Learn what drove residents to the polls on Nov. 3
Voters had a lot on their minds on election day, from high fuel prices to housing to the tenor of politics today.
Nov. 4, 2026
The 2026 midterm election has come and gone. Campaign advertisements will screech to a halt. New faces will take office throughout the country. People around the nation were curious how Mainers would vote this November. The Rising Tide asked voters what brought them to the polls this year. The following reports were compiled by Steele Hays, Lydia Hart, Jessi Hardy, Hank Austin, John Epstein and John Boit.
Penobscot
Throughout the morning in Penobscot, a rural coastal town of 1,100 people, a steady stream of cars and trucks pulled into the parking lot of the polling station, located in the town’s fire station.
Mike, 74, and Susie Fay, 78, with their dog Sparkey in Penobscot. Photo by John Boit.
Rita Martynowski, the town clerk for Penobscot, said voting had been brisk since the polls opened at 8 a.m.
Basha Olson, 60, said she voted in the hopes of electing more truthful leaders.
“Things need to change here and we have to be here to help make a change,” said Olson, an independent voter. “I want to hear the truth from people and know they’ll be able to make it happen. We’re better people. We can all be better people.”
Mike and Susie Fay, who teach and play music up and down the Maine coast, arrived just before 9 a.m. to cast their votes.
“My big priority is get rid of the red, increase the blue, get rid of the president who is destructive in many ways,” said Susie, 78. “I think life will improve if we can afford it. Things are very unaffordable right now. We were working it out today and we’re surviving. But we’re the lucky ones.”
Mike, 74, a lifelong Democrat, agreed.
“The direction we’re going in is not healthy for our country, and I’m really concerned about that. I know little about Troy Jackson but I think that he is a lot less dangerous than Susan Collins. I think for a few reasons, her time is up.”
Brooklin
Jack Frake, 81, of Brooklin. Photo by Steele Hays.
Election officials in Brooklin reported a heavier-than-usual level of absentee voting in this general election. As of Tuesday morning, 246 absentee ballots had been turned in, 34 percent of Brooklin’s 720 registered voters, according to Town Clerk Heather Candage.
A steady flow of voters arrived at the town office between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., with light rain falling.
After casting her ballot, Elizabeth Whalen, 64, said her main concerns were “runaway inflation, the war in Iran, the handling of immigrants in an inhumane way and the leadership in all three branches of government. It’s … limp.”
Margery Irvine, 83, of Brooklin. Photo by Steele Hays.
Asked about her hopes for the election’s outcomes, she said: “Get out of a war and get new ethics standards and start taking care of each other.”
Every voter interviewed expressed concerns about inflation and the high costs of living.
“I feel like the rise in prices is a big concern, like for our heat source and housing,” said Krislyn Anderson, 33. “I would like to see our leaders have a plan for how to solve this.”
Most voters expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump and his policies.
“My top concern is getting rid of Trump,” said Jack Frake, 81. “I know–it will take a while. But I hope these election results will constrain him.”
“I try not to get my hopes up,” said Margery Irvine, 83, adding that she hoped for a Democratic wave. “I am fortunate in being able to heat my home and buy groceries. I am bothered by the immense corruption at the executive level, the grift. It’s like nothing I’ve seen in my lifetime.”
Sedgwick
High prices, the war in Iran and brutal treatment of immigrants by ICE were the top concerns on the minds of voters in Sedgwick, Maine, based on election day interviews at Sedgwick’s only polling place.
Election officials reported “a steady stream” of voters in the first two hours of voting, with all eight stations occupied by voters and short waiting lines at peak times.
Justine Sherwood, 28, of Sedgwick. Photo by Steele Hays.
“I am concerned about the increases in prices, the economy, the war, taxes and ICE. I’m very upset with what’s going on with ICE,” said Susan Porter, 77. “I’m hoping it will be a Democratic sweep, which will infuriate Trump and who knows what he will do.”
Jane Sargent, 89, said she was “most worried” about “protecting our democracy.”
“And I’m concerned about Susan Collins and her voting with Trump most of the time,” she said.
Justine Sherwood, 28, said “schools and the cost of housing” were her top concerns.
“It’s really hard for first-time home buyers to afford a home,” she said, adding that was one of her own challenges.
