Politics
Matt Dunlap beats DCCC-backed candidate in primary for top Maine battleground
Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd District, a blow to party leaders who backed one of his opponents in the top House battleground.
Dunlap, who emerged victorious from a ranked choice runoff early Friday morning, will face former GOP Gov. Paul LePage in a seat that is a priority target for both parties nationally.
Republicans are optimistic they can flip the district after Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who has represented the 2nd District since 2019, opted not to seek reelection this fall. President Donald Trump has won the district three times, including by 9 points in 2024.
Dunlap, who previously served as secretary of state and was backed by the Bernie Sanders-linked Our Revolution, originally jumped into the race to challenge Golden before the incumbent announced in November he would not run. His decision to challenge Golden irked national Democrats, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backing one of his primary opponents, state Sen. Joe Baldacci.
Dunlap, however, ended up receiving outside backing from a group, Real Change PAC, which seemed to have ties to Republicans and spent more than $500,000 to boost him and attack Baldacci.
The race was closely fought between Dunlap, Baldacci and former congressional chief of staff Jordan Wood, with the three candidates finishing within 3 percentage points of each other in the June 9 primary. A fourth candidate, Paige Loud, finished the first round with just 10 percent of the vote.
Dunlap faces a tough general election against LePage, the former two-term governor who remains popular with the GOP base — and won the 2nd District in his 2022 attempt at a gubernatorial comeback even as he lost statewide that year.
FCC chair Brendan Carr on Trump, free speech and his threats against broadcasters
lead image
Former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and his team are discussing dropping out of the crowded Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
The conversations come as Democratic officials in the state brace for damaging media reports about Barnes expected to hit in the coming hours. Barnes and his team have been on calls Thursday to discuss how to proceed, according to the people, granted anonymity to share private details.
The primary had become increasingly messy as more moderate leaning Democrats like Barnes have tried to stave off Democratic socialist Francesca Hong’s rise, worried her victory could boost presumed Republican nominee Tom Tiffany. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement of David Crowley — who reentered the race in the final stretch — further complicated the moderate coalition.
A spokesperson for Barnes’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cornyn holds a key vote over the president’s attorney general nominee…
Read More
- Trump needles Cornyn as Blanche remains blocked
- Capitol agenda: The Senate’s fly-out agenda takes shape
- Faced with Blanche dilemma, Trump chooses revenge
- Former MLB star Mark Teixeira to hit campaign trail with GOP leaders
- FCC chair Brendan Carr on Trump, free speech and his threats against broadcasters
- Trump-aligned parents rally behind kids’ online safety rules
- Top senators consider blocking Trump’s grant shakeup in spending stopgap
- Blanche’s big meeting
- Senate education committee blocks parts of Trump’s Education Department breakup
- Senate Dems see momentum despite repeat losses on Iran war votes
-
The Josh Fourrier Show2 years agoDOOMSDAY: Trump won, now what?
-
Politics1 year agoFormer ‘Squad’ members launching ‘Bowman and Bush’ YouTube show
-
The Dictatorship1 year agoLuigi Mangione acknowledges public support in first official statement since arrest
-
Uncategorized2 years ago
Bob Good to step down as Freedom Caucus chair this week
-
Politics1 year agoFormer Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron launches Senate bid
-
The Dictatorship1 year agoPete Hegseth’s tenure at the Pentagon goes from bad to worse
-
Politics1 year agoBlue Light News’s Editorial Director Ryan Hutchins speaks at Blue Light News’s 2025 Governors Summit
-
The Dictatorship11 months agoMike Johnson sums up the GOP’s arrogant position on military occupation with two words