The Hill’s 50 races to watch

Maine Senate

Angus King (I) vs Cynthia Dill (D) vs Charles Summers (R)

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) stunned Washington in February when she announced her retirement.

But her decision was seen as good news for the Democrats, who believed they had a strong chance of picking up the seat in the blue-leaning state.

Throwing a wrench into Democratic plans, however, was former Gov. Angus King, who decided to run for the seat as an independent. While King is predicted to caucus with the Democrats if he wins (and he’s currently favored for victory), he’s said he would consider going with Republicans if they win control of the upper chamber.

The dynamics of the race have kept the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) quiet about the party’s own nominee, Cynthia Dill, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee has hammered the party on its silence.

But when polls showed King dropping 

5 to 10 points in late September, the DSCC dropped $410,000 into the race to run attack ads against Republican Charles Summers. Meanwhile, Republicans have dropped almost $2 million into the contest to boost their nominee.

The Hill rates this race as leaning Democrat on the premise King will caucus with that party if elected. 

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