Maine Democrats pick progressive Dunlap for key House race

Maine Democrats have selected Matthew Dunlap as their nominee for the state's 2nd Congressional District, setting up a contest against Republican Paul LePage. The race is significant as it is seen as a prime House pickup opportunity for the GOP in the midterms, especially with the retirement of incumbent Rep. Jared Golden.

President Trump won the district's one Electoral College vote in the last presidential cycle, even as the rest of the state went blue. Cook Political Report rates Golden’s seat as “likely Republican” this time around.

LePage, who was uncontested in the primary, secured the GOP nod with a Trump endorsement. Dunlap won the state’s Democratic primary by a slim margin, beating state lawmaker Joe Baldacci by fewer than 5 percentage points. Dunlap thanked his supporters in a social media post, stating, “Today’s results tell us that people want real change and a better future.”

The Democratic contest was on track to be complicated by Maine’s ranked-choice voting system, which was approved by voters a decade ago. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated in additional rounds of tallying.

In the gubernatorial race, Hannah Pingree and Bobby Charles will face each other in the general election to succeed Governor Janet Mills.