Now that we’re starting up the election swing to decide not only our next President, but many other local statewide initiatives, it’s important to put into context the types of decisions that will be made in the coming years.
Who makes the decisions? Not the people getting elected. It’s the voters.
Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Pine Tree State?
In order to do so, we turned our sites on measuring how each city in Maine with populations greater than 5,000 voted and contributed to political campaigns in the past several years. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted Democrat and gave the most to liberals where named the most liberal cities in the state.
If you’re wondering, Caribou is the most conservative city in Maine of all those we measured.
And to be clear, we didn’t form this list based on our own biases — we relied on the cold hard data. For more on how we ran the numbers, keep on reading. Then we’ll take a closer look at each of our top 10 most liberal cities in Maine.
And if you already knew these places were liberal, check out some more reading about Maine and the most lberal places in the country:
How we determined the most liberal cities in Maine for 2019
We started by making a list of every city in Maine over 5,000 people based on the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (The most recent data). That left us with 19 cities and towns.
We then measured the voting record and donation data to determine which places lean the most rightward in their allegiances by:
- Percentage Of Registered Democrats
- # Of Contributions To Democrats Per Capita
- $ Amount Contributed To Democrats Per Capita
Next, we ranked each city from 1 to 19 for each of the criteria where number one was the most liberal.
The winner, South Portland, is “The Most liberal City in Maine For 2019”.
Let’s go through these liberal places, shall we?
The 10 Most liberal Places In Maine For 2019
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South Portland is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States, and is the fourth-largest city in the state, incorporated in 1898. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,002. Known for its working waterfront, South Portland is situated on Portland Harbor and overlooks the skyline of Portland and the islands of Casco Bay. Due to South Portland’s close proximity to air, marine, rail, and highway transportation options, the city has become a center for retail and industry in the region.
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Westbrook is a city in Cumberland County, Maine, United States and a suburb of Portland. The population was 17,494 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.
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Portland is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with a population of 66,937 as of 2016. This makes it the fourth least populous city in the U.S. to be the most populous in its state. The Greater Portland metropolitan area is home to over half a million people, more than one-third of Maine’s total population. The Old Port district is frequented by tourists, while Portland Head Light is also a destination. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from ashes, which is a reference to the recoveries from four devastating fires. Portland was named after the English Isle of Portland, and the city of Portland, Oregon, was in turn named after Portland, Maine.
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Rockland is a city in Knox County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,297. It is the county seat of Knox County. The city is a popular tourist destination. It is a departure point for the Maine State Ferry Service to the islands of Penobscot Bay: Vinalhaven, North Haven and Matinicus.
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Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine’s fastest growing city from 2000-2010, with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent. With historic buildings and other points of interest, Ellsworth is popular with tourists.
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Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. The population was 8,514 at the 2010 census, and 8,357 as of 2013, the population has had a change of -10.2% since 2000. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County, which includes one city and 10 towns. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is home to the Bath Iron Works and Heritage Days Festival, held annually on the Fourth of July weekend. It is commonly known as “The City of Ships.” Bath is part of the metropolitan statistical area of Greater Portland.
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Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. The population was 21,277 at the 2010 census. Twin city of Saco, Biddeford includes the resort community of Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks and Granite Point. The town is the site of the University of New England and the annual La Kermesse Franco-Americaine Festival. First visited by Europeans in 1616, it is the site of one of the earliest European settlements in the United States.
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Saco is a city in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 18,482 at the 2010 census. It is home to Ferry Beach State Park, Funtown Splashtown USA, Thornton Academy, as well as General Dynamics Armament Systems, a subsidiary of the defense contractor General Dynamics. Saco sees much tourism during summer months, due to its amusement parks, Ferry Beach State Park, and proximity to Old Orchard Beach.
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Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River estuary on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County. The seaport has a wealth of antique architecture in several historic districts, and remains popular with tourists.
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Gardiner is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,800 at the 2010 census. Popular with tourists, Gardiner is noted for its culture and old architecture. Gardiner is included in the Augusta, Maine micropolitan New England City and Town Area.
Summing Up The Liberal Snowflakes in Maine
Well there you have it, the places in Maine that have the highest number of liberals per capita, with South Portland ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.
If you’re curious, here are the least liberal cities in Maine:
- Caribou
- Presque Isle
- Brewer
For more Maine reading, check out:
- 10 Best Places To Live In Maine
- These Are The 10 Best Counties To Live In Maine
- 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Maine
- These Are The 10 Best Places To Retire In Maine
- These Are The 10 Richest Cities In Maine
- 10 Safest Places In Maine
- 10 Worst Places To Live In Maine
Detailed List Of The Most Liberal Places In Maine
| Rank | City | % Liberal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Portland, ME | 59.9% |
| 2 | Westbrook, ME | 59.9% |
| 3 | Portland, ME | 59.9% |
| 4 | Rockland, ME | 53.8% |
| 5 | Ellsworth, ME | 50.2% |
| 6 | Bath, ME | 49.3% |
| 7 | Biddeford, ME | 48.9% |
| 8 | Saco, ME | 48.9% |
| 9 | Belfast, ME | 46.0% |
| 10 | Gardiner, ME | 44.3% |
| 11 | Waterville, ME | 44.3% |
| 12 | Augusta, ME | 44.3% |
| 13 | Lewiston, ME | 41.4% |
| 14 | Auburn, ME | 41.4% |
| 15 | Old Town, ME | 40.8% |
| 16 | Bangor, ME | 40.8% |
| 17 | Brewer, ME | 40.8% |
| 18 | Presque Isle, ME | 38.1% |
| 19 | Caribou, ME | 38.1% |
