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During the Civil War, Maine fought as a Union state and had deep rooted beliefs that slavery should be abolished. Hannibal Hamlin, who formed the Republican Party in Maine and served as state governor, was elected to the position of Vice-President under Abraham Lincoln. For the most part, Maine remained a Republican state for an almost hundred year period from the mid 1850s to the mid 1950s. Governor Edmund S. Muskie is credited for bringing up the popularity of the Democratic Party in Maine, making it a legitimate two-party state. Now, Maine is more known for it’s large numbers of Independent voters. It is reported that there are more Independent registered voters than either Republican or Democrat. This is proven by the election of the nation’s only Independent Governor, James B. Longley in 1974.

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• Maine History and Overview
• Origin of the name "Maine"
• Early History
• Becoming a State
• Politics
• Regions of Maine
• Fun Facts about Maine