--- title: "Dunlap vs. LePage: 2026 Maine’s 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-me-02" updated: "2026-10-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Maine’s 2nd District race: Matthew Dunlap (D) vs. Paul LePage (R) Rating: Lean R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: October 1, 2026 The 2026 election for Maine's 2nd Congressional District is an open-seat battleground race following the retirement of Democratic incumbent Jared Golden. Democratic nominee Matthew Dunlap, Maine's State Auditor and former Secretary of State, faces former Republican Governor Paul LePage in a district won three times by Donald Trump. The matchup hinges on contrasting economic visions, healthcare policies, and the candidates' executive records in state government. ## Candidates - **Matthew Dunlap** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.mattdunlapforuscongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) - **Paul LePage** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://lepageforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ## Issues ### Economy and cost of living Salience: high Dunlap opposes tariffs and advocates government investment in housing and childcare, whereas LePage focuses on eliminating wasteful spending, lowering taxes, and cutting regulations to curb inflation. **Matthew Dunlap:** Lowers costs by ending tariffs Dunlap blames rising cost of living on federal tariffs and foreign conflicts like the war in Iran. He proposes lowering household costs through universal childcare, expanded affordable housing, and making corporations and billionaires pay their fair share. He advocates lifting blanket tariffs to relieve price pressures on groceries, gas, and home heating. - Lift blanket tariffs imposed by the Trump administration - Establish universal childcare and expand affordable housing - Make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share of taxes - End foreign conflicts driving up fuel costs > “In Congress, I’ll fight for universal childcare, good-paying jobs, and a surge in affordable housing to help our neighbors manage a middle-class life again.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** Curbs inflation by cutting spending LePage focuses on eliminating wasteful federal spending that he argues drove up inflation under the Biden administration. Drawing on his business experience, he advocates for lowering taxes, cutting red tape, and reducing government regulation to stimulate job growth. He positions himself as a fiscal conservative focused on protecting family and senior budgets. - Eliminate wasteful government spending to reduce inflation - Lower taxes and reduce regulatory red tape - Unleash free-market job creation based on business executive experience > “He will work to eliminate wasteful spending which drove up inflation under Biden.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Healthcare Salience: high Dunlap advocates for Medicare for All and expanding Medicaid, while LePage focuses on protecting existing Medicare and Social Security programs without structural expansions. **Matthew Dunlap:** Supports Medicare for All Dunlap advocates transitioning to a Medicare for All system to guarantee healthcare access and lower costs. He calls for standing up to Big Pharma, re-establishing ACA tax credits, and reversing Medicaid cuts that hurt rural hospitals. - Enact Medicare for All system - Reverse Medicaid cuts affecting rural hospital clinics - Re-establish Affordable Care Act tax credits - Cap prescription drug prices and challenge pharmaceutical companies > “It's past time to move towards a Medicare-for-all system that puts people’s health and financial well-being over private profits for health insurance companies and executives.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** Protects Medicare and Social Security LePage commits to protecting Medicare and Social Security benefits for seniors without cutting programs. During his governorship, he opposed Medicaid expansion and vetoed bills expanding access to harm-reduction medications. - Protect Social Security and Medicare benefits for seniors - Secure local hospitals from financial insolvency - Opposed Medicaid expansion during tenure as governor > “Paul has always protected, and will always protect, Social Security and Medicare.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Democracy and governance Salience: medium Dunlap highlights his record suing Trump's voter fraud commission and defending voting access, while LePage emphasizes fighting government overreach and executive leadership. **Matthew Dunlap:** Protects voting rights and law Dunlap emphasizes his record as Secretary of State successfully suing to disband President Trump's voter fraud commission. He pledges to resist partisan redistricting and voting restrictions on absentee ballots and voter ID. - Successfully sued and disbanded Trump's voter-fraud commission - Oppose restrictions on absentee voting and voter ID rules - Uphold the rule of law against authoritarian executive overreach > “When I was Secretary of State, I sued Trump’s sham voter-fraud commission. I won and got it disbanded.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** Opposes government overreach LePage promises to fight government overreach and defend constitutional liberties. His gubernatorial tenure was marked by frequent conflicts with the legislature over veto power and executive authority. - Fight federal government overreach - Defend constitutional liberties and family rights - Maintain strict executive oversight over state spending > “Paul will defend your Second Amendment rights, fight government overreach, and stand up for parents and families.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Education and culture Salience: low Dunlap opposes tax cuts for billionaires in favor of school funding, while LePage focuses on parental rights and opposing transgender participation in girls' sports. **Matthew Dunlap:** Funds public schools over tax breaks Dunlap ran campaign advertisements criticizing federal tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of public school funding. - Prioritize federal investment in K-12 public schools - Oppose billionaire tax cuts that reduce school funding **Paul LePage:** Opposes woke extremism in schools LePage positions himself as a defender of parents and families, advocating against what he calls woke extremism in schools. He specifically opposes transgender participation in female sports. - Oppose transgender female participation in girls' sports - Protect parental rights in education - Highlight past gubernatorial record of increasing K-12 spending > “bring our northern Maine economy back, help end the woke extremism — putting boys in girls sports, protect our freedoms like the Second Amendment” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Guns Salience: low Dunlap emphasizes Maine's outdoor heritage, while LePage emphasizes defending Second Amendment rights against government overreach. **Matthew Dunlap:** Supports Maine's outdoor heritage Dunlap draws on his past background as executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine and NRA member to advocate for Maine's outdoor sporting tradition. - Protect Maine's hunting and outdoor sporting heritage **Paul LePage:** Defends Second Amendment rights LePage pledges to defend gun owners' freedoms and Second Amendment rights against federal government restrictions. - Defend Second Amendment gun rights against federal legislation > “Paul will defend your Second Amendment rights, fight government overreach, and stand up for parents and families.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Border security and immigration Salience: medium **Matthew Dunlap:** No documented position in our sources **Paul LePage:** Secures border and finishes wall LePage pledges to finish the southern border wall and end illegal immigration to restore law and order. As governor, he strongly opposed the federal government's resettlement of Syrian refugees in Maine. - Finish construction of the border wall - End illegal immigration and enforce immigration laws - Oppose unvetted refugee resettlement in Maine > “Paul will fight to finish the wall, end illegal immigration, and restore law and order.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Labor and trade Salience: medium **Matthew Dunlap:** Supports PRO Act and unions Dunlap pledges 100% support for labor unions, advocating for the PRO Act to defend workers' rights, fair wages, and collective bargaining. He supports targeted trade policies against unfair foreign practices while removing blanket tariffs. - Pass the PRO Act to protect union organizing - Defend fair wages and safe working conditions - Apply strategic tariffs against unfair foreign trade while removing blanket tariffs > “I am 100% pro-labor. As a former labor union member, I’ll be a steadfast pro-union voice in Congress.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** No documented position in our sources ### Abortion Salience: medium **Matthew Dunlap:** Supports constitutional abortion rights Dunlap views reproductive healthcare decisions as a fundamental personal choice for women without government interference. He supports establishing safe access to abortion as a constitutional right. - Protect a woman's right to make her own health decisions - Establish safe access to reproductive healthcare as a constitutional right > “Safe access to reproductive health care should be a constitutional right.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign policy Salience: medium **Matthew Dunlap:** Opposes war in Iran Dunlap opposes military intervention in Iran, calling it an illegal war of choice that inflates energy prices. He advocates redirecting foreign war spending toward domestic priorities like healthcare and infrastructure. - End military involvement in Iran - Redirect federal spending from foreign wars to domestic priorities > “While we’re at it, we’re going to fight to advance policies that will actually help Mainers — like Medicare for All, affordable childcare, a lower cost of living, and stopping this illegal war in Iran.” > — Matthew Dunlap, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Matthew_Dunlap) **Paul LePage:** No documented position in our sources ### Veterans Salience: low **Matthew Dunlap:** No documented position in our sources **Paul LePage:** Protects veterans' benefits and healthcare LePage highlights his long-standing work with veterans' charities in Maine and promises to safeguard healthcare and earned benefits for military veterans. - Protect veterans' healthcare access - Safeguard earned benefits for military veterans > “In Congress, Paul will fight to protect Veterans healthcare and the benefits earned by the men and women who served.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ### Cryptocurrency and technology Salience: low **Matthew Dunlap:** No documented position in our sources **Paul LePage:** Supports crypto and deregulation LePage advocates cutting regulations to foster tech innovation and defends the right of Americans to buy, trade, and invest in cryptocurrency. - Protect rights to buy, trade, and invest in cryptocurrency - Cut burdensome tech and financial regulations > “Paul supports the right of Americans to buy, trade, and invest in cryptocurrency without unnecessary government interference.” > — Paul LePage, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_LePage) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/HOUSEME2-26) — ME-02 House winner?: Paul LePage 56.0%, Matthew Dunlap 46.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-me-02)