LePage Challenges Rep. Golden for Maine's 2nd District

Former Maine Governor Paul LePage has filed to run for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Jared Golden. LePage, a Republican who served as governor from 2011 to 2019, lost his most recent gubernatorial bid in 2022 to Janet Mills by a significant margin. The district is considered one of the most competitive in the country, with Golden narrowly winning his last race by less than 3,000 votes under Maine’s ranked-choice voting system. LePage is the first major Republican to enter the race, which could become even more competitive if Golden pursues a run for governor as rumored. Ranked-choice voting in the district, a point of contention among Republicans, could play a significant role in the outcome. LePage's candidacy is expected to draw national attention given both his controversial political history and the district’s swing status.