U.S. House, Maine 2nd Congressional District · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in Maine's 2nd Congressional District?
Matt Dunlap has the strongest record in Maine's 2nd Congressional District. Matt Dunlap scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Paul LePage at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Matt Dunlap's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Paul LePage's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Gregory Ward (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Matt Dunlap
On the ballot as Matthew G. Dunlap
68 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Republican
Paul LePage
On the ballot as Paul R. LePage
56 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- 58
Write-in
Gregory Ward
On the ballot as Gregory A. Ward
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Matt Dunlap
- On the record2025-03 to 2025-04
His office's 2024 single audit reported material weaknesses involving $2.1 billion in federal spending by state agencies; the finance commissioner said it showed no evidence of wrongdoing.
Source: Maine Public, April 7, 2025
- On the record2021-10
Stepped down as state auditor in October 2021 after narrowly failing two CPA exams required within nine months of election; he later returned to the post.
Sources: Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2021 (AP), Maine Public Your Vote 2026 profile
- Credit1999 to 2004
The Center for Effective Lawmaking rated him Above Expectations as a state representative, ranked second in the Maine House in 2001 to 2002 and 2003 to 2004.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Paul LePage
- Mark against2016-08
Apologized publicly in August 2016 after leaving an obscene voicemail for Democratic state Rep. Drew Gattine.
Sources: Sun Journal, Aug. 26, 2016, GBH News, Aug. 31, 2016
- On the record2018-12-28
Certified Jared Golden's 2018 2nd District victory but wrote 'stolen election' beside his initials on the certificate.
Sources: Portland Press Herald, Dec. 28, 2018, Newsweek, Dec. 2018
- On the record2018 to 2026
He and his wife have owned a Florida home since 2018 and claimed a Florida homestead exemption each year through 2025; he registered to vote at a rented Augusta apartment in 2025.
Sources: WABI, June 4, 2026, Portland Press Herald, March 26, 2026
- On the record2017-07-01 to 2017-07-04
Maine state government shut down for three days in July 2017 until he and House Speaker Sara Gideon reached a budget deal, which he signed.
- Credit2018-07
Ended fiscal 2018 with a $175.8 million surplus and a record $272.9 million rainy day fund, per his administration as reported by the Press Herald and Maine Public.
Sources: Portland Press Herald, July 30, 2018, Maine Public, July 30, 2018
Gregory Ward
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Matt Dunlap. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from Oct. 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00922377
Paul LePage. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. PolitiFact lists one rating for him (Pants on Fire), below the E15 threshold.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00904094, PolitiFact, Paul LePage scorecard
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Matt Dunlap. No public record found.
Paul LePage. No public record found.
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Matt Dunlap. Held open town halls, including one at the Bangor Public Library in December 2025, pressed for four general election debates and took part in the Oct. 1, 2026 debate.
Sources: Maine Public, Dec. 5, 2025, Bangor Daily News, Sept. 14, 2026, Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2026
Paul LePage. Agreed to two of the October 2026 events offered, a WMTW debate on Oct. 1 and a WABI and WAGM forum on Oct. 15, and took part in the Oct. 1 debate.
Sources: Bangor Daily News, Sept. 14, 2026, Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2026
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Matt Dunlap. Secretary of state for 14 years and state auditor, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2021 (AP)
Paul LePage. Governor for eight years and Waterville mayor for seven, with no formal censure or conduct finding within the last 10 years found. Older incidents, including a 2016 apology, are in his Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Paul LePage
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Matt Dunlap. Took the oath as a legislator, secretary of state and state auditor. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified results found.
Paul LePage. Took the oath as governor from 2011 to 2019. He signed the certificate of the 2018 2nd District result while writing 'stolen election' beside his initials; no recorded action to reject certified results or official misuse finding.
Sources: Portland Press Herald, Dec. 28, 2018, Newsweek, Dec. 2018
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Matt Dunlap. Maine House member from 1996 to 2005 (four terms), secretary of state for 14 years and current state auditor.
