In a renewed bid for political office, Paul LePage, who served as Maine’s governor from 2011 to 2019, has announced his candidacy for Congress in Maine’s 2nd District. Known for his opposition to Medicaid expansion and higher minimum wages, LePage’s tenure was marked by contentious policies and remarks.
During his governorship, LePage attempted to block Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, vetoing it six times. Even after a 2017 voter referendum favored expansion, he refused to implement it, famously stating he would prefer jail over approval. His successor, Gov. Janet Mills, enacted Medicaid expansion as her initial executive action in 2019, benefiting over 100,000 Mainers, including 22% of residents in the 2nd District.
LePage’s stance on social safety nets contrasts with his recent statement on May 5: “We need people who have and will always protect Social Security and Medicare,” he announced on X, “That’s why I’m running for Congress. I do not need a job, I’m running to protect our Maine jobs.”
As House Republicans contemplate cuts to Medicaid to facilitate tax breaks, LePage’s campaign has drawn criticism from figures such as Rep. Chellie Pingree, who highlighted the negative impacts of his policies. “The LePage Administration’s continued attempts to veto Maine voters is cruel and costly,” Pingree commented in 2018.
LePage also opposed MaineCare, criticizing its enrollment criteria as overly lenient. In 2013, he vetoed a minimum wage increase from $7.50 to $9, and later suggested changes to child labor laws, proposing a $5.25 hourly rate for 12-year-olds. In 2020, he opposed a referendum to raise the minimum wage to $12, affecting around 20% of ME-02 workers.
LePage’s controversial comments have repeatedly drawn attention. He once used crude language against state Sen. Troy Jackson, and in 2016, faced accusations of racism for remarks about out-of-state drug dealers. Author Stephen King, a part-time resident of Maine’s 2nd District, has been a vocal critic, 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.”
The 2nd District is currently held by Democrat Jared Golden, who may pursue a gubernatorial role in the future. Golden successfully retained his seat in 2024, even as then-President Donald Trump won the district in the presidential election.
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