Paul LePage Wins Maine's 2nd Congressional District Seat
Former Governor Paul LePage defeated Democrat Matt Dunlap to become the only Republican member of Congress representing New England.
Former Republican Governor Paul LePage won the election for Maine's 2nd congressional district on Thursday, defeating Democratic state auditor Matt Dunlap. The victory followed a ranked-choice runoff in Augusta after LePage failed to secure an outright majority during the initial Election Day tally. LePage eventually won by approximately 5,400 votes.
LePage replaces retiring Democratic Representative Jared Golden. This result marks the only congressional seat in the United States to flip from Democratic to Republican without the influence of redistricting during a midterm cycle in which Democrats flipped 44 seats. Upon declaring victory, LePage pledged to prioritize Maine's interests in Washington.
The win stands as the sole success for Maine Republicans in a cycle that saw the end of U.S. Senator Susan Collins' 30-year career and a strengthened Democratic hold on state government. While LePage aligns with Donald Trump's conservative populism, he has criticized Trump's tariffs on Canada and supported legal immigration. When sworn in this January, LePage will be the only Republican member of Congress representing New England.
