Former Maine Governor Paul LePage has officially flipped Maine's 2nd Congressional District to Republican control, securing the only GOP House flip in a non-redistricted seat during the 2026 midterm elections. The victory was confirmed after a ranked-choice voting tabulation, with LePage defeating progressive Democrat Matt Dunlap by a margin of 5,458 votes.

The final tally showed LePage with 170,890 votes compared to Dunlap's 165,432 after the ranked-choice count concluded. LePage, who served as Maine's governor from 2011 to 2019, will become the lone Republican representative from New England in the incoming Congress, marking a significant anomaly in the otherwise deep-blue region.

Republican Bright Spot in Democratic Wave

LePage's win stands out dramatically against the backdrop of Democratic gains across the country. While Republicans lost control of Congress in what many are calling a "blue tsunami," LePage managed to capture a district that Democrat Jared Golden had held since 2018. The seat became open after Golden announced he would not seek reelection.

The former governor received an endorsement from President Donald Trump during the campaign, with Trump praising LePage's record on taxes and business development. LePage has frequently described himself as "Donald Trump before Donald Trump became popular," embracing the same confrontational political style that defined his two terms as governor.

Ranked Choice Voting Confirms Victory

Maine's unique ranked-choice voting system added suspense to the race, delaying the final call until ballot tabulation was complete. During the ranked-choice process, LePage gained 627 additional votes while Dunlap picked up 587 votes, maintaining LePage's lead throughout the count.

LePage declared victory on November 4 during a press conference in Bangor, though late results were still being processed at the time. State officials officially confirmed his win after completing the full ranked-choice tabulation and ballot review process.

Maine's Rural District Breaks Blue

The 2nd Congressional District encompasses Maine's vast rural interior, stretching from the Canadian border to the state's western mountains. The district has proven politically competitive in recent years, with voters splitting their support between Trump for president and Golden for Congress in previous elections.

LePage's victory demonstrates the strength of Republican messaging on economic issues in rural areas, even as suburban and urban voters moved decisively toward Democrats nationwide. His campaign focused heavily on inflation, energy costs, and opposition to progressive policies emanating from Washington.

The win gives Republicans a rare foothold in New England, a region that has trended increasingly Democratic over the past two decades. With this victory, LePage joins the incoming freshman class in what will otherwise be a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.