AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Hannah Pingree, a former speaker of the Maine House, is projected to win Maine's governor's race over Republican Bobby Charles, according to Decision Desk HQ, The Hill reported. The Associated Press had not called the race as of late Tuesday, and votes were still being counted.

Independent Rick Bennett was also on the ballot, according to the Portland Press Herald.

If her lead holds, Pingree would become Maine's 76th governor, succeeding Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is barred by term limits from running again. Mills became the first woman elected governor of Maine in 2018, the Press Herald reported. A Pingree win would give Democrats a third consecutive term in the office, according to The Hill.

Pingree consistently led the polling in the race, the Press Herald reported. On the campaign trail, she highlighted her bipartisan work as a young state lawmaker, including her time as House speaker from 2008 to 2010.

Pingree said during the campaign that she disagreed with Mills on some issues, including tribal sovereignty, but expressed pride in the Mills administration's push to increase housing production after a state-commissioned study found Maine needs up to 84,300 more homes by 2030, according to the Press Herald.

She emerged from a crowded Democratic primary that included former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former clean energy executive Angus King III and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who later became the party's nominee for U.S. Senate, The Hill reported.

Pingree's mother, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, cruised Tuesday to a 10th term representing Maine's 1st Congressional District, the Press Herald reported. A win for her daughter could make Maine a historically rare case of a mother and daughter holding a congressional seat and a governorship at the same time, according to the Press Herald.