WESTBROOK – Just before 5 p.m. on Election Day, Chris Callaway was working the polls at the Westbrook Community Center as Westbrook’s Ward 1 warden, readying himself for the post-workday rush.

At that time, 917 people had cast their vote, and a line was forming out the door of the community room and into the hallway. Pizza boxes and other food items lined a table in the back, needed energy for volunteers, as most of them had been there all day.

“It’s been steady all day,” he said, assisting a voter in casting their ballot. Callaway said this is his third election, and first as warden. “We’re just getting into the second rush.”

Slightly more than 1,250 would end up voting in Ward 1, and citywide, about 7,650 residents cast their vote for the governor’s race and other state elections. There are roughly 11,700 registered voters in Westbrook.

Lynda Adams, the Westbrook city clerk who recently announced her resignation effective in December, said Tuesday at about 6 p.m. that she had been back and forth from the polls all day. She said turnout had been much higher than expected, a trend that was seen statewide.

“I think the last time the voter turnout was this heavy was my first year in office, which is the election when Obama first got elected,” she said. “It’s kind of ironic. I started with a busy election and am now ending my career with a busy election.”

Adams would remain busy well into the night. Unofficial results from Westbrook weren’t ready until about 10:45 p.m.

In the local legislative races for State House, unofficial results give the Maine House District 35 seat to Democrat Dillon Bates, who took 56 percent of the vote over Republican Emily Downing, a tally of 2,165 to 1,701.

The race was highlighted by the youth represented in the candidates, with Bates only 26, and Downing, 22.

On Wednesday, Bates said the win hadn’t quite sunk in yet, but that he’s grateful to the voters of Westbrook for putting their faith in him. He said he’s proud of the race he and Downing conducted, with a positive message.

“I think it’s great to have young blood in politics, and both she and I were very positive,” he said.

In a post on the “Emily Downing for Maine House” Facebook page Wednesday morning, Downing said, “Though it would have been an honor to serve as a Representative for Westbrook, our city chose a great man for the job. He is a man with the honor and integrity that should be in Augusta and I know he will work hard for his constituents.”

Downing also thanked her supporters and said she is “happy I got to know this amazing community at a deeper level.”

Former Democratic State Rep. Ann Peoples, who served four terms in the seat Bates now holds, said Wednesday that Bates brings “a lot of energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas” to the seat. “It’s a good thing,” she said.

In Maine House District 34, Democratic incumbent Drew Gattine kept his seat by defeating Republican Rose Marie Russell with 65 percent of the vote, 2,260 to 1,186.

Gattine is a former Westbrook city councilor, and this will be his second term in the Legislature. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Gattine said he’s “honored and grateful to Westbrook voters for their wonderful support,” and is “looking forward to continuing to serve our great city in the Maine House of Representatives.”

For statewide races, Westbrook voters narrowly chose Democrat Mike Michaud for governor, 3,823 to 3,171; Susan Collins for U.S. senator, 4,919 to 2,657; and yes to ban bear baiting, 4,082 to 3,472.

A Westbrook child, and a dog, wait patiently for ballots to be cast on Tuesday at the Westbrook Community Center. Turnout was much higher than expected, according to City Clerk Lynda Adams.  Westbrook City Councilor Michael Foley votes Tuesday as Russian students from Archangel, Westbrook’s sister city, look on. Ward 1 warden Chris Calloway looks on as a Westbrook resident casts her ballot Tuesday. Roughly 7,650 Westbrook residents voted on Election Day.