Who Is Matt Dunlap? Maine’s New Congressional Nominee
Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap won the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District on Thursday, defeating a candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after a ranked-choice runoff and setting up a general election matchup against former Republican Gov. Paul LePage.
Dunlap’s victory came despite national Democrats backing state Sen. Joe Baldacci, who led the first-round count but fell behind after lower-performing candidates were eliminated and their votes redistributed. The result delivers the nomination to a candidate who has repeatedly resisted pressure from Washington, including previously challenging then-Rep. Jared Golden and remaining in the race after the DCCC endorsed Baldacci in a district Donald Trump carried by 9 points in 2024.
Who Is Matt Dunlap?
Matthew Dunlap, born Nov. 26, 1964, is a Democrat from Old Town, Maine, who has held two of the state’s constitutional offices over a two-decade career. He served as Maine secretary of state from 2005 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2021, completing four terms before being term-limited.
Before that, he served in the Maine House from 1996 to 2004, representing Old Town and the Indian Island Voting District. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Maine.
After leaving the secretary of state’s office, Dunlap was elected state auditor despite having no formal finance or accounting background. He was given nine months to obtain certification but failed two required exams and stepped down in October 2021 before returning to the role in November 2022 after completing additional training.
Earlier in his career, Dunlap worked in a range of jobs including textile work, publishing, food service and broadcasting, and spent years writing as a columnist for outdoor publications. He has also been active in civic and nonprofit organizations across Maine.
Political Background and Priorities
Dunlap has described cost of living as his central campaign focus, including lowering health care costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and addressing economic inequality. His campaign has also emphasized making corporations and high earners “pay their fair share.”
His record includes some bipartisan positions, including a past vote supporting a 24-hour abortion waiting period bill, which he later said was driven by constituent input and political context.
General Election Matchup
Dunlap now advances to face LePage, a two-term former Republican governor, in a high-profile general election set for Nov. 3, 2026. The district is considered competitive terrain for Democrats, though it leaned Republican in the 2024 presidential election.
