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Amy Fried is professor emerita of political science at the University of Maine. She has a Substack newsletter called Political Sightlines and lives in Bangor.
When Rep. Jared Golden announced he wouldn’t run for reelection in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, Matt Dunlap initially became the lone Democrat. The open seat immediately drew national attention and a familiar question: Can another Democrat win here?
The answer is yes, but it depends on who that is. Matt Dunlap is the type of Democrat who can.
To understand why Dunlap fits the 2nd District, consider the district. Yes, Donald Trump won three times here. But that oversimplifies the story. For more than 50 years, voters have consistently elected relative pragmatists: Republican Bill Cohen, Republican Olympia Snowe, Democrat John Baldacci, Democrat Mike Michaud, Republican Bruce Poliquin, and then Democrat Jared Golden. Dunlap stands squarely in the same independent-minded lineage.
Dunlap’s views also match how the district has voted. When Golden first won in 2018, he backed Medicare for All, a position Dunlap holds today. And Golden lost support as he increasingly aligned himself with Trump. In Golden’s own words when stepping aside, he described 2nd District voters as skeptical of elites, supportive of taxing the wealthy, respectful of both the First and Second Amendments and believing in hard work and fairness. That’s Matt Dunlap’s profile as well.
The district’s voters also expect accessibility.
Golden famously attacked Poliquin in 2018 for avoiding constituent questions. Throughout Dunlap’s career, he has shown up, listening carefully, and helping people one by one. In describing why accessibility matters, Dunlap said, “Being available and having these conversations is where you really learn what the job is… you get to be part of people’s journeys.” That philosophy is deeply ingrained in the district’s culture.
Dunlap also brings varied experience that undercuts any attempt to paint him as extreme or unprepared. He’s a hunter and fisherman, led the Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine, co-founded the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, and wrote for The Northwoods Sporting Journal. In the Legislature, he worked on wildlife and elections. As secretary of state, he stood up to Trump’s voter-fraud commission, sued for transparency, and won in court. He is now the state auditor. This is a deeply rooted, Maine-focused resume.
Just as important is Dunlap’s character, something voters in the 2nd District also value. I’ve seen so many stories about quiet acts of kindness and service. When a constituent urgently needed a driver’s license to get his sick wife to the doctor, Dunlap arranged it the same day and brought it to the man’s house himself. When a terminally ill teenager wanted to take a driving test, Dunlap had it arranged and created a special license plate just for her. In another case, he consistently checked in with a family dealing with an abusive nursing home.
Those aren’t political stunts. They’re part of a long pattern. In discussing trust and distrust in government, Dunlap explained he wasn’t “bothered” by helping others; instead, he said, “That’s why I’m here.”
Finally, Dunlap has proven he can build broad coalitions. He was endorsed early by former Rep. Mike Michaud. After Golden left the race, Dunlap quickly garnered support from Golden endorsers, and not just Democrats. Tom Saviello, a former Republican lawmaker who is now an independent, endorsed Dunlap as someone who listens, learns, and works across the aisle.
Taken together, Dunlap is a pragmatic, experienced, decent leader who aligns with the district’s values and who isn’t afraid to push back against his own party when needed. In contrast, Paul LePage brings bluster, Trump-aligned politics, and a record of attacking voting rights and baselessly claiming voter fraud in a district that deeply values them. When he lost to Janet Mills in 2022, LePage got just over 50% in the 2nd District.
I believe Matt Dunlap can win Maine’s 2nd District. More importantly, he’s the kind of leader who would serve it with integrity, accessibility, and respect. That’s exactly what this moment calls for.