HOLDEN, Maine — Former Gov. Paul LePage pledged to defend gun rights “to the extreme” if elected in his Maine’s 2nd Congressional District bid, which received backing Thursday from the National Rifle Association.
The endorsement from the national gun rights lobbying group comes as LePage faces State Auditor Matt Dunlap, the former head of the gun-rights Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine. The battle for the seat, being vacated by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, marks a contest over one of the most rural congressional districts in the country.
LePage in a news conference at Maine Military Supply in Holden framed gun rights as a core issue in the race, highlighting his strong stance against restrictions on the Second Amendment and the rural nature of the region leaving residents with longer wait times for law enforcement. He argued the endorsement was more important than others he’ll receive, noting it was about “safety, about family, about teaching your kids responsibly … and the big tradition of hunting in Maine.”
“So many people are at risk, in fact there are times in the 2nd District some communities don’t have coverage for multiple hours, so we need to be vigilant, we need to have our guns,” he said.
If elected, LePage pledged to defend gun rights “to the extreme” and said he’d fight any legislation seeking to ban guns. He hinted that he may push to repeal existing federal restrictions.
Asked if there were areas of compromise on gun legislation, he said, “If it’s going to go against the Second Amendment, there’s no compromise. I do not support any restrictions on the Second Amendment.”
John Commerford, who heads the NRA’s Political Victory Fund, said in an interview that LePage’s experience as governor showed “strong, solid support for the Second Amendment, our members and gun owners. We know exactly where he stands.”
LePage noted Dunlap’s background as former executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine but claimed his campaign had taken money from donors that are anti-gun.
“Matt Dunlap is a Maine sportsman and longtime supporter of the Second Amendment,” Dunlap campaign manager Harry Burke said. “It’s not surprising that a partisan group like the NRA endorsed a partisan like Paul LePage.”
Burke also said if LePeage is welcome “to join Matt for a skeet shooting contest, we’d be happy to see who’s a better shot.”
Dunlap, who was recently endorsed by End Citizens United, won a tough primary over national Democrats’ initially preferred candidate, state Sen. Joe Baldacci of Bangor, along with former political aide Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud.
LePage, who won the conservative-leaning district in a failed bid to return to the Blaine House in 2022, has led many hypothetical general election polls earlier in the year. But election forecaster FiftyPlusOne recently called the 2nd District race a toss-up.