Maine primary results lagged beyond 12 hours because multiple contests use ranked-choice voting. No winner yet for governor GOP and Dem primaries or the Democratic congressional race. Law enforcement must collect paper ballots and memory sticks from all 487 municipalities and deliver to Augusta, the most time‑consuming step. The process also includes scanning ballots from jurisdictions lacking electronic tabulators.

About 80% of ballots were counted by Wednesday morning, faster than California but slower than South Carolina’s 95% pace. Candidates acknowledged the timeline; Democrat Joe Baldacci warned results could take days, while Republican Bobby Charles leads early but still faces an instant runoff. Lawyers and watchdog groups will monitor the count for any procedural challenges. Officials expect all tabulation finished before Juneteenth on June 19.

The delay matters to investors watching Maine’s Senate race, where Democrat Graham Platner challenges long‑time Republican Susan Collins. Prolonged tabulation could keep campaign spending in limbo and affect fundraising cycles. Retailers fear hiring delays this season, while businesses await policy direction on energy and fisheries, making the final count a focal point for regional markets.