Since 1972, Maine has had the option to divide its Electoral College votes by congressional district. The outright winner of the state gets two electoral vote, and the winner of each congressional district gets one. Despite this, Maine has never actually had to divide its electoral votes and the same candidate has always won both districts--until now. Although Hillary Clinton won Maine outright and won the 1st congressional district, Donald Trump won the more rural 2nd district--and its electoral vote. Trump's win in CD2 is a direct result of the campaign's extensive campaigning over the past two weeks in the district.
#BREAKING Maine has split electoral votes for 1st time after Republican Donald Trump wins in 2nd Congressional District via @AP
— CBS 13 News (@WGME) November 9, 2016
Maine CD2's congressman, Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), was considered to be one of the more vulnerable members of Congress. Poliquin was reelected with 55 percent of the vote.