LEWISTON — Residents will choose a new state representative Feb. 24 for the House District 94 seat vacated by Kristin Cloutier in October. 

Cloutier, a Democrat, elected to her fourth term in November 2024, resigned from her seat to become chief of staff to Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry.

House District 94 represents parts of Lewiston’s Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5. The special election is open only to voters in the district.

Running in the House District 94 special election are Democrat Scott Harriman and Republican Janet Beaudoin. 

The winner will serve the remainder of Cloutier’s two-year term, which ends in November. 

The race comes as Democrats hold on to a slim majority in the House of Representatives.

The House has 149 members: 74 Democrats, 72 Republicans, one Independent, two unenrolled and two tribal representatives.

There is one other seat open, House District 29 in Penobscot County, which was left vacant after Republican Rep. Kathy Javner passed away last month from breast cancer. A special election for that seat will be held in June.

Harriman, 39, a self-employed landlord, has been a Lewiston city councilor since 2022 and has served on various committees including council representative to the School Committee and public art, housing, Complete Streets, L/A transit and mayoral ad hoc shelter committees. 

Harriman, acknowledging divisive political times, said Lewiston deserves a representative who listens, tells the truth and serves everyone.

“I know what it’s like to work hard and worry about making ends meet, and I lead by listening first and finding real solutions — not political talking points — that help families feel supported and heard,” Harriman said. “Voters have trusted me with a third term (on the City Council) because they know that I will always put this community first.”

Beaudoin, 43, a property manager, has been a Lewiston School Committee member since 2021, working on budgets, policy decisions and oversight affecting students and taxpayers. 

A Lewiston resident for 26 years, Beaudoin raised her family in the city, volunteered in the schools and said she has maintained a steady voice through important local decisions. 

“I am not a career politician, but I bring real governing experience and more than 15 years of volunteering with PTOs and youth sports booster organizations,” Beaudoin said, adding that her professional and public experience keeps her closely connected to families, schools and community needs. “Serving on the School Committee has given me hands-on experience making tough choices about budgets, priorities, and accountability, often in situations where there were strong disagreements and no easy answers.”

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Longley School at 145 Birch St. with parking available in The Colisee parking lot. 

Absentee voting opened for the race on Jan. 21 with ballots available until Feb. 19. Fill out an absentee ballot request at http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/AbsenteeBallot/index.pl.

Print an application for a ballot at https://www.lewistonmaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18812. The application can be faxed to City Hall at 207-777-4621 or emailed to [email protected].

Finally, a ballot application can be obtained by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 207-513-3124.

Requests must be received three business days before election day unless special circumstances exist. 

Absentee ballots can be cast in person at the City Clerk’s Office at 27 Pine St. through Feb. 19. Ballots mailed in should be posted a week in advance, by Feb. 17.

For more information on Lewiston elections, visit https://www.lewistonmaine.gov/117/Elections.