Bil Weidner (R) in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 52 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jennifer DeChant (D)
71.6
2,959

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Bil Weidner (R)
28.4
1,173

Total votes: 4,132
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 52

Incumbent Jennifer DeChant advanced from the Democratic primary for Maine House of Representatives District 52 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Jennifer DeChant (D)
100
1,101

Total votes: 1,101
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 52

Bil Weidner advanced from the Republican primary for Maine House of Representatives District 52 on June 12, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Bil Weidner (R)
100
395

Total votes: 395


2016

Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2016.

Incumbent Jennifer DeChant defeated Bil Weidner in the Maine House of Representatives District 52 general election.

Maine House of Representatives, District 52 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jennifer DeChant Incumbent 64.45% 3,021
Republican Bil Weidner 35.55% 1,666
Total Votes 4,687
Source: Maine Secretary of State
Incumbent Jennifer DeChant ran unopposed in the Maine House of Representatives District 52 Democratic primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 52 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Jennifer DeChant Incumbent (unopposed)
Bil Weidner ran unopposed in the Maine House of Representatives District 52 Republican primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 52 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Bil Weidner (unopposed)


2014

Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014, and a general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for party candidates wishing to run in this election was March 17, 2014. The deadline for write-in candidates to run in the primary election was April 28, 2014, and the deadline for non-party candidates to run in the general election was June 2, 2014. The deadline for write-in candidates to run in the general election was September 22, 2014. District 62 incumbent Jennifer DeChant was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Ryan Daniels was unopposed in the Republican primary. DeChant faces Daniels in the general election.

Maine House of Representatives District 52, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngJennifer DeChant Incumbent 63.1% 2,435
Republican Ryan Daniels 32.6% 1,257
None Blank Votes 4.4% 169
Total Votes 3,861

2012

Elections for the office of Maine House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 12, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 15, 2012. Incumbent Deborah Sanderson (R) defeated Elizabeth Miller (D) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.

Maine House of Representatives, District 52, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDeborah Sanderson Incumbent 51.5% 2,343
Democratic Elizabeth Miller 48.5% 2,203
Total Votes 4,546

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Maine House of Representatives District 52 raised a total of $110,198. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $5,510 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Maine House of Representatives District 52

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $10,428 2 $5,214
2014 $4,582 2 $2,291
2012 $19,933 2 $9,967
2010 $10,812 2 $5,406
2008 $9,902 2 $4,951
2006 $14,522 2 $7,261
2004 $13,637 3 $4,546
2002 $12,924 2 $6,462
2000 $13,458 3 $4,486
Total $110,198 20 $5,510