Maine students held a mock election at over 100 schools across the state.

President Trump was victorious with 52 percent of the vote, with Harris coming in second at 41 percent.

Independent candidate Cornel West had 2 percent, Green Party candidate Jill Stein had 1.9 percent, and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver had 1.8 percent.

“Participating in a mock election is an excellent, hands-on way for students to learn about voting and our electoral system,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, according to Bangor Daily News.

“Kudos to the Maine educators who make these lessons available and realistic for their students,” Bellows added.

“Maine holds an official student mock election every four years. This year more than 20,000 students voted, and Donald Trump won 51-42. That’s a great sign. Not only have Maine students picked the eventual winner in every race going back to 2004, this is Trump’s best result by far. In 2020 he lost to Biden by 8, and in 2016 he beat Hillary by only 2 points,” Charlie Kirk commented.

Bangor Daily News reports:

About 115 schools participated in the mock election.

It’s not the first time Maine students backed the Republican in a mock election. In 2016, Trump won with a plurality over Democrat Hillary Clinton (42 percent to 40 percent). That year Clinton prevailed in the statewide vote, but Trump peeled away the 2nd Congressional District’s one electoral vote.

In 2020, Maine students backed Democrat Joe Biden over Trump 50 percent to 42 percent, respectively. Biden won the statewide vote that year, but in a repeat performance, Trump walked away with the 2nd District’s electoral vote.

Those results come less than a week before Election Day and as Decision Desk HQ, the Bangor Daily News’ national election results partner, currently has the former president as the slight favorite over Harris in the final week.

Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in southern Maine on Friday.

Per Portland Press Herald:

Maine will use ranked choice voting in the federal races, but an instant runoff would not have been triggered in the presidential election, since Trump earned more than 50% on the first ballot.

But the 2nd District race would have required a runoff and would have been decided for the 164 votes cast for “other.”

Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King was the student favorite, earning 43.3% of the vote. Republican Demi Kouzounas received 23.9%, independent Jason Cherry received 16.3% and Democrat David Costello got 14.9%.

In the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, the Democratic incumbent, earned 40.9% of the vote, while Republican Ron Russell received 38.6% and independent Ethan Alcorn got 19.4%.

The Student Mock Election is one of several educational programs from the secretary of state’s office. It’s aimed at increasing civic awareness and participation in elections and local government.

“Hands-on learning through a mock election is a great way to teach young Mainers about our electoral process, government and the importance of making their voices heard at the ballot box,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement Tuesday. “Broad civics education is an important building block for the rest of their lives.”

More than 19,530 students from 116 schools participated in the 2022 mock elections, according to the state.

Read the full results HERE.

 

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