With no clear winner, 2nd District Democrats headed to run off

The Democratic candidates for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District are likely headed to a ranked-choice run off after the candidates all failed to gain close to a majority of votes in Tuesday’s primary. 

As of 11 p.m. with 44% of the votes counted, the Associated Press reported Joe Baldacci leading the group with 32.7% of the votes, followed by Jordan Wood with 29.6% and Matt Dunlap with 27.5%. Paige Loud trailed with 10.1% of votes. 

The winner of the primary will face off against the Republican nominee, former Gov. Paul LePage, who did not face any primary opponents. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden announced in November that he would not seek reelection. 

The race is all but guaranteed to draw national attention in November, as both parties fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Baldacci, a three-term state senator, is currently leading the pack. He earned an endorsement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which was criticized by other candidates in the race, who called it interference from Washington D.C. 

Earlier in the night, Baldacci said he felt optimistic about the early results, and that he was still the best choice for the district in the general election.

“We need someone who’s going to beat Paul LePage and hold this administration accountable and work to fix the mess that extremist politicians in D.C. have made,” Baldacci said. 

Jeffrey Kirlin was at the Baldacci campaign watch party Tuesday night, and said he felt very good about the candidate’s chances in the primary. 

Kirlin said healthcare is a top priority for him, and while other candidates have called for Medicare For All, Baldacci has campaigned on expanding the program to people over 55 years old. Kirlin said he felt that Baldacci’s plan was reasonable, and would still make a big difference for people.

“I had never met my deductible until I turned 55, so there would be a huge savings for people if they were able to do that,” Kirlin said. 

In second place Tuesday night was Wood, who has worked in Washington at End Citizens United, democracyFIRST and as chief of staff for former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter of California. 

Despite national stakes, 2nd District Democrats struggle to gain an edge

Third place in the initial count was State Auditor Dunlap, who was the only candidate to announce his campaign before Golden dropped out. 

Just after 11 p.m., Dunlap said he was a bit surprised by the slow pace of the results, with many of the larger towns not yet tallied. But he said he wasn’t counting himself out of the race yet, and urged his supporters to be patient. 

“When you’re all within one or two percent of each other, it’s anybody’s game,” Dunlap said. 

Earlier in the night, Cate Pineau, a volunteer for Dunlap, said at the campaign’s Old Town watch party that she jumped in to back him early in the primary.

“I was first very struck by his courage in taking on Jared Golden,” she said. “As a Democrat, I had become very disillusioned with Jared — besides his pro-choice vote, I felt that he no longer represented my interests.”

Pineau said she had “big hopes” for Dunlap in the primary, but with a four-way race it was hard to predict who would come out ahead. 

Political newcomer Loud trails the other candidates, and will likely see her votes redistributed in the ranked-choice run off. 

In Bangor, Democrat Erin Grindle said she voted for Baldacci.

“I didn’t know the other ones, so I didn’t rank anyone else,” she said. 

Amy Trask, a fellow Democrat, said she ranked Loud first, because she always wants to boost female candidates and support people involved in social justice.

“When I have the sense that somebody isn’t going to win and I have the opportunity to do ranked choice, I think it’s even better to vote my conscience and vote for who I really think is the best,” Trask said. 

Independent Gordon Hilton voted in the Democratic primary, ranking Dunlap first and Wood second. He said he was hopeful that the winner would beat LePage. 

“Some of the Democrats, I think they’re good people, and I can’t sit here and tell you I think Paul LePage is a good person. I don’t think he is,” Hilton said.