Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Paul LePage responded to questions about his Maine residency on the debate stage Thursday.
Democratic challenger Matt Dunlap has questioned whether LePage actually lives in a small apartment above a car rental business in Augusta.
Dunlap raised the subject again during a debate hosted by WABI, prompting an animated response from LePage.
“Yes, I’m a snowbird. At my age I don’t like snow anymore. I don’t ski anymore. I’ve got knee problems, so I don’t ski and I don’t play hockey anymore. So yes, in the winter months, we got to Florida,” he said.
LePage went on to say that he’s never lived in Florida an entire year.
Questions about LePage’s residency have followed him ever since the former two-term governor left office in 2019. He was registered to vote in Florida in 2018 and 2023, a year after he attempted a failed bid for a third term against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Last year the Augusta city clerk confirmed that he voted in Maine during the 2024 election.
LePage and Dunlap are locked in an important race that could play a role in determining which party controls the U.S. House next year. Some election prognosticators give LePage the edge in the contest, citing the 2nd District’s right-leaning electorate and because it’s voted three times decisively for President Donald Trump.
However, Democrats have been competitive there. Dunlap hopes to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, who has held the seat since 2018.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.