Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap has won the Democratic primary for the battleground 2nd District, handing another blow to House Democrats’ campaign arm, which had backed a different candidate. Dunlap narrowly trailed state Sen. Joe Baldacci after initial ballots were counted last week, but with no candidate winning a majority of the vote, the state’s ranked choice voting system kicked in. The tabulations culminated in Dunlap advancing past Baldacci in the final round, the Maine secretary of state’s office announced Friday. Former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud also contested for the Democratic nomination. Dunlap will next take on former Gov. Paul LePage, who was unopposed for the Republican nomination. The race is viewed as a top pickup opportunity for the GOP after Democratic Rep. Jared Golden opted not to seek reelection. President Donald Trump has carried the district in each of his three elections, including by 9 points last year. Dunlap, a former Maine secretary of state, lost a bid for Senate in 2012. He entered the 2nd District race in October as a challenger to Golden before the incumbent announced a month later that he would not seek a fifth term. Dunlap won support from progressive groups Our Revolution, which was founded by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and National Nurses United. He also had the endorsement of California Rep. Ro Khanna and former Rep. Michael H. Michaud, the most recent Democrat to hold the 2nd District before Golden. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Baldacci, adding him to its Red to Blue program for strong challengers several weeks before the primary. Baldacci’s loss marks the second time this month that a DCCC-backed candidate has lost a primary to a more progressive opponent. In California’s battleground 22nd District, local school board trustee Randy Villegas advanced to the general election against Republican Rep. David Valadao by finishing ahead of Democratic state Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains. The Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd District was also the latest to feature an outside group with reported ties to Republicans urging voters to support the more progressive candidate. Real Change PAC spent more than $500,000 to attack the more moderate Baldacci and support Dunlap. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the general election Likely Republican. Meanwhile, the Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primaries in Maine were also decided by ranked choice voting. Republican Bobby Charles, a former Naval intelligence officer, and Democrat Hannah Pingree, a former state House speaker and the daughter of Rep. Chellie Pingree, emerged as their party nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