Blue Hill
At Blue Hill’s polling station, voters said the wave of negative political ads has been overwhelming and discouraging for both parties.
Kevin Ross, 62, of Blue Hill. Photo by Lydia Hart.
Kevin Ross, 62, spoke about feeling disheartened by the current state of the race, and voting for the candidate he described as “the least bad.”
“The things that appeal to me are people that are going to do the most for this community,” said Ross when asked what was on his mind as he entered the voting booth. “Generally speaking, I’m not crazy about what both parties have to offer. There was so much negative advertising by both sides that I was kind of disheartened.”
Other voters, like Stephen Lefkowitz, 34, saw voting as their chance to change the direction of the government.
“I’m not too into politics; I’m sort of the disillusioned generation,” Lefkowitz said. “But certainly I want to do my part and at least try to keep things going in the right direction. Because where we are right now is not exactly favorable.”
Surry
Voters in the town of Surry were enthusiastic about voting for their chosen political party, citing multiple issues as their reason for casting their ballots.
Local resident Mariana Reder, 61, hopes her vote will help improve the lives of Mainers.
“I really wanted America on the national scale and also on the local scale to be more mindful of what we are doing in terms of keeping the health of our constituents, both people and Earth, and looking ahead to healthcare in Maine and then also the educational systems,” Reder said.
Vicki Ouellette said the only thing on her mind as she went into the voting booth was “voting for Republicans.”
“I don't trust Democrats because I think they're running the country down,” Ouellette said. “They're the ones that let all them people in through the border, and that really irritated me.”
Stonington
Donna Brewer, 73, of Stonington. Photo by Jessi Hardy.
Raindrops didn’t keep Stonington residents away from the polls, as over 100 of the town’s 840 registered voters cast their ballots before 10 a.m.
Conversations hummed quietly near the entrance as neighbors greeted one another while waiting to receive their ballots.
Eighteen-year-old Marissa Clough voted for the first time and admitted feeling nervous.
“It’s kinda scary. I’ve never been here and don’t know how things go… I know I voted,” Clough said.
Resident Donna Brewer, 73, paused after casting her vote to reflect on the turnout.
“Because that's what democracy is all about,” Brewer said.
Deer Isle
Diana Lane, 38, of Deer Isle brought her daughters Ester, 10, and Emilia, 7. Photo by Jessi Hardy.
Voters lined up early at the Deer Isle Town House. Heather Cormier, the Deer Isle Tax Collector, noted that many people arrived at the door by 7:30 a.m. and waited until polls opened at 8 a.m.
Diana Lane, 38, brought her daughters Ester, 10, and Emilia, 7, to experience the voting process firsthand as an essential part of their homeschooling curriculum.
“Voting is civic exposure,” Lane said, emphasizing the importance of introducing youth to the election process early on.
Poll worker Kelly Pratt expressed relief while handing out ballots, looking forward to the end of election season and saying she was ready for the “ballots to end all the commercials.”
Orland
Voters in Orland gathered at the Orland Community Center on Tuesday to cast their ballots in Maine’s general election. One by one, a quiet stream of residents shuffled in.
One resident, Ed Hatch, said “I’m just hoping that everyone works together. I don’t have much faith in either side, but you gotta come out and vote.” He went on to say that most people and politicians alike only look out for themselves, but that he’s still hopeful for the future.
Other voters were more partisan about their thought process on election day.
“I always just vote Democrat,” Kyle Barry of Orland said. “But I’ll be honest, I don’t see Troy Jackson winning. It’s just that all the people out here in the woods seem to love Susan Collins.”
Brooksville
From dawn to dusk, a steady stream of Brooksville residents filed into the town office on Coastal Road to vote. According to Town Clerk Amber Bakeman, there were 858 registered voters in Brooksville, and she said at least 250 of the town’s citizens had already voted by early ballot.
On Nov. 3, voters were able to file in and quickly cast their ballots without a hitch.
“They run a good election here,” Joseph Devlin said, who voted just after 9 a.m. with his wife, Victoria. “I’m just glad it all will be over,” he said. “I’m sick of all the mudslinging from both sides.”
By 3 p.m., Brooksville’s election warden, Joanne Van der Eb, said close to 300 people had voted. She and Bakeman said today’s vote tally could end up being an historically large turnout.
