Former Gov. Paul LePage and State Auditor Matt Dunlap meet at 8 p.m. Thursday in the first debate of their race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, hosted by WMTW.
LePage, a former Republican two-term governor, is the favorite in a district that has voted for President Donald Trump three times. Decision Desk HQ, the Bangor Daily News’ election results partner, gives him a 64% chance of winning.
He struggled in his 2022 debates with Gov. Janet Mills, and he has run this year on his record of cutting taxes and on protecting Social Security. Dunlap, a Democrat, has backed Medicare for All and opposed Trump’s tariffs while trying to appeal to sportsmen.
The seat is open because U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is retiring, and Trump’s political operation and Elon Musk’s PAC are spending to help Republicans hold their narrow House majority. LePage agreed to only two debates, this one and an Oct. 15 forum. Dunlap wanted four.
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