Augusta, Maine (AP) — Maine’s state auditor and former secretary of state said Monday he will challenge fourth-term Democrat Jared Golden ahead of one of the most closely watched congressional races of the midterm.
Golden is medium A Democrat who represents Maine’s Second Congressional District, one of the most politically diverse districts in the country. Golden has been in office despite representing districts that have shown strong support for President Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections.
Matt Dunlapwho is in the second stint as a state auditor, said Golden was too kind to Trump and would fight more aggressively for the state’s interests.
“The Golden has repeated the Trump side, even when it means healthcare costs will skyrocket for thousands of main people,” Dunlap said in a statement.
The primary winner could face a former Republican Maine government. Paul RepageI was running with GOP tickets in 2026 and started the campaign a few months ago. LePage served as governor from 2011 to 2019, and again in 2022 he called for the office. Much of his support is in rural areas with much more conservative voters than the liberal coastal district 1.
Golden described District 2 as a “strongly independent” and worthy of representing it.
“It’s one of the most ideologically diverse districts in the country and deserves someone to represent it. If Matt Dunlap thinks the district would choose him over Paul Lepage, he has something else,” Golden said in a statement.
The district is one of only a handful of the nation that determines control of the House, where Republicans hold a slight advantage. That’s a key hold for the Democrats. Golden Republican Austin Celia has been rimmedin the 2024 elections, it was primarily politically unknown.
The district is the largest region east of the Mississippi River and features some of the state’s longest standing industries, including forestry and lobster fishing.
LePage’s campaign spokesman Brent Littlefield said his appearance as a candidate for Dunlap is evidence that Golden is heading towards donors rather than residents.
“Matt Dunlap sees what we see, Jared Golden is hidden. From Arostock to Oxford and all the counties in between, Maine says they will never see Jared Golden in their towns and communities,” Littlefield said in a statement.
