Maine 2nd District
Jared Golden (D) is not running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
What the betting markets sayprices of Nov 9
0% Matthew DunlapPaul LePage 100%
Polymarket and Kalshi, $629K bet. A price is a chance: 0 cents on Dunlap pays a dollar if they win.
Matthew Dunlap
Democrat · state auditor, former secretary of state
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for Dunlap, and what Dunlap has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 31. A grade needs 4.
Raised $2,964,964 since January 2025: 92% from people, 7% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Paul LePage
Republican · former Maine governor, businessman
No gradeNo grade yetI have no votes in Congress to count for LePage, and what LePage has said and done settles only 3 of my principles. I went through it on October 30. A grade needs 4.
Raised $3,299,130 since January 2025: 51% from people, 30% transfers and other income, 19% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Voting in Maine: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Matthew Dunlap, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Dunlap, so the grade above comes from this list: what Dunlap has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
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Asked about Congress and war on the Islamic Republic, he said he would support a war powers resolution calling on the president to end the conflict and seek congressional approval.
“I'll support the War Powers Resolution in Congress calling on the President to end this conflict and seek congressional approval.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A war powers resolution aimed at stopping action against Iran is on the against side of the Iran regime measure.
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At a debate he said the 2015 Iran agreement had the nuclear issue in hand and that he hopes for a return to a negotiated settlement.
“President Obama negotiated an agreement with the Iranians. President Trump tore it up, and that's how we got to where we are today.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Backing a deal on the model of the 2015 agreement is on the against side of the Iran regime measure.
-
Asked about Ukraine, he said he supports continued aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
“I support our ally Ukraine. I would support continued aid to them in their fight against Russia.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing aid to Ukraine against Russia is with liberty on free nations.
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In the Maine Public lightning round he answered Yes when asked if he supports direct US military intervention if China blockades or invades Taiwan.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing US military intervention to defend Taiwan against China is with liberty on free nations.
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In the Maine Public candidate lightning round he answered Yes when asked if he supports the First Amendment, including protest and speech and press he might consider biased.
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A general yes to the First Amendment names no censorship, speech law or platform pressure, so it does not settle the measure (same call as other general free speech pledges).
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He said he wants to restore Medicaid cuts and move toward a Medicare for All system.
“We need to restore those cuts and move toward a Medicare for All system that actually brings down healthcare costs for working families.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government-run health care for all is against liberty on free markets.
-
He said he favours removing the cap on payroll taxes.
“I am in favor of busting the cap on payroll taxes.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A named tax increase is against liberty on free markets.
-
His campaign site says he will fight to lift the president's blanket tariffs.
“I'll fight to lift Trump's blanket tariffs and end his war of choice so families can afford to live in Maine.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing broad tariffs is with liberty on free markets.
-
At a debate he said the immigration courts need more judges so cases do not drag on for years.
“we need more immigration judges to move some of these cases along”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
More judges is neither a border measure nor a sanctuary or amnesty position, so it does not settle the measure.
Paul LePage, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for LePage, so the grade above comes from this list: what LePage has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
At the same debate he said he wants the war to end quickly, does not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon and does not support ground troops.
“I want the war to end as quickly as possible. However, I do not want Iran to get a nuclear weapon. I do not support having any boots on the ground”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A call to end the war, with no policy or vote named, settles nothing on this measure.
-
His campaign site says he would cut burdensome regulations and back pro-growth policies.
“That means cutting burdensome regulations that slow progress and embracing pro-growth policies that power our economy and tech sector.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting regulation is the less-regulation side of this measure.
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His campaign site says that as governor he created and carried out the largest tax cut in Maine history.
“created and implemented the largest tax cut in Maine history to put more money in working people's pockets”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A tax cut he says he enacted is a named tax cut, which sits on the lower-taxes side.
-
In his launch statement he said he would fight woke policies and keep girls out of unfair sports competitions.
“we need people who will fight the extreme woke policies that defy common sense and force girls into unfair sports competitions”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Fighting woke policies and keeping girls' sport single-sex is the equal rights side.
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In his closing statement at the final debate he said he would fight to keep men out of women's sport.
“keep men out of women's sport”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is named with liberty by this test.
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As governor he issued a statement opposing the settlement of Syrian refugees in Maine because they could not be vetted.
“to bring Syrian refugees into our country without knowing who they are is to invite an attack on American soil”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Opposing entry of refugees from Syria until they can be vetted is a limit and strict vetting on entry from one country.
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His campaign site says he will fight to finish the border wall and end illegal immigration.
“Paul will fight to finish the wall, end illegal immigration, and restore law and order.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A wall and ending illegal immigration are on the border-security side of this measure.
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At the final debate he said Maine has become a sanctuary for illegal immigrants and that ending welfare to them is a big deal.
“Ending welfare to illegals is really a big deal here in Maine because Maine has become a sanctuary for illegals”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating sanctuary policy as a problem to end follows the enforcement side of this measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
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Maine 2nd District
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