Depending on your interest, Tuesday, Nov. 4 was either a very short or very long night. Within five minutes of the polls closing, Sen. Susan Collins had been announced the winner in her bid for reelection. But other races ran on late into the night and early morning, as reports straggled in from communities across the state.

At Lincoln County Democratic and Republican headquarters, just a mile apart on Main Street in Damariscotta, the faithful gathered around laptops, projectors, fax machines and tables of food, waiting for results. Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the Democrats’ fax machine started to regularly spew results, but then it tapered off as ballot counters across the county slowly tabulated the many write-in candidates.

Mick Devin (D-Nobleboro) was the first local candidate to announce victory. Around 9:30 p.m., it was clear that the votes from towns yet to report would not be enough to overturn Devin’s large lead. His announcement was greeted with a loud cheer by Democrats.

“I’m excited that my constituents want to send me back to Augusta,” Devin said, seconds after the announcement. “I am proud to serve them and I thank my opponent for running such a positive race.”

Devin then headed out the door to catch an early flight, but came back in moments later to announce that Tim Marks (D-Pittston) had just conceded his bid for reelection to House Seat 87. An obviously shaken Devin bemoaned the loss of a hard-working compatriot.

At Republican headquarters, there was jubilation as results showed a strong showing for Republican Gov. Paul LePage, and other national and state Republican candidates.

Lincoln County Republican committee chairman Stuart Smith said he believed a switch in local strategy and the bear referendum, in particular, were proving effective for Maine Republican candidates. He said the local committee had worked harder and more strategically to get out the vote this year and had specifically targeted hunters, who were concerned about the ramifications of the bear vote.

In the State Senate District 13 race, Chris Johnson (D-Somerville) and Les Fossel (R-Alna) were never more than a few hundred votes apart all night. As the town results came in, both Johnson and Fossel were watching the numbers and predicting a victory.

At 4 a.m., Johnson said he had all results in hand and announced his victory via email. At 6:30 a.m. after a couple hours sleep, Johnson said his margin of victory was 337 votes.

“I’m glad to have won and to able to represent the people of the district again,” a weary Johnson said. “But it looks like Gov. LePage will be in charge and there will be fewer Democrats in the legislature.”

Reached by phone, Fossel said he had made no decision about a recount. In the 2012 race between the same two candidates, a recount did not change the outcome.

“I will do nothing until I get the Secretary of State’s results,” Fossel said on Wednesday morning.

Stephanie Hawke (R-Boothbay Harbor) did not have to push too far past her regular “school night” bedtime.

Hawke gathered at the Whale’s Tale on the east side of the harbor with her supporters, but was in bed by 11 p.m., with a good feeling but no certainty.

“We had a full house and Jack did a great job with the food,” Hawke said Wednesday morning. “I had received texts from Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay with their results but had not heard from other towns. When I went to bed I wasn’t sure I had won.”

When she woke this morning, she had won her bid for House Seat 89 by a large margin.

“I’m very excited,” Hawke said.