LePage Declares Victory in Razor-Thin Race for Maine’s 2nd District

A confirmed win would flip the seat to Republicans, leaving him the only GOP member from New England’s U.S. House delegation.

Overview

Paul LePage declared victory on Wednesday after reported returns showed him with about 49.9% to Matt Dunlap’s 48.8% with roughly 93% of votes tallied.
Major outlets had not universally called the race and election officials must complete final counts before a result is official.
Outstanding blank ballots and 149 write-ins could keep neither candidate above 50 percent and trigger Maine’s ranked‑choice procedures used in prior contests.
The contest drew heavy national attention, roughly $35 million in outside advertising, and high-profile endorsements for LePage from President Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and the NRA.
Democrats won the state’s other top races on the same ballot, so a LePage victory would be the only Republican win in Maine’s marquee contests and could change who represents rural voters across the district.