Young Democrat Matthea “Mattie” Daughtry emerged as Tuesday’s winner in what may have been the most fiercely contested local legislative race.

With many contests too close to call or heading for recount this morning, many Maine Democrats proclaimed they had retaken control of the State House, producing a check on the Republican administration of Gov. Paul LePage while potentially removing the state’s treasurer, attorney general and other top officials appointed by legislators.

But officially, the makeup of the Legislature remained in doubt this morning, with several local races still in doubt in the Mid-coast and recounts likely in several local races.

For example, in Senate District 17 — which includes Lisbon — Democrat Colleen J. Quint held an advantage of 300 votes over Republican incumbent Garrett Mason out of more than 13,000 cast with 73 percent of precincts reporting, while in Senate District 20 — which includes Alna and Wiscasset — Sen. Christopher K. Johnson, DSomerville, said he was ahead of Republican challenger Leslie T. Fossel of Alna this morning, though unofficial returns showed Fossel leading, with 71 percent reporting.

But Daughtry’s win came decisively in the most hotly contested legislative race in the Mid-coast.

She earned 45 percent of the vote unofficially in a three-way race for District 66 that featured nasty spats and shifting allegiances over campaign signage in Brunswick.

Unofficially, Daughtry took 2,108 votes to defeat Green Independent Fred Horch and Republican Grant Connors.

She spent Wednesday morning popping throat lozenges and cold medicine while swapping phone calls and emails with other members of the upcoming Legislature.

“I’ve been in touch with other candidates, and I’m really excited that Democrats won back both the House and Senate,” she said. “I need to talk with the (Brunswick) Town Council, I want to make sure the delegation is ready to get things done and push Brunswick forward.

“I know it sounds really hokey, but I’m really ready to work for my hometown,” she said.

The seat’s availablility came as a result of controversy when outgoing Rep. Alexander Cornell du Houx was forced to relinquish it after a failed romance with another House member resulted in harrassment charges and a court battle. The local campaign to fill du Houx’s seat produced only slightly less intrigue, as accusations of youthful inexperience and other political hijinx flew between the Daughtry and Horch camps.

Connors largely stayed beneath the radar, neither commenting on nor engaging in the sparring.

DeChant bests Rogers to represent Bath

BATH — Jennifer DeChant, a Democrat who has plenty of experience working in the State House, easily defeated Republican Kyle Rogers, 2,356-1,475, on Tuesday to win the vacant House District 44 seat.

DeChant expressed gratitude for the clear victory.

“We worked hard to run a positive campaign and I am so pleased that it was so well received by the voters of Bath,” she said. “I look forward to serving the people of Bath and the state of Maine as we work together for a better future. I am grateful to my campaign team and my wonderful family for their unwavering support.”

DeChant, 44, stressed the importance of funding public education. She also warned against the impact of state revenue-sharing cuts on municipalities. DeChant has worked in the State House in the House Majority Office and in the Office of the Speaker of the House.

Rogers, 50, ran two races — the other to defend his seat on the Bath City Council. He campaigned as a “voice of reason” for conservatives,” and accepted no taxpayer funding. He spoke of the need for a more efficient state government.

House District 62 is entirely within Bath — from the north side of Rose Street to North Bath, and east of Tarbox Street.

Senate 20: Recount likely; Johnson claims

ALNA — Benefitting from late-breaking returns early this morning, Democrat Christopher Johnson has a lead of about 100 votes over Republican Leslie Fossel in their spirited race for the Senate District 20 seat.

An automatic recount of the votes is likely, Fossel said at 8 a.m. today.

Johnson, from Somerville, had won a special election to take the Senate 20 seat in February. Fossel, from Alna, left his House District 53 position to challenge Johnson.

Johnson said that his figures show him winning 10,824-10,727. According to Fossel’s numbers, Johnson won 10,739-10,629.

It was close to 4 a.m. when Johnson got numbers from South Bristol, where he took 60 percent of the vote, he said. Johnson won big in Monhegan, with 81.5 percent of the vote, he said.

In Damariscotta, Johnson said, 97 votes had to be counted by hand.

“I’m feeling tired but good,” Johnson said. “Obviously, it was a nail-biter. I will hope to get all of this independently confirmed today, and see what happens.”

