While it was possible to anticipate some of the events of Tuesday’s voting based on the polls, there was one outcome that wasn’t even hinted at.

That the Republican Party would take control of both houses of the Maine Legislature wasn’t on very many political horizons.

That achievement — along with the strong showing of Eliot Cutler in the governor’s race — makes this election one for the record books.

What still remains to be seen is what kind of history the new order in Augusta will make over the next two years.

As of mid-day Wednesday, the Republicans have a 77-73-1 edge in the House, with three recounts pending, and a 20-14-1 edge in the Senate, with one recount possible.

The GOP last had a speaker of the House in 1974, when Richard Hews held the title during the governorship of Democrat Kenneth Curtis, and the party last controlled both houses during a Republican administration under Gov. John Reed in the 1960s.

But what counts now is that a new governor with no legislative experience in Augusta will have a party hierarchy on both sides of the State House to receive his proposals.

Republicans now will select constitutional officers, including the attorney general and secretary of state.

And, based on GOP campaign promises, Mainers can now expect to see a legislative effort to reduce obstacles to business inception and expansion; increase education support for communities to the 55 percent level authorized by voters but never achieved by the state; raise Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and doctors; and restructure the tax code to lower taxes and simplify the system.

Since these priorities conflict in a time of scarce resources, how they will be resolved remains an open question. Still, the one constant in life is change — as Election Day proved once again.

 

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