The new House Speaker, Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven), assumed the top job after serving as House majority leader. She will be termed out when her term is up, along with Majority Leader John Piotti (D-Unity).

This leaves House minority whip Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) as the only member of leadership eligible to run for speaker next term. He has two terms left.

On Wednesday, Berry said he was not ready to discuss his political future. Instead, he is focused on the upcoming session.

History shows that past leadership members are the most likely candidates for the top job. Only one of the past eight speakers did not have experience in leadership prior to serving.

• 2007 Glenn Cummings (D-Portland) was speaker, he served as majority leader the term prior
• 2005 John Richardson (D-Brunswick) was speaker, he served as majority leader the term prior
• 2003 Patrick Colwell (D-Gardiner) was speaker, he served as majority leader the term prior
• 2001 Mike Saxl (D-Portland) was speaker, he served as majority leader the term prior
• 1999 Steven Rowe (D-Portland) was speaker, he served as a committee chair the term prior
• 1997 Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro) was speaker, she served as majority whip the term prior
• 1995 Dan Gwadosky (D-Fairfield) was speaker, he served as majority leader for the first year of the prior term, and then was speaker for the final year
• 1975 to 1993 John Martin (D-Eagle Lake), who was the minority leader the two terms before his years as speaker.