AUGUSTA

A battle for control of the Maine Legislature starts with political newcomers and veterans facing off in the Tuesday primary election that’ll determine who appears on the November ballot.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage — who’s vowed to back similarly minded Republicans — has stepped into two GOP primaries, endorsing Bowdoin business owner Guy Lebida and Calais City Councilor Billy Howard.

Lebida, a self-proclaimed “constitutional conservative Christian,” is challenging incumbent Sen. Linda Baker, of Topsham. The winner will face former Democratic state Sen. Eloise Vitelli, of Arrowsic, in the fall.

Howard will face Rep. Joyce Maker, of Calais, with the winner competing in November against Democrat Rock Alley, of Jonesport, the president of the Maine Lobstering Union.

Meanwhile, Democrats are competing for seats left vacated by several top Democratic state senators, including minority leader, Sen. Justin Alfond, of Portland.

Voter turnout

With no statewide races on the ballot, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap anticipates light turnout Tuesday. The only contested congressional primary features two Republicans vying to unseat Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree.

“Localized issues will spike turnout in given areas,” Dunlap said.

Dunlap said turnout could also spike in the few districts with hotly contested legislative primaries — encompassing towns like Portland, Saco and Gardiner.

Senate control

Currently, Republicans control the state senate with a 20-15 majority, while Democrats lead the house 78-69.

Primary winners could signal whether Democrats have a chance of regaining control of the Senate.

State political parties, candidates and various political committees have spent more than $15 million this cycle — significantly more than at this point in 2014, but $1.4 million less than in 2012.

So far this cycle, the Maine Democratic State Committee has spent $684,786, while the Maine Republican Party reports $455,251 in expenditures.

Contested primaries

Democrats have six contested primaries in the Senate and five in the House, while Republicans face four primary battles in the Senate and 11 in the House.

• In the District 31 race to fill Sen. Linda Valentino’s seat, the openly gay Democratic Rep. Justin Chenette, of Saco, will face off against Democratic Rep. Barry Hobbins, also of Saco and a former state senator first elected in 1972.

• In Senate District 2, Republican Sen. Michael Willette, of Presque Isle, is not seeking re-election. In 2015, he publicly apologized for sharing an internet meme suggesting President Barack Obama was a member of the Islamic State group. Tuesday’s race will feature Rep. Ricky Long, of Sherman, and Emily Smith, a farmer and chair of the Presque Isle City Council. The nominee will compete in the general election against former Maine Attorney General Michael Carpenter, a Democrat from Houlton who also previously served as a state senator and state representative.

A smattering of races features both Democratic and Republican contested primaries.

• The Senate District 14 seat is up for grabs after Republican Sen. Earle McCormick, of West Gardiner, announced he’s not running for re-election. On the Democratic side, Shenna Bellows, of Manchester, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, is competing against Gardiner City Councilor Terry Berry to fill McCormick’s seat. The Republican primary will feature retired Navy Rear Admiral Bryan Cutchen against Gardiner City Councilor Maureen Blanchard, who has said McCormick asked her to run.

• In House District 2, three Democrats and two Republicans candidates are contending for the seat occupied by Democrat Rep. Roberta “Bobbi” Beavers, who’s not running for re-election.

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