Senator Olympia Snowe unexpectedly decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fourth term.

Independent former governor Angus King won the open seat with 52.9% of the vote against Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill.

Incumbent Olympia Snowe won re-election to a third term in 2006 with 74.01% of the vote over Democrat Jean Hay Bright and independent Bill Slavick.

[3][4][5] By June 2011, Snowe had officially entered her name with signatures to run in the Republican primary, saying, she "would never switch parties".

[38] No Secretary of State or Maine Attorney General who was seeking higher office in the last 30 years has resigned.

[39] Steve Woods announced on August 1 that, if elected, he would donate his entire Senate salary to Maine charities chosen by an independent committee of business and nonprofit leaders he would appoint.

[42] On June 13, Angus King held a press conference and stated that he would discourage campaign spending by outside groups if his opponents would agree to do the same.

King criticized such spending as "a tidal wave of anonymous campaign expenditures that distort our political process."

[44] Danny Dalton stated on June 14 that he would not accept any campaign donations whatsoever, in order to assure constituents that he will represent everyone equally.

[47] Individuals Organizations [64] [66] with Olympia Snowe with John Baldacci with Emily Cain with Matt Dunlap with Rosa Scarcelli with Pingree Three-way matchups King won both congressional districts, which both elected Democrats.