Paul LePage. Governor of Maine from 2011 to 2019 and mayor of Waterville from 2004 to 2011. Has not served in a legislature.
Source: Ballotpedia, Paul LePage
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Matt Dunlap. Has run two statewide offices. Published specific federal positions in the Maine Public questionnaire, such as lifting the Social Security payroll tax cap of $184,500.
Paul LePage. Published positions in general terms in the campaign and debates, for example opposing an Iran war powers resolution. No detailed federal plan was opened.
Source: Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2026
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Matt Dunlap. Answered the Maine Public questionnaire, holds open town halls and took part in the first general election debate.
Sources: Maine Public Your Vote 2026 profile, Maine Public, Dec. 5, 2025, Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2026
Paul LePage. Took part in the first general election debate and agreed to a second forum. No 2026 questionnaire answers or town halls were found.
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Matt Dunlap. Lives in Old Town, his hometown, which is in the district. About 63 percent of itemized individual contributions by state in 2025 to 2026 came from Maine (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Maine Public Your Vote 2026 profile, Maine Secretary of State, 2026 General Candidate List (FINAL), residence column, FEC candidate page
Paul LePage. Registered in a rented Augusta apartment in 2025; Augusta has been in the 2nd District since 2021. He and his wife claimed a Florida homestead exemption each year through 2025. About 47 percent of itemized contributions came from Maine.
Sources: Maine Secretary of State, 2026 General Candidate List (FINAL), residence column, Maine Public, Sept. 29, 2021, WABI, June 4, 2026
Gregory Ward. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Limestone, in the district.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Matt Dunlap. Headed the Department of the Secretary of State for 14 years and the Office of the State Auditor; no source states their size or independent performance measures. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: Maine Public, Oct. 2, 2021 (AP), FEC administrative fines search, committee C00922377
Paul LePage. Headed Maine's executive branch as governor for eight years. Campaign reports are on file with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Paul LePage, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00904094
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Matt Dunlap. Center for Effective Lawmaking state scores rated him Above Expectations in the Maine House in 1999 to 2004, ranked second in 2001 to 2002 and 2003 to 2004, with 20 bills becoming law in 2003 to 2004.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Paul LePage. Ended fiscal 2018 with a $175.8 million surplus and a record $272.9 million rainy day fund, more than six times its 2012 balance, per his finance commissioner as reported by the Press Herald and Maine Public.
Sources: Portland Press Herald, July 30, 2018, Maine Public, July 30, 2018
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Matt Dunlap. No public record found.
Paul LePage. No public record found.
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Matt Dunlap. No public record found.
Paul LePage. No public record found.
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Matt Dunlap. No public record found.
Paul LePage. In July 2017 struck a budget deal with Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon that passed 147 to 2 in the House and 35 to 0 in the Senate, ending a three-day shutdown.
Source: Bangor Daily News, July 3, 2017
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Matt Dunlap. No public record found.
Paul LePage. Left a record $272.9 million rainy day fund in 2018. The fiscal 2018 to 2019 budget was enacted three days late, after a July 2017 shutdown.
Sources: Portland Press Herald, July 30, 2018, Maine Public, July 4, 2017
Gregory Ward. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Maine's 2nd Congressional District?
Matt Dunlap has the strongest record in Maine's 2nd Congressional District. Matt Dunlap scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Paul LePage at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Matt Dunlap's highest marks are relevant experience and accountability. Paul LePage's highest marks are relevant experience and management. Gregory Ward (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Maine's 2nd Congressional District in 2026?
Matthew G. Dunlap (Democratic), Paul R. LePage (Republican), Gregory A. Ward (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Matt Dunlap a good candidate for Congress?
Matt Dunlap scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Paul LePage a good candidate for Congress?
Paul LePage scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance 58 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Gregory Ward a good candidate for Congress?
Gregory Ward has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Maine race scored, and the Maine 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.