Who's running in Maine's 2nd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Medicare for All or another form of universal health care; opposing reductions to Medicaid.
Ending what he calls 'this illegal war in Iran.'
Affordable child care and a lower cost of living.
Replacing blanket tariffs, including on Canada, with targeted ones.
Higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans and holding 'the billionaire class accountable.'
Abortion rights, and opposing opening public lands to development and mining.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Maine state auditor (current); Maine secretary of state 2005–2011 and 2013–2021; Maine House of Representatives 1996–2004.
Former executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine.
Member of President Trump's 2017 election integrity commission; sued it for access to records.
Won the June 9, 2026 Democratic primary in a ranked-choice runoff, 52.5% to 47.5% over the DCCC-backed state Sen. Joe Baldacci.
Named to the DCCC's Red to Blue program in August 2026; endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
Dunlap 'spent his career standing up for working Mainers', and 'Mainers know exactly what Paul LePage stands for — that's why they're ready to reject him and send Matt Dunlap to Congress instead.'
— DCCC spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre (Roll Call)
Dunlap has spent years fighting false claims of voter fraud, including suing Trump's first-term election commission, and has built friendships with politicians of both parties.
— Maine Public and Portland Press Herald reporting
Arguments against
'Matt Dunlap is a chronic government employee who hasn't been a part of Maine's working class for years. His biggest priority is standing up to Trump ... His socialistic health care policy will do nothing but raise taxes and lower the quality of care for Mainers.'
— Maine Republican Party (Maine Public)
'Incompetent radical Matt Dunlap has let fraud run rampant in Augusta and embraces an extreme agenda that would hike taxes, make health care access more difficult, and push woke gender ideology on kids.'
— NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole
Dunlap 'has sided with the extremists in his party who are only interested in attacking President Trump all day and all night' and 'will be completely ineffective', and he 'failed to do his job as state auditor.'
— Brent Littlefield, adviser to Paul LePage (Portland Press Herald)
What we couldn’t verify
The NRCC and LePage campaign charge that Dunlap failed as state auditor or let fraud 'run rampant' was not tied to a specific audit in a loaded source.
Maine Morning Star reported that Dunlap has proposed four debates, but its site could not be loaded; debate plans were not confirmed in a loaded source.
Securing 'our broken borders', supporting Maine jobs and lowering inflation 'by ending wasteful spending.'
Working with the Trump administration to lower costs and grow the economy.
Protecting health care access by keeping hospitals solvent through adequate provider reimbursement rates.
Second Amendment rights.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Governor of Maine 2011–2019; mayor of Waterville 2004–2011.
As governor, paid off hospital debt owed by the state; also withheld voter-approved funding for Medicaid expansion.
Lost the 2022 governor's race to Gov. Janet Mills but carried the 2nd District.
Unopposed in the June 9, 2026 Republican primary; had $1.7 million on hand entering July, per Roll Call.
Endorsed by President Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and 2024 nominee Austin Theriault, and named to the NRCC's MAGA Majority program, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
'Paul LePage is a proven fighter for Maine families. As Governor, he lowered their taxes, secured their benefits, and created jobs.'
— NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole
The district's voters have backed both Trump and LePage repeatedly, and LePage 'will ensure Maine's voice is heard in Washington', including by working with Trump administration officials to lower costs; as governor he paid off a hospital debt that threatened services across Maine.
LePage only came 'up to Maine from his real home in Florida so he can run for office again.'
— Matt Dunlap, Democratic opponent (Maine Public)
As governor, LePage withheld voter-approved funds for Medicaid expansion and called Medicaid and Social Security welfare programs that should be eliminated.
— Matt Dunlap, Democratic opponent (Portland Press Herald)
What we couldn’t verify
LePage did not answer the Portland Press Herald's questions on whether he supports Trump's actions in the Iran war or on the direction of the Democratic Party.
Debate plans were not confirmed in a loaded source.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Maine's general election. This race is decided by ranked-choice voting, which remains in force for 2026: Maine uses it in primaries and in general elections for federal offices, including the US House, though not for governor or the Legislature. If no candidate wins a majority of first choices, last-place candidates are eliminated and their ballots move to voters' next choices until someone passes 50%. With only two candidates on the ballot, a majority is expected in the first round unless write-in votes prevent one. In April 2026 the Maine Supreme Judicial Court advised against expanding ranked-choice voting to state general elections, but that opinion left its use in congressional races unchanged. The map did not change for 2026: the current two districts remain in use, and no redraw or pending congressional map case was found. This is an open seat: Democratic Rep. Jared Golden withdrew from re-election in November 2025. Primaries were held June 9, 2026. State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic nomination in a ranked-choice runoff, 52.5% to 47.5% over state Sen. Joe Baldacci, after Jordan Wood and Paige Loud were eliminated; former Gov. Paul LePage was unopposed for the Republican nomination. The Maine Secretary of State's final general election candidate list shows only Dunlap and LePage for this district. Independent Gregory A. Ward of Limestone is a declared write-in candidate and is not listed here. The district covers central and northern Maine, including Lewiston, Bangor, Augusta and Aroostook County. Golden won 50.3% in 2024 while Trump carried the district 53.5% to 44.5%. The DCCC has named Dunlap to Red to Blue and the NRCC has named LePage to MAGA Majority. Candidates are listed Democrat then Republican as on the Secretary of State's list; that is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Maine ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.