AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Congressional candidate petitions are starting to trickle into Maine secretary of state’s office.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree filed her signatures on Monday in the 1st Congressional District. To the north, Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud and Republican Sen. Kevin Raye filed last week along with Blaine Richardson, a Democrat from Belfast, in the 2nd Congressional District.

Sen. Olympia Snowe sent candidates scrambling two weeks ago when she announced she wouldn’t seek a fourth term.

That threw the U.S. Senate race as well as the congressional races into turmoil for a time.

Congressional candidates must submit 1,000 signatures and Senate candidates must submit 2,000 signatures by this Thursday to appear on the primary ballot.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.