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AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Gov. Paul LePage is exploring a run for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine’s 2nd District in a surprise attempt at a political comeback.
LePage was last on the state’s political stage in 2022, when he lost to Gov. Janet Mills and bemoaned the role that abortion played in that race relative to the economy. He remained in the background of Republican politics, although he later gave an interview in which he said President Donald Trump harmed the party during that election.
That kind of a remark would hurt most Republicans trying to navigate a party firmly back under Trump’s control, but LePage is a hero among Maine’s conservative grassroots. Despite the recent loss and his status as a deeply polarizing figure across Maine, he would likely ward off others in his party from seeking the seat.
LePage did not answer phone calls, a text message and an email seeking comment on his plans. But three Republicans who spoke on conditions of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue said they have heard from those in the former governor’s inner circle that he is seriously considering a run.
“People know Paul LePage cares deeply about Maine jobs, the economy, families and way of life,” Brent Littlefield, his political strategist, said in a text message. “Beyond that, at this time, I have no comment.”
Golden’s status for the 2026 race is a question mark, since he has been among the Democrats mulling a run for Mills’ open seat in 2026. The durable Democrat’s departure would make Republicans more bullish on the district, which Trump has won three times.
Former state Rep. Austin Theriault lost to Golden by only 2,700 votes last year with the endorsement of Trump and leading House Republicans. Theriault has looked likely to run again, popping up recently to criticize some of Golden’s votes. Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart, R-Presque Isle, issued a noncommittal statement on the race in January.
LePage could cause both to rethink things. His candidacy also comes with hurdles. Since he left the Blaine House six years ago, LePage has mostly been a resident of Florida. He must return to Maine to run, although he would not be required to move to the 2nd District. At age 76 now, he would be one of the oldest freshman House members ever.
Ahead of his 2022 return bid, he and his advisers were pitching him as a more restrained LePage 2.0. That was a nod to his often chaotic eight-year tenure marked by controversial comments and wars with both Democrats and some Republicans in the Legislature that resulted in a brief 2017 government shutdown. Yet he left the state in solid financial shape.
LePage was erratic at times during the race with Mills, including when he surprised anti-abortion allies by saying he would veto a 15-week abortion ban in one debate. He performed poorly in the Portland suburbs that have shifted sharply Democratic since he last won an election in 2014, although he narrowly won the 2nd District over the governor.
LePage repeatedly teased races for Congress when he was in the Blaine House. He publicly mulled running in 2018 against U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, but he ultimately ruled it out a year and a half before Election Day.
It is unclear how Trump would factor into LePage’s candidacy. LePage was one of his earliest surrogates in 2016 and led his Maine campaign four years later, but he did not aid the president in 2024. Although LePage aped Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election, the former governor said that kind of denialism hurt Republicans when he lost in 2022.
“I think Donald Trump was a major factor in this election,” he told a party activist in 2023.
Michael Shepherd joined the Bangor Daily News in 2015 after time at the Kennebec Journal. He lives in Augusta, graduated from the University of Maine in 2012 and has a master's degree from the University… More by Michael Shepherd
