Maine Democrats have selected state auditor Matthew Dunlap as their candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, a closely contested race that could play a significant role in determining which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives come November, according to U.S. media projections released Friday.
The district, which is largely rural, is among a handful of competitive congressional seats expected to influence the balance of power in Washington. Democrats face a challenging landscape there, as the district has historically leaned toward Republican presidential candidates.
The seat became available after centrist Democrat Jared Golden announced he would not run for reelection. Golden had managed to hold the district multiple times despite its conservative-leaning voters.
Dunlap emerged from a Democratic primary field that also included state Senator Joe Baldacci, considered the most moderate of the group, along with former congressional aide Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud.
The Associated Press called the race 10 days after the June 9 Democratic primary — a timeline that reflects how Maine’s ranked-choice voting system can require additional time to determine a final outcome. Dunlap, who campaigned as a progressive, took to social media to celebrate the result.
“Today’s results tell us that people want real change and a better future,” Dunlap wrote.
In the general election, Dunlap will go up against Republican former Governor Paul LePage in what is shaping up to be a high-profile contest.
“Together, we’re going to defeat Paul LePage one more time and make sure he’s never on the ballot again. While we’re at it, we’re going to fight to advance policies that will actually help Mainers — like Medicare for All, affordable childcare, a lower cost of living, and stopping this illegal war in Iran,” Dunlap said.
