AUGUSTA — For the first time since 1974, a Republican will wield the gavel in the Maine House of Representatives.

Rep. Robert Nutting of Oakland is poised to become the House speaker after the new Republican majority gave him the nomination during the party’s caucus Friday afternoon.

Nutting was elected after four rounds of runoff voting held in the House chamber. He defeated Rep. Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, and two other nominees.

Nutting is now expected to officially become speaker when the full Legislature convenes Dec. 1 and new members are sworn in. Although a formal vote will take place, Nutting is all but guaranteed to win the position, making him the first Republican House speaker since Rep. Richard Hewes of Cape Elizabeth held the position 36 years ago.

Nine different Democrats have been speaker during a 35-year reign that fell amid a GOP wave of victories on Election Day. 

Reps. Andre Cushing of Hampden and Meredith Strang Burgess of Cumberland were also nominated.

Nutting emerged victorious after four rounds of runoff voting designed to reach a 40-vote majority.

Strang Burgess withdrew after the first round, while Cushing was out after the second round of balloting. Davis and Nutting were tied after two head-to-head rounds.

Nutting is serving his fifth term as a legislator. He served four consecutive terms and took a two-year hiatus before term limits were enacted.

The licensed pharmacist most recently served on the Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.

Before winning the nomination, Nutting told the caucus that Republicans have a historic opportunity to reshape Maine, but that they should proceed thoughtfully.

“After all the years of asking for a chance, the voters have given us a chance,” he said. “But that’s all it is, a chance.”

After edging out Davis, Nutting promised to work with his “friends” in the Democratic Party.

“And I do have friends there,” Nutting said.

Nutting’s acceptance speech was brief. He joked that he was glad the tie between he and Davis was settled by a vote “and not arm wrestling, or a beauty contest.”

The remark was a reference to Davis’ speech in which he told party members that he’d heard the GOP needed to “put its best face forward” and that he’d been told he wasn’t “that pretty.”

“I’ve lived awhile,” said Davis, who is 63.

Davis served four terms as a state senator. Republicans elected him as the minority leader there twice.

Outgoing Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport, made note of the Republicans’ historic takeover of state government, saying voters had given the new majority a chance but that it was up to Republicans to earn voters’ trust.

“This is an opportunity we’ve been waiting for over three decades,” Tardy said. “The nation is watching us, the people of Maine are watching us.”

In other voting, Rep. Phil Curtis of Madison was chosen House majority leader and Cushing, who lost in the race for speaker, was picked as majority whip.