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Matt Dunlap conceded to Paul LePage, but they’re headed to a ranked-choice runoff anyway
Portland Press Herald - Maine Sunday Telegram • • nation
Key Points:
- Maine’s 2nd congressional district race will proceed to a ranked-choice runoff after no candidate surpassed the 50% vote threshold, as announced by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
- Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage holds a 5,400-vote lead and is favored to win; his Democratic opponent, Matt Dunlap, conceded the race shortly after the announcement.
- Ranked-choice tabulation will begin Monday, including second-choice votes from ballots that did not initially select LePage or Dunlap, with blank ballots affecting the 50% threshold calculation.
- LePage’s lead is closer to the winning threshold than previous similar races, making his eventual victory likely, which would mark a rare Republican flip in a predominantly Democratic election cycle in Maine.
- If elected, LePage, aged 78, would be one of the oldest freshman congressmen and serve as a backbencher in a Democratic-controlled House; official campaign statements are pending.
