California Rep. Ro Khanna endorsed Maine state Auditor Matt Dunlap in the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, calling him the “clear progressive choice” for Democratic primary voters.
The district, which leans red, is one Democrats are aiming to keep blue after moderate Rep. Jared Golden announced that he was not running for reelection in November.
“He’ll take on the billionaire class — just like when he took on Donald Trump as Secretary of State and won,” Khanna said in a press release. “Since co-chairing Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign in Maine, Matt has fought for Medicare for All, universal childcare, and making the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share. I am proud to support him and ready to work with him in Congress.”
The Democratic primary for Maine’s 2nd District is cramped — Dunlap is facing off with state Sen. Joe Baldacci, former congressional aide Jordan Wood and political newcomer Paige Loud, who are all neck and neck in the polls.
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Whoever wins the June 9 primary is expected to face off with Republican candidate Paul LePage, but it is predicted to be a tough battle. The district is seen as one of the most at-risk seats for Democrats. In 2024, President Donald Trump won there by 9 percentage points while Golden squeaked out a victory by less than a percentage point.
Recent polling done by the University of New Hampshire shows the race effectively in a dead heat. LePage is polling 1% above Baldacci and Dunlap and just 4% above Wood.
Dunlap, however, said he is confident he will prevail through the primary and serve alongside Khanna in Congress.
“Ro Khanna is one of the strongest progressive voices in Congress, and I’m honored to have his support,” Dunlap said in a press release. “Ro knows what it takes to fight for working people against powerful interests — and that’s exactly what I’ve done my entire career here in Maine. I’ll bring that same fight to Congress — from passing the Sanders-Khanna billionaire’s tax to lowering costs for families in the Second District.”
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