Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage to run for Congress in Trump-friendly district held by Democrat Golden

LEWISTON, Maine – Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage, an aboriginal protagonist of President Donald Trump's archetypal palmy White House bid and a polarizing fig successful authorities politics, said Monday helium is moving for Congress successful a competitory district.

LePage, a Republican who was politician from 2011 to 2019 and mislaid a bid for another term successful 2022, filed papers precocious Sunday to tally for the 2nd Congressional District spot presently held by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. The territory is politically mixed, arsenic voters person sent Golden to Washington 4 times successful a enactment portion besides supporting President Donald Trump successful 3 consecutive statesmanlike elections.

LePage, 76, brought Maine into the national spotlight arsenic politician with incendiary statements astir out-of-state cause dealers impregnating “young white” girls and a governmental rival helium said would “give it to the radical without providing Vaseline.” He besides described himself arsenic “Donald Trump earlier Donald Trump became popular” and threw enactment down the aboriginal president successful 2016.

LePage made enactment for Trump little of a absorption successful his failed 2022 bid for governor, but said successful a Monday connection that “entrenched interests are warring President Trump astatine each crook arsenic helium works to hole problems." He besides vowed to combat “extreme woke policies that defy communal sense,” support the 2nd Amendment and make jobs.

Golden, 42, served arsenic a subordinate of the Maine House of Representatives for 4 years portion LePage was governor. A spokesperson for Golden said the congressman is prioritizing protecting Maine's sportfishing communities, warring Republican-led wellness attraction cuts and moving to unafraid jobs astatine the Bath Iron Works shipyard and is not focusing connected reelection.

Golden said successful a Monday statement: “I thought Paul was doing his champion enactment successful retirement.”

LePage initially moved from Maine aft leaving the governor's bureau successful 2019 and took up residence successful Florida. He past re-established residence successful Maine. His bid to unseat Mills successful 2022 would person made him the longest-serving politician successful Maine history.

Regardless of who the candidates are, the 2nd Congressional District successful Maine volition beryllium 1 of the most-watched House races successful the state successful 2026 due to the fact that Republicans clasp a slim bulk successful the enclosure and the territory is 1 of the astir competitive. Golden narrowly won reelection implicit Republican Austin Theriault past year.

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