Historically, the phrase "As Maine goes, so goes the nation" referred to the state’s former status as a political bellwether for the United States. Because Maine held its statewide elections in September due to its early harvest and harsh winters, the results served as a predictive tool for the November presidential race. While the state was traditionally Republican, the margin of victory often signaled the broader mood of the national electorate. This reputation collapsed in 1936 when Maine was one of only two states to support the Republican candidate in an unprecedented Democratic landslide. Following this loss of predictive power, the state eventually aligned its voting schedule with the rest of the country in 1959. Today, the maxim is remembered as a historical relic of American political folklore rather than an accurate forecasting method.