Former Maine governor Paul LePage to run for Congress, challenge vulnerable Democrat
LePage, who made the announcement on social media, will be running to represent the state's 2nd Congressional District.
"I do not need a job, I am running to protect our Maine jobs. I am running to serve the people of Maine and help the president fix Washington," LePage said in a post on X. "We've had too many years of Washington, D.C. trying to control the people. It is time to put the people before politics."
The Republican served two terms as governor of Maine from 2011 to 2019. Maine's term limits prevented him from running for a third consecutive term, but he ran for re-election in 2022. However, he lost to incumbent Democrat Gov. Janet Mills.
Prior to the governorship, LePage served as the mayor of Waterville, Maine, from 2004 to 2011.
LePage, 76, will be challenging Democratic four-term Rep. Jared Golden - if he chooses to run again. Golden has not yet publicly announced if he will run for re-election in 2026.
Golden is a unique breed of blue dog Democrat who has proven his ability to win despite the political orientation of his district, which has voted for President Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections.
LePage will be the latest Republican to try to take that spot.
Golden did not immediately return a request for comment, but in a statement to other networks he said that he thought that "Paul was doing his best work in retirement."
"Congressman Golden is busy fighting the GOP's health care cuts and working through his committees to secure jobs for Bath Iron Works and protect Maine's fishing communities," said the statement. "The next election is the furthest thing from his mind.'
LePage said in his statement that the country needs a 'new voice' in Washington.
'We need people who understand what it's like to struggle, why inflation hurts. We need more leaders who know how to cut wasteful spending while improving programs,' he said. 'We need leaders who know the 2nd Amendment is not just words on a paper.'
He also said the country needs leaders who will fight 'extreme woke policies,' referring to transgender athletes in women's sports – an issue that has caused a battle between Mills and Trump in recent months.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Former Maine governor Paul LePage announces run for Congress
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