Joe Rafferty
Maine State Senator, District 34 since 2020. Did not run for re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.
- In office
- 6 yrs
- Since 2020
- Bills became law
- 11
- 18 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 5.2%
- Chamber median 3.9%
- With party
- 98%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +11.1
- Won 2024
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Education and Cultural Affairs · chair
- Labor
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
HEALTH CARE · Became law Apr 2026
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS · Became law Mar 2026
JOB TRAINING · Became law Jan 2026
CARDIAC EMERGENCY PLANS · Became law Jan 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Rafferty sits in the Maine State Senate
Rafferty is closer to the center than 28% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Jill Duson, Teresa Pierce, Pinny Beebe-Center
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Rafferty’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats98%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills10%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Maine State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Rafferty’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Rafferty | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2026 | LD 785: An Act To Enact The Remaining Recommendations Of The Task Force On Changes To The Maine… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–11 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | LD 2054: An Act To Clarify The Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits For Hunting Outfitters | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 19–16 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | LD 2155: An Act To Clarify Certain Laws Governing Licenses For The Sale Of Liquor By Manufacturers | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 19–16 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | LD 1353: An Act Regarding Required Landings In The Menhaden Fishery | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 17–18 |
| Mar 18, 2026 | LD 1643: An Act To Establish The Maine Life Science Innovation Center | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–10 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Rafferty was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Maine State Senate, District 34 | Won | D+11.1 |
| 2022 | Maine State Senate, District 34 | Won | D+16.3 |
| 2020 | Maine State Senate, District 34 | Won | D+3.7 |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Rafferty has held
- Maine State Senate, District 34 · since 2020
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Rafferty has run against
- Bradley Scott Ducharme (R) · 2024 general, won
- Bradley Scott Ducharme (R) · 2022 general, won
- Michael Pardue (R) · 2020 general, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Rafferty
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/8c2c2996-5a72-4c9a-a0d9-958099f3a304
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET