Dunlap insists CD2 race too close to call after LePage declares victory

This story has been updated.

Republican Paul LePage declared victory in the election for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District on Wednesday afternoon, though outlets had not yet called the race.

LePage spoke at a press conference at Sea Dog Brewing in Bangor just after 2 p.m., and said he was looking forward to going to Congress. 

“This is my gig: if it helps Maine, I’m going to be all over it, if it hurts Maine, I’m going to be all against it,” LePage said. “And I will work with anyone and everyone that wants to put Maine first.”

But his opponent, Democrat Matt Dunlap, has not conceded. In a statement Wednesday, Dunlap said the race was still too close to call.

“Maine has the most reliable elections staff in the world, and I want to thank them as they diligently finish the count,” Dunlap said. “This race is very close and there are plenty of ballots left to count. Thank you to every volunteer who worked their heart out on this campaign and thank you to every voter. We’ll have more to say as we learn more.”

As of 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, LePage had secured 49.9% of votes and Democrat Matt Dunlap had 48.8% with 94% of results counted, according to initial numbers from the Bangor Daily News, which gathered totals from municipalities and partnered with Decision Desk HQ.

The Associated Press, which also had not yet called the race, had LePage at 50.1% and Dunlap at 49.9% with 89% counted. 

That could mean the race will still go to a ranked-choice runoff. With a declared write-in candidate in the race, one of the candidates must get more than 50% of total votes to be named the winner. 

Nonetheless, LePage was clear that he was declaring victory in the race. 

“The public numbers have us up about four thousand, and we, the team, has been calling all the towns that haven’t come in yet, and there is no path to victory for my opponent,” LePage said.

The Secretary of State’s Office has not yet weighed in on the close race or said if a ranked-choice runoff would be necessary. But with so few votes separating the candidates, a recount is likely.

The secretary’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democratic U.S. Rep Jared Golden currently holds the seat, but announced last November that he would not seek reelection. LePage had already announced his campaign, and faced no Republican primary challengers. Dunlap had intended to challenge Golden, and went on to defeat three other candidates in a ranked-choice runoff in the June primary. 

Nationally, Democrats are poised to take over control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate after many previously Republican-held districts flipped in their favor in response to President Donald Trump’s declining approval.

If LePage proves ultimately successful, the 2nd District could be the only district in the country where the Republican Party flipped a seat. But LePage said he is ready to work in a Democrat-controlled Congress. 

“I will work with anybody to help make this country a better country,” LePage said. 

The former governor said he was “dead tired” last night as he watched the results come in.

“Now I’m going home to sleep, I’m going to sleep for the next 20 hours,” LePage said.