If the trailing candidate so requests, the recount is automatic in a race that is decided by less than 1 percent of the votes cast, by state statute.

“I will probably do that,” Fossel said.

Fossel objected to Johnson claiming victory.

“I think it’s precipitous for Chris to claim victory at this point, but that’s his right,” Fossel said.

Johnson won a special election in February. He favors tax exemptions for seafood processing plants, in order to help the industry grow. He also favors more protection from river pollution to help Lincoln County’s clam diggers.

Fossel, a two-term House District 53 legislator, yielded that seat in order to run against Johnson in a senate district that usually goes Republican. A restoration contractor from Alna, Fossel was chairman of the Legislature’s informal Moderate Caucus. During the campaign, he accused Johnson of having the most partisan voting record of any senator.

Senate District 20 consists of Alna, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Edgecomb, Hibberts Gore, Jefferson, Monhegan Island Plantation, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Somerville, South Bristol, Southport, Waldoboro, Westport Island, Whitefield, Wiscasset, Friendship, Washington and Windsor.

House 60: Mason pulls district to Dems

TOPSHAM — Democratic candidate Andrew Mason won the open House District 60 seat Tuesday in a race against Republican Jean Wolkens.

Unofficial tallies Tuesday night show Mason won 3,064 to 1,939 to succeed Rep. Kerri Prescott, R-Topsham, who opted against re-election. Topsham, with 6,748 registered voters, saw an 84.2 percent voter turnout, clerks said.

Mason, a Topsham selectman, said there’s too much ideology in Augusta “and that we need more people being open minded, making decisions based on facts and looking out for the best interest of everyone.”

Mason also pointed to his work on the Topsham Board of Selectmen working to get things done collaboratively.

“I’m exhausted and exhilarated and proud of everybody who came out and voted and I look forward to working hard for two years,” he said this morning. “It was never anything personal, just two people who decided they wanted to run to represent Topsham and I’m just thrilled to have gotten such overwhelming support.

House 53: Marks wins narrowly to aid Dems

WISCASSET — Timothy Marks, of Pittston, defeated Wiscasset Republican Raymond Soule on Tuesday by a vote of 2,344 to 2,175 to win House District 53 .

Marks takes the seat vacated by Alna Republican Les Fossel, who left after two terms to run for the Senate.

Soule won Wiscasset by more than 400 votes. But Marks benefitted from an edge in Phippsburg and Dresden. He got the Alna votes, counted by hand, at 1 a.m. and that put him over the top, Marks said.

“It was a late night,but it was good,” Marks said.

Marks, a logger who ran as a moderate Democrat, cited the need for less regulation. He retired last year after 25 years with Maine State Police and is a member of the Pittston Board of Selectmen.

House District 53 consists of Alna, Dresden, Pittston and Wiscasset.

House 61: A win for Dems, MacDonald

BOOTHBAY — Democrat Bruce MacDonald, getting a boost from the Sagadahoc County towns, won a fourth and final term as the House District 61 representative Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger and fellow Boothbay resident Stephanie Hawke, 2,889-2,364, a margin of 55-45 percent.

MacDonald said this morning that he got good support in Arrowsic and Georgetown.

“I’m tired, but I’m glad to be going back for one more term,” he said.

MacDonald said he supports tax breaks for middleclass families and small businesses. He also favors more bonds to support research and development, and emphasized the importance of sustainable fisheries. He said he is working with a task force and others to help prevent the closure of the St. Andrews Hospital emergency room and nursing wing.

Hawke, a small-business owner and wife of a fisherman, said she favored lower taxes, less spending and more business-friendly policies. She also focused on supporting the working waterfront.

House District 61 consists of Arrowsic, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Georgetown, Southport and Westport Island.

Senate 17: Too close to call, recount likely

LISBON — Colleen Quint, Democratic candidate for Senate District 17, appears to have beat the Republican incumbent, Sen. Garrett Mason, by only 77 votes, but this morning Quint said she expects a recount.

The Bangor Daily News reported this morning Quint had 9,804 votes to Mason’s 9,727.

Quint said this morning, “Based on the numbers that have been reported in, it appears I won the race by a narrow margin. We’re certainly expecting a recount to make sure that all votes have been tabulated correctly.”

