Maine election officials on Friday released the final results of the state’s ranked-choice primary runoffs, setting the field for the November general election.
Hannah Pingree, a Democrat who served as speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, will face Republican Bobby Charles in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Janet Mills. Mills, a Democrat, has publicly endorsed Pingree in the gubernatorial contest.
Charles brings a background in national security and federal service. He is a former naval intelligence officer who served as assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs under President George W. Bush and worked in the White House during the Reagan administration from 1981 to 1983.
Maine’s 2nd Congressional District will see a competitive general election between Democrat Matt Dunlap and Republican Paul LePage. Dunlap currently serves as the state auditor and previously held the office of secretary of state. LePage, a former two-term governor, is seeking a return to elected office.
The 2nd District race has drawn particular attention from the Republican Party, which views the seat currently held by Democrat Jared Golden as a potential pickup. President Donald Trump outperformed his national margins in the district in 2024, carrying it by 10%. Vice President Kamala Harris won Maine statewide by 7% in the same election.
Maine is one of only two states — the other is Alaska — that use ranked-choice voting for statewide elections. The system is also employed in various municipalities across the country.