Cumberland County, Maine

Maine House District 85

See where Paul and Welch stand on housing, taxes and health care. Names follow official Cumberland County election filings.

About this race

Adrienne Paul (R), Paul Harris Welch (D) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Maine House District 85. The Maine Legislature's member directory lists no sitting member among the certified candidates for this seat. Party nominees were chosen at the June 9, 2026 primary, per the Maine Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Maine › Cumberland County › Maine House District 85

Adrienne Paul

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Wants to make child care more accessible and affordable through regulatory reform
Wants to reduce housing costs by increasing supply and cutting red tape and fees
Wants to lower health care costs by attracting more providers, including through reciprocal licensing

Biography

Adrienne Paul, of Standish, is a Republican candidate for the open Maine House District 85 seat, per her campaign site. She owns Pollywogs to Speckled Frogs Childcare and Preschool, which she has grown since 2005 to a staff of 19, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Paul Harris Welch

Democrat

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Wants to slow the growth of property taxes and everyday costs such as housing and health care
Wants the state to take on a fairer share of education funding so schools rely less on local property taxes
Wants to build hiring pathways for young people who do not pursue a college degree

Biography

Paul Harris Welch, of Standish, is a Democratic candidate for the open Maine House District 85 seat, per the campaign site. Welch was born and raised in Standish and has served on the Bonny Eagle (MSAD 6) school board for five years, including one year as board chair, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMaine House District 86

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Maine House District 85 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Maine House District 85 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Adrienne Paul and Paul Harris Welch. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on housing, taxes and health care.

When is the Maine House District 85 election in Maine?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Maine are on the Maine election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Cumberland County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Cumberland County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Maine election office, or see the full Cumberland County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Cumberland County ballot

51 tracked races in Cumberland County, Maine. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Maine House District 98 Maine House District 99 Maine House District 100 See all 51 Cumberland County races

Candidate profiles

Adrienne Paul, full profile Paul Harris Welch, full profile Official Maine election office