Paul LePage Announces Congressional Bid for Maine’s 2nd District
Paul LePage, former governor of Maine known for his controversial stance on Medicaid and minimum wage laws, has announced his candidacy for Congress in Maine’s 2nd District.
Serving as governor from 2011 to 2019, LePage gained notoriety for his provocative comments and confrontational demeanor. After an unsuccessful bid for a third gubernatorial term in 2022, he relocated to Florida.
In a May 5 statement, LePage expressed his motivation for running, stating, “We need people who have and will always protect Social Security and Medicare… I do not need a job, I’m running to protect our Maine jobs.”
LePage’s tenure as governor was marked by strong opposition to safety net programs. He vetoed Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act six times, even defying a 2017 voter referendum approving expansion by stating he would rather go to jail than implement it.
It wasn’t until current Governor Janet Mills took office in 2019 that Medicaid expansion was enacted, providing over 100,000 Mainers with health coverage and affecting about 22% of residents in the 2nd District.
Rep. Chellie Pingree criticized LePage in 2018 for his stance, remarking, “The LePage Administration’s continued attempts to veto Maine voters is cruel and costly… Governor LePage is leaving tens of thousands of Mainers without health care coverage.”
This announcement coincides with House Republicans’ consideration of Medicaid cuts to fund tax breaks.
LePage also opposed MaineCare, citing excessive enrollment and lenient qualification standards. In 2013, he vetoed a wage increase from $7.50 to $9 per hour and later suggested reducing child labor restrictions.
His resistance to a 2020 state referendum to raise the minimum wage to $12 highlights his continued opposition to these increases. Approximately 20% of workers in ME-02 stand to benefit from a minimum wage hike.
LePage’s history of contentious remarks includes using graphic language in 2013 against state Sen. Troy Jackson, and making racially charged comments about out-of-state drug dealers in 2016.
The author Stephen King, a resident of Maine’s 2nd District, has been openly critical of LePage, writing in 2016, “One must admit LePage has elevated assholery to a level far past the extraordinary and into a rarified sphere that might be termed divine.”
Currently, the 2nd District is represented by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is considering a gubernatorial run next year. Despite President Trump winning the district, Golden secured reelection in 2024.
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