Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage declared winner of open House seat

Mary Ellen McIntire, CQ-Roll Call on Nov 12, 2026

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WASHINGTON — Paul LePage, the former Maine governor who once said he was “Donald Trump before Donald Trump,” is heading to Congress.

The Associated Press called the race for the open 2nd District on Thursday after the Maine Secretary of State’s office tabulated the votes under the state’s ranked choice voting system. LePage ended up ahead of Democratic state Auditor Matt Dunlap 50.8% to 49.2%.

Dunlap had already conceded the race to LePage, who will succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in the sprawling district, which includes much of Maine outside the Portland and Augusta areas.

“Paul LePage is already hard at work for the people of Maine attending Congressional orientation, meeting with national leaders, and making it clear the political parties need to work together for the American people,” Brent Littlefield, a senior adviser to LePage, said in a statement Thursday. “As Paul said, he will work with anyone, regardless of Party, to put Maine first.”

LePage’s win is a glimmer of good news for Republicans, who saw massive losses across the country in last week’s midterm elections. He is one of three Republicans, along with Texas’ Jace Yarbrough and Tennessee’s Brent Taylor, to have flipped a House seat, although Maine’s 2nd District is the only one of the three that wasn’t redrawn to favor the GOP.

LePage’s win also means that at least one Republican will continue to represent New England in Congress, taking up the mantle from Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who lost her own reelection bid last week.

Golden, who was first elected in 2018, had been a top Republican target throughout his time in Congress. But the lawmaker, known for bucking his party, proved difficult to unseat in the past two election cycles.

“I also know a thing or two about winning in tough circumstances. So, I know you have to tip your hat to Paul LePage for winning in the midst of this Blue Tsunami,” Golden said in a social media post last week.

Dunlap initially launched his campaign as a primary challenge to Golden in the fall of 2025, only for the congressman to announce his retirement a month later. Dunlap went on to win a four-way contest for the Democratic nomination.

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