Home Field Advantage?
When the 114th Congress convenes in a few days, Maine will be represented by one home-grown U.S. Representative: Waterville-born Republican Bruce Poliquin. With the departure of Millinocket-born Mike Michaud, who launched a failed gubernatorial bid, the Pine Tree State was poised to send a House delegation to D.C. without any Maine-born members for the first time since 1821. Three-term U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree (born in Minnesota) coasted to reelection as expected, however Poliquin edged Kentucky-born Emily Cain by 5.3 points to keep the streak alive. Since 1876, a total of 208 of the 222 candidates elected to the nation’s lower legislative chamber from the state have been born in Maine, or 94 percent.
Moreover, of the two U.S. Senators, one was born in Maine (Susan Collins) and one was not (Angus King), making the entire congressional delegation half native born Mainers and half (as people in Maine put it) From Away.