AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage refused to seat District 32 Senator-elect Susan Deschambault as scheduled this morning because Democrats didn’t approve his nominee to the Unemployment Insurance Commission on Thursday.

Accompanied by her family, Deschambault, D-Biddeford, went to Augusta expecting to be sworn in at 8:50 a.m. But when she arrived, she was  told by the governor’s office that it wasn’t going to happen.

Deschambault won a special election Tuesday against Republican Steve Martin of Biddeford for the seat, which was left vacant in January with the resignation of Democrat David Dutremble.

The Maine Democratic Party immediately issued denounced the governor’s actions.

“This is an act of political retribution by the governor and denies the people of District 32 heir voice in the Senate,” said Maine Senate Democrats spokesman Mario Moretto.

LePage communications director Peter Steele said the governor has five days to perform the swearing-in, and linked the issue to the rejection Thursday by Democrats of Steve Webster, LePage’s nominee for unemployment insurance commissioner. The Labor Committee rejected Webster 7-6 in a party-line vote.

“Democrats treated Steve Webster despicably, and it’s unfortunate good people get caught up in political games,” said Steele. “Gov. LePage has not sworn in Susan Deschambault yet. He has five days to do so.”

Senate 32 includes Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Kennebunkport and Lyman. Deschambault won with 57 percent of the vote.

Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond  and Deschambault are both scheduled to speak to the media later this morning.

Look for Saturday’s edition of the Journal Tribune for more coverage of this story.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.