Senate District 17 covers Greene, Leeds, Lisbon, Livermore, Livermore Falls, Mechanic Falls, Minot, Sabattus, Turner and Wales.

Quint, a lifelong Mainer who has lived in Minot for 25 years, served as executive director of the Mitchell Institute, Senator George Mitchell’s scholarship program, for the past 13 years.

Mason, of Lisbon Falls, was 25 when he won his first term in the Senate two years ago.

Senate 10: Easy run returns Gerzofsky

BRUNSWICK — Incumbent Sen. Stanley Gerzofsky, DBrunswick, was re-elected to his District 10 seat Tuesday by a two-to-one margin.

In winning his third term, Gerzofsky received 68 percent to defeat Freeport Republican challenger Ralph Dean.

By way of celebration, he and some staffers spent the night taking down campaign signs. “We started in Harpswell last night, trying to make the Senate district look nice and neat like it used to,” he said.

He has served on the joint committees for Criminal Justice and Public Safety, and Rules. District 10 includes Brunswick, Harpswell, Freeport and Pownal.

Senate 19: Goodall going back, easily

RICHMOND — Attorney Seth Goodall will return to the Senate for a third term.

Goodall, D-Richmond, defeated Republican opponent Jeffrey Pierce, of Dresden, 10,225 to 5,580, Tuesday to retain the Senate District 19 position.

Goodall said, “The voters have clearly spoken. They want the Legislature to go back to work fixing this economy and getting Mainers back to work. Starting today.”

Goodall served on the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and the Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Reform and Fairness during his second term.

“My hat goes off to Jeff. We ran a good campaign that focused on the issues and I think that’s what people want to see,” Goodall said.

Senate District 19 includes Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Georgetown, Perkins Township, Phippsburg, Richmond, West Bath and Woolwich.

House 67: Berry wins fourth term

BOWDOINHAM — Incumbent Seth Berry, a Democrat of Bowdoinham, won a fourth term representing House District 67, which includes Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Richmond and the unoccupied territory of Perkins Township.

Preliminary results have Berry winning 3,230 to 1,816.

Tuesday, Berry said, “I appreciate the strong vote of confidence from all three of the towns that I have been privileged to represent. I look forward to getting right back to business in Augusta to focus on jobs and the economy.” Berry won in all four towns with the following preliminary tallies: 903-664 in Bowdoin according to numbers provided by Berry; and 1,150 to 585 in Bowdoinham; and 1,176-566 in Richmond, according to town clerks.

House 65: Kent stays with win over Warnke

WOOLWICH — Available preliminary voting results in House District 65 have Democratic incumbent Rep. Peter Kent winning a third consecutive term Tuesday to represent the district covering Woolwich and parts of Bath, Brunswick, Topsham and West Bath.

Kent beat Jason Warnke, a Woolwich Republican. Numbers were not available from Woolwich but Kent won 1,144 to 736 in Brunswick; 325 to 126 in Bath; 192 to 109 in Topsham and 212 to 134 in West Bath — a total of 1,873 to 1,105.

“Obviously I’m very happy to have won and I feel very good about the support I feel I have from the voters in my district,” Kent said this morning.

House 106: Gideon takes seat for Dems

FREEPORT — Democratic candidate Sara Gideon defeated challenger Jody James to win the House District 106 seat by a two-to-one margin.

Gideon, who served on the Freeport Town Council, won 3,260 to 1,668, for 66 percent of the total.

A special election will be held Dec. 4 to replace Gideon on the Town Council. District 106 includes Freeport and part of Pownal.

House 63: Priest wins handily for Democrats

BRUNSWICK — Rep. Charlie Priest, D-Brunswick, won re-election to a fourth term in the House of Representatives Tuesday, garnering 69 percent of ballots cast.

Unofficially, Priest defeated Republican challenger John Bouchard by 1,734 votes to retain his office.

House 105: Espling victorious for GOP

Republican incumbent Ellie Espling defeated Democrat Nichole Stevens 3,310 to 2,217 to represent House District 105, which includes New Gloucester, Durham and part of Lisbon.

At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, the candidates were tied 72-72 in Lisbon, but as counts came in from New Glouscester and Durham, Espling pulled ahead and will return for a second term in the House.