politics
State Auditor Matt Dunlap Wins Maine Democratic Primary for 2nd District
Matt Dunlap defeated the party-backed candidate in the Democratic primary for Maine’s 2nd District. He will face former Governor Paul LePage in November after Rep. Jared Golden retires.
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State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd District early Friday morning. Dunlap defeated the candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He will face Republican Paul LePage in the November general election.
The seat is open because Rep.
Jared Golden is retiring after four terms. Golden is a Blue Dog Democrat who held the Trump-won district in 2024. LePage served two terms as governor and remains popular in the district. Dunlap ran on a progressive platform that included support for Medicare for all.
The DCCC recruited and endorsed state Sen.
Joe Baldacci after trying to keep Dunlap off the ballot. The committee warned that only Golden could hold the seat.
“Paul LePage embodies everything Mainers are fed up with. A spokesman stated the group looks forward to ensuring LePage loses in November.”
The NRCC said national Democrats failed twice in the district by losing their incumbent and their preferred replacement. May polling from the NRCC showed LePage leading Dunlap by 10 points. Democrats need to flip three seats to regain House control. Analysts noted that losing this seat would require the party to win one additional district elsewhere.
