The year ahead in Maine politics will be headlined by a high-stakes race for president.

But Mainers will also choose a U.S. senator, two members of Congress and all 186 state legislators.

The action kicks off March 5, when Mainers head to the polls on Super Tuesday to choose Democratic and Republican nominees for president.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden will appear alongside U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota.

The Republican line-up is uncertain as the state awaits a decision by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows on whether former President Donald Trump can appear on primary ballots.

On Dec. 1, Bellows’ announced six GOP choices: Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (who dropped out Dec. 4), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and Texas pastor Ryan Binkley.

But since then, six individuals filed challenges to try to keep Trump’s name off the ballot, saying they believe he isn’t eligible for a second term because of his actions before and during the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

A decision on Trump’s eligibility is expected any day.

Regardless of who’s on the ballot, the primaries in Maine will be different this year, thanks to a 2022 law change that will allow independents to vote.

The change means more than 260,000 unenrolled voters will be eligible to vote in either the Democratic or Republican party primary without having to enroll as a party member.

Then it’s on to Nov. 5, where Maine’s four electoral votes will be up for grabs. Maine is one of only two states — Nebraska is the other — that allows the votes to be split.

And that’s exactly what happened in 2000, when Biden took three by winning the statewide vote and the 1st Congressional District and Trump earned one with a win in the 2nd District.

In addition to presidential politics, there will be plenty to watch in 2024.

U.S. Senate

U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent, is seeking his third six-year term.

So far, only one person has filed to run against him: Democrat David Allen Costello of Brunswick. A native Mainer, Costello has worked in government for more than 25 years, including four years as deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, according to his campaign webpage.

King, a 79-year-old former two-term governor who caucuses with Democrats, reported $2.2 million in receipts as of the Sept. 30 filing deadline, while Costello reported $47,400, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Last time around, King won election in 2018 with 54% of the vote, defeating Republican Eric Brakey (35%) and Democrat Zak Ringelstein (10%).

2nd Congressional District

In the 2nd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Lewiston Democrat, will face the winner of the June GOP primary between former race car driver and state Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent and state Rep. Mike Soboleski of Phillips, a retired Marine, small business owner and actor.

Golden won a ranked choice vote count in 2022 against former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican who served two terms in the seat.

One new wrinkle in the race is whether Golden’s change of position on assault weapons will have any bearing on his reelection chances.

After previously opposing assault weapons bans, Golden announced the night after the deadly Lewiston shootings that took the lives of 18 people that he had changed his mind.

“The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine,” he said.

1st Congressional District

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree is running for her ninth term to Congress and will face at least one new challenger this time around.

Andrew Piantidosi, a Cape Elizabeth Republican, has filed to run for the seat along with independent Elias Bassile of Biddeford, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Piantidosi has worked for Fortune 500 companies on issues such as infrastructure and cybersecurity and is currently working as a substitute teacher in South Portland, according to his campaign website.

Bassile worked in the oil industry and founded a waste management business with a focus on recycling, according to his website. He currently works at an ammunition plant in Sanford.

In 2022, Pingree, of North Haven, defeated Republican Ed Thelander 63-37%.

Maine House and Senate

At the state level, voters will get another chance to decide who should control the House and Senate.

With Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, set to serve until Jan. 2027, Mainers will choose whether to continue to give Democrats full rein or whether to give power to Republicans.

As it is now, Democrats control the House 80-68, with two independents and one vacancy and the Senate 22-13.

Term limits mean high profile politicians including Senate President Troy Jackson (D-Allagash), House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland) and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Lisa Keim (R-Dixfield) cannot seek reelection to the same seat in 2024.