Maine Sets Pingree-Charles Governor Race, Dunlap-LePage House Matchup

Maine voters now face a governor’s race between Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles and a House contest in the 2nd District between Democrat Matt Dunlap and Republican Paul LePage. Both matchups were settled after ranked-choice tabulation concluded early on June 19.

The gubernatorial primary drew attention because Jonathan Bush, nephew of former President George H.W. Bush, failed to advance. Charles, who served as assistant secretary of state under three Republican presidents, prevailed once second and later preferences were redistributed. He has emphasized crime enforcement and opposition to state-level “woke policies.” Pingree enters the fall contest as the favorite in a state that supported Kamala Harris by roughly seven points in 2024.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Dunlap, the state auditor and former secretary of state, defeated state Sen. Joe Baldacci after trailing in the first round of ranked-choice counting. National Democratic groups had backed Baldacci, while a super PAC that spent $300,000 supported Dunlap. The district, which Donald Trump carried by nine points in 2024, had been held by retiring Democrat Jared Golden. LePage, who served two terms as governor from 2011 to 2019, secured the Republican nomination earlier and is backed by Trump.

Dunlap supports Medicare for All and received an endorsement from Rep. Ro Khanna. Baldacci had highlighted a 2003 legislative vote by Dunlap on an abortion waiting period; Dunlap later stated on his website that he fully supports abortion rights. LePage’s record includes welfare-fraud enforcement measures and past statements that drew criticism, including a 2016 claim about the race of drug dealers arrested in Maine.

No certified first-round percentages or final redistribution margins have been released by the Maine Secretary of State in the coverage examined here. The 2nd District race is expected to attract substantial spending from both parties.