The Lewiston City Council will have two new members in the coming term after Iman Osman and Bret Martel were victorious in Tuesday’s election.

In the first official election under the city’s new staggered terms for City Council and School Committee, four seats were up for grabs on the council.

Josh Nagine, who was unopposed in Ward 1, retained his seat.

In Ward 3, Scott Harriman fought off a challenge from Charles Soule, winning by a tally of 354-140. It will be Harriman’s third term, making him the longest-serving current councilor.

In Ward 5, Osman unseated Eryn Soule-Leclair by a close margin, 269-234. Osman sits on the School Committee, having been appointed earlier this year to fill a vacancy.

Osman, 36, a social worker and executive director of the Lewiston Auburn Youth Network, did not respond to a request for comment on the win Wednesday.

Martel, 42, won a battle of newcomers for the Ward 7 seat, with Martel besting David Projansky by a tally of 840-508.

Martel on Wednesday thanked Ward 7 voters, and commended Projansky for “running his campaign in good faith.”

“The work is just beginning, and I look forward to and welcome input from my constituents,” he said. “It will be an honor to serve not only the people of Ward 7, but all of Lewiston.”

Osman and Martel are set to join Harriman, Nagine, Susan Longchamps, Michael Roy and David Chittim in January 2026.

According to election results posted around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Lewiston saw a 38% voter turnout, with 8,965 out of 23,893 registered voters casting ballots.

City Clerk Kathy Montejo’s projection midday turned out to be right on the mark. Around 1 p.m. Tuesday she estimated that at the current pace there would be fewer than 9,000 voters.

She said things were going smoothly at all polling locations but that the turnout had been “much slower than anticipated.” She said election workers were thinking Question 2, the proposed red-flag law, might draw higher-than-average numbers for an off-year election, especially given its Lewiston connection. But, that didn’t seem to be the case, at least not as of midday, she said. 

Montejo said reaching the 9,000 mark would likely depend on a late-day spike in turnout.

“We’re just not seeing that volume of numbers,” she said. 

While Question 2 may not have driven turnout numbers Lewiston officials were expecting, it did bring passionate voters to the polls Tuesday.

Outside the Longley School polling location Tuesday morning, voters talked about the proposed “red flag” law that Question 2 would create. 

Gayle Shannon said she votes in every election, but said Question 2 hits close to home. 

Shannon said it’s “important to have,” and is especially meaningful for Lewiston people who have continued to see evidence that such a law was needed in the days and weeks before the Oct. 25, 2023, shooting. 

Glenn Therrian said he believed the opposite. He said the proposed law is an easier way “to start taking guns away from citizens that probably wouldn’t have a say.”

He said he was worried it could be used in personal disputes, like a falling out with a spouse, rather than instances of serious mental health concerns. 

“Who’s the one to really say you don’t deserve your guns today?” he said.

Yes on 2 ultimately carried the day in Maine, and won by a large margin in Lewiston, 6,027 to 2,866.