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King:
30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% >90% Summers: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% >90% Dill: 40–50% 60–70% >90% Tie: 30–40% 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2012 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Despite initially declaring her candidacy and being considered the favorite, popular incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe unexpectedly decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fourth term.
Independent former governor Angus King won the open seat with 52.9% of the vote against Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill. Following independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman's retirement from the Senate in 2013, King became the second independent incumbent U.S. Senator, after Vermont's Bernie Sanders. This was the first U.S. Senate race in Maine since 1988 that was not won by a Republican. This was also the first Senate election in the state since 1854 not won by a Democrat or Republican.
After being elected, King met with Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He then decided to caucus with the Democratic Party. This effectively gave the Democrats a 55–45 Senate majority due to the other independent, Bernie Sanders, caucusing with the Democrats as well.