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V O L . X X X I I N O. X X I S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 6 20 A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E F O C U S T he outcome of the race for Maine's 2nd Congressional District is one of several across the country that could affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. Republicans have a 219-214 major- ity in the House, with two vacancies. All 435 representatives are up for elec- tion this year. Maine's largely rural second con- gressional district can be unpredict- able. President Donald Trump won the district in 2016, 2020 and 2024, while voters backed President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. e candidates on the ballot this year are vying for the seat held for four terms by Democrat Jared Golden, who is not seeking reelection. Former Gov. Paul LePage's often brash, anti-establishment rhetoric, which he himself has likened to Trump's style, has won him endorsements from Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. LePage has campaigned to "help secure our broken borders, support Maine jobs, grow our economy and help lower inflation by ending waste- ful spending." But it remains to be seen whether that will sway voters weighing infla- tion, the ongoing war in Iran and a costly tariff dustup with Canada. Support for LePage might hinge on whether 2nd District voters are more concerned about secure borders or how to afford heat for their homes this winter. LePage faces Democrat Matthew Dunlap, a Bar Harbor native and Old Town resident with more than 20 years in Maine government. As Maine's Secretary of State, he claims to have gotten Trump's voter fraud commission disbanded. Dunlap promises "to advance pol- icies that will actually help Mainers — like Medicare for All, affordable childcare, a lower cost of living and stopping this illegal war in Iran." at could land well with Mainers straining to afford groceries, gas and housing. Tina Fischer, Mainebiz staff writer, can be reached at tfischer @ mainebiz.biz Purchase a group subscription for your team or entire organization. Get access to Mainebiz for your entire team EMAIL CIRCULATION@MAINEBIZ.BIZ FOR MORE INFORMATION 2nd District fight heats up Inflation, tariffs and Iran war likely to be top issues for voters B Y T I N A F I S C H E R Support for LePage might hinge on whether 2nd District voters are more concerned about secure borders or how to afford heat for their homes this winter. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Matt Dunlap, Democratic candidate for Maine's 2nd congressional district, speaks to voters at the Buker Community Center in Augusta. A portrait by Ken Hendrickson of former Gov. Paul LePage in the Maine State House in Augusta

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