Dec. 4 -- AUGUSTA -- Gov. Janet Mills administered the oath of office Wednesday morning to 186 lawmakers elected last month to the 132nd Legislature, kicking off the final two-year session of her administration.
The new Legislature then turned its attention to electing the state's three constitutional officers.
Aaron Frey, who faced an unsuccessful challenge, and Shenna Bellows, who was unopposed, were on track to officially win reelection to their fourth terms as attorney general and secretary of state, respectively. Rep. Joe Perry, D-Bangor, was on track to replace Henry Beck as treasurer. Beck did not seek a fourth term.
All of the officers will be Democrats because their party once again controls a majority of the seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
"Frey was challenged by Maeghan Maloney, the district attorney for Somerset and Kennebec counties,"
"Perry was challenged by outgoing House Majority Leader Mo Terry."
During a meeting of incoming Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday, the party coalesced around Frey and Perry in an unofficial secret ballot vote.
Maine is among a handful of states that do not hold statewide general elections for so-called "constitutional officers." The positions are chosen by the Maine Legislature and are typically filled by the party in power.
Republicans plan to offer their own nominations for constitutional officers during the proceeding Wednesday, but Democrats hold majorities in both chambers and will be able to push through their nominations without Republican support if they stick together.
Mills addressed incoming lawmakers on Tuesday evening at a pre-legislative conference reception and banquet at the Augusta Civic Center.
"Go out of your way to get to know members from different parties and different regions of the state from your own," Mills said according to her prepared remarks.
Mills noted that lawmakers' "first test" will be the budget, promising it would be "lean" and focused on preserving existing programs amid flattening revenues.