Associated Press

AUGUSTA — Charlie Summers, a former state senator who recently returned from duty with the Navy in Iraq, defeated Dean Scontras of Eliot in Tuesday's Republican primary for the District 1 congressional nomination.

Summers, who has campaigned twice previously for Congress, was ahead of Scontras with 59 percent of the vote with votes talled in 51 percent of the district's precincts.

Southern Maine's 1st District also featured a hotly contested six-way Democratic race. Unofficial tallies had Chellie Pingree with a steady lead over Adam Cote through the evening.

In the Senate, Maine Democrats chose Rep. Tom Allen over political newcomer Tom Ledue. Allen will face two-term Sen. Susan Collins, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